Ok, bad blogger again. I'll post about the holidays once I recover from them, so in about 2010. But had to post a picture of my SP11's daughter, Samantha Ann, in the sweater I made for her. Doesn't she look SOOOOOOO cute???!?!?

You may now resume you regular holiday induced coma from all the calories. :)

Holiday Humor

To All Employees
From Management
Subject Office conduct during the Christmas season

Effective immediately, employees should keep in mind the following guidelines in compliance with FROLIC (the Federal Revelry Office and Leisure Industry Council).

Running aluminum foil through the paper shredder to make tinsel is discouraged.

Playing Jingle Bells on the push-button phone is forbidden (it runs up an incredible long distance bill)

Work requests are not to be filed under "Bah humbug."

Company cars are not to be used to go over the river and through the woods to Grandma's house.

All fruitcake is to be eaten BEFORE July 25.

Egg nog will NOT be dispensed in vending machines.
In spite of all this, the staff is encouraged to have a Happy Holiday.

Lol, what a day

My poor dear hubby has a really bad case of hives and is trying to scratch himself in his sleep. I mean really bad here people. All over his ENTIRE body, front and back. It's so funny, though I'm sure not to him.

I'm waiting for my soaps to cool so I can turn them out of the mold and cut and get them curing. They're melt and pour cause I'm lazy right now, but they are for Christmas presents. I scented them with Vanilla and Sandalwood and put apricot seeds (ground) as well, to exfoliate the skin. And they'll moisturize because they are Shea butter soaps. i figure give them with the wash cloths and I'm covered.

While I wait I'm knitting a purse that I'll be felting to give to my Cousin-in-law's daughter. Yeah, weird huh? But the cousins will be at Grandma's house and while the parents may get a bar of soap and a washcloth the kids will get something special. I was always raised to give a gift to the kids in a family I was visiting for the holidays, even if I brought nothing for the parents. Plus, I can honestly say that between both of the kids I only spent $25. Though I never had any idea it was so hard to get toys for a 5 year old boy. I finally went with the typical thing, and got him toy cars, from Cars too. My in-laws are big Disney fans, the whole family, cause one of the uncles actually works for Disney Studios out in CA. And yes, we take shameful advantage of it, and get in free to the parks. So nice. The daughter is getting a little purse/makeup bag and a few things of tasteful makeup. I say tasteful because yes, while she's 8 and using it for play, I'd rather give real makeup to play with (cheaper and cleans up easier, not to mention lasts a hell of a lot longer) and I don't believe that even in play those icky colors should be used, and they should be something that she might one day wear in public. It's just how I was raised. So there's 2 nail polishes, a set of mini nail files, a manicure block (for smoothing the nails and such), a lipstick, a quad of eyeshadow, and a little bottle of lotion. I know when I was her age the nail polish would have sent me over the moon. I used to take the stuff and paint EVERYTHING with it. Works really well on foil and metal, in case you were wondering. But I figured that she needed a bag to hold it in, so I'm knitting a little purse and I'll be felting it. Its in shades of pinks and browns, which I think is nice, cause all the makeup is pinks and roses. I'm thinking of going and getting some of the nail polish for myself actually, it was a really nice color. And they are all real makeup, so it may help her feel like a grownup.

Scott gives Eskimo kisses now. He started doing it when I was kissing him goodnight. It was so cute. I think he was saving it until I tried to put him down, to distract me from bedtime for another few minutes.

I'm gonna go check my soap and see if I can get some sleep soon. Happy Holidays Everyone!!!

Felting with Acrylic

Ok, I admit I stole this from another blog. I got it here, but just had to share.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
How to Felt With Acrylic.
I know that there is a huge demand for information on how to felt with acrylic yarn. After exhaustive research, I've written up the following guide. I hope it is helpful!

How To Felt with Acrylic Yarn
by Gail

List of Materials Needed:

1. Some acrylic yarn. Make sure it doesn't have any natural fiber content in it whatsoever. That would be bad.
2. An oversized stock pot. The one you attempted to use to Brine your turkey before you accidentally killed all your relatives will serve you well here. Plus, it'll hide the evidence.
3. A blow torch.
4. An oven. Preferrably one that you don't plan on using much in the future.
5. A welding sheild.
6. Some tongs.
7. Some leather gloves. Not the nice ones - the heat shielding kind.

Step 1:

Knit something out of that acrylic. Make it bigger than you want the final results to be.

Step 2:

Drinking some alcohol is probably a good idea here.

Step 3:

Turn on the oven as high as it will go. Throw your knitted acrylic garment into the oversized stock pot, and stick that in the oven. It is a matter of great debate on whether or not you should add water - water will probably slow the felting process, but may keep the yarn from melting to the bottom of the pot. Maybe you should add some canola oil or something.

Step 4:

Open a window. Take the batteries out of the fire alarm.

Step 5:

Check on your garment. If all is going well, it will become soft and melty. With the gloves and tongs, coax it into the shape you want. You may also want to stir it around to make sure that it isn't sticking.

Step 6:

Once your garment has shrunk down and appears to be the correct shape, remove the stockpot from the oven. Throw a bunch of water into it. You might want to put on the welders shield now. Then, with the tongs, remove the item from the pot, and arrange it charmingly. You should no longer be able to see individual stitches. You may find that your garment is a bit inflexible - that is to be expected.

Step 7:

Once your garment has cooled, you can use the blow torch and tongs to make any last minute adjustments, such as creating holes in your slippers for the feet.

Step 8:

Enjoy your fabulous felted acrylic garment! Tune in next week where Gail explains how to use flexible rods to keep your stockinette from curling!

Oof

I never realized how hard it is to spin to a certain size of yarn. I have NO problem spinning lace weight or fingering weight yarns, but I'm having a hell of a time spinning my alpaca roving to something heaver than fingering, and that's when it's 3 plied. I figure I'll just have to cable the yarn into a 6 ply, or even more to make sure that it's the same thickness as the black wool I'm spinning up for the blanket. I have no problem making a 3plyd worsted weight yarn out of that, but than it's a big fluffy batt, and not roving.

Besides spinning I'm still crocheting up washcloths like a little sweatshop. I'm planning on making some goats milk soap or maybe olive oil soap and give those as gifts with the washcloths to people. And give them a cute art picture I did of Scott. I'm getting it printed up as a 11X14 poster for the In-laws, and I'll frame it. J and I are using the excuse of the car needs brakes and we'd rather spend what money we have for presents on Scott, than spend a lot on everyone else and have nothing to give Scott. We'll be getting the brakes fixed on Monday, and we pick up the brother-in-law on the Sat before X-mas. We told the MIL that we'd be coming up on Sunday afternoon, but we're gonna surprise her and come up on Saturday.

Scott's still having über poops and farts so he's being a clingy little boy. So cute though. He's getting to learn about time outs because he's been throwing things lately, and I don't want him to get used to being able to do that. Still trying to figure out what I can get him for his X-mas. For that matte,r trying to figure out what to get J too. Oh well, Scott has his presents to give to us. I picked them up when we were visiting my mom.

I hope to be able to get stock up in my store after the holidays and than get my site running again. *crosses fingers*

Holidaze

The holidays have finally made me snap. I agreed to going and spending them with my in-laws, mainly because I don't want them to miss out on Scott doing cute things. Scott's now 18 months and trying to get at every display of lights we've seen in the stores. We're not decorating this year though, because I'm too lazy and the place is still a mess. Boxes everywhere and I need to go and get bookcases or something to get them all taken care of. But back to taking that trip around the bend, finally.

I have decided, and started as well, to spin up that great big bag'o'fleace that I got in the great fiber score of '07. It's lovely, soft, and a dark gray/black/brown. I already have a full bobbin (about 100 yards) spun and plied into this beautiful light and lofty worsted weight yarn. I plan on making a blanket out of it when it's all done. I think that's where the crazy comes in. A blanket to be used by all of us at once, and I'm allergic to wool.I shouldn't say that really, because since I've started spinning more I've not had many problems. I think I just have problems to the crummy wool used in most commercially produced clothes, and the chemicals they use to make it. I'm thinking spin up other colors of wool, and maybe a few stripes in the blanket to show the pattern it will take. It's going to be a ripple star blanket, worked in the round. I made one years ago for my aunt and uncle and somehow messed up in counting in the very first row, and wound up with 7 points instead of the 8 I needed. I'll do better this time, I promise. If I can ever find the apalca I got in the same '07 score I think that is what I'll use. It's a lovely dark gray that drafts like a DREAM!!!!!!! Yeah, spun up a little sample on my spindle. Or i could use the black/multi colored roving I got than too. No idea yet, but I don't want to start making it until I have more yarn made, because with that big a hook and gauge (I'm used to lace or fingering, and never bigger than a size F hook) it'll go fast, at least I'll be thinking so.

I've also been making more of my cotton yarn, and I'm gonna attempt dying it. I have finally decided that Scott sleeps at night, and since we put him down to bed around 8 every night (cause much after that and I want to flush him, how the HELL did I get a morning person for my kid) I can just prep the yarns when he's up and dye them after he goes down. They need to set 8 hours really anyway. Stupid cotton, can't use my food dyes like I can with the wool. Speaking of wool and cotton and such, I actually have some of my yarns being sole right now, in a craft exhibit. Makes me happy.

Off to eat muffins that the kid didn't want. He's been on a yogurt kick lately. It's cleared up the diaper rash of doom, I'm good with it. Yogurt and granola bars. Maybe I should find him his tie-dyed shirt I got him and have him wear that. My darling little hippy boy. Oh, he's potty training himself. Cool huh?

Home again

Yea, I'm home again. Don't get me wrong, I love my family a lot, but I can only take so much lately. They all have to talk loud because my step-dad is almost deaf, and so I had a headache most the time I was there.

Scott has the worst case of diaper rash I've ever seen, his balls look like a bright red prune. We actually had to take him to the ER last night just after midnight, because he woke up screaming in pain. He's doing better now, because they gave us some cream with nystanitn in it, which will halp kill bacteria. It's a medicine used to fix yeast infections, which can cause the diaper rash to stick around and get really bad. I've had to use it before.

Gonna go rest and look at my chocolate cake. We've got over a foot of snow on the ground and supposed to get more tomorrow, so I wanted to have something around that was sweet to eat.

Trip

So we made it to Grandma's house ok, with just one little mishap. I forgot diapers!!! I had just one in my purse, and so I changed him into it around 10:30 in the morning, thinking that the little darling would be ok until we got to Chicago and grandma could give me more diapers. ,Yeah, not so lucky, 15 min later he had a massive blowout and I was forced to make do with duct tape and pantyliners for an hour and a half until some very nice Amish people got on with an 18 month old and let me have 2 diapers. So sweet of them. Than we went to Ikea (because there's not one near my mom's house) and drove the 2 hours back to her place. My niece is aadorable, and she loves her baby Scott.

He was so scared last night, because he didn't nap on the train, and we got in here at 11:30, so we had to wake him up to get him inside. He didn't go to sleep again until almost 2 and he woke up at 7:30. He's napping now, and seems to be well adjusted to his gran's house. He's so cute, and I'm very proud of him. He was a dream on the train, didn't whine really, and was cheerful and played all of the trip, which is 8 hours. He even let me crochet on the train, so I have about 10 baby washcloths made now, which I need because 2 of J's cousins are preggers. Oh, and my sp11 partner had her baby on the day before Thanksgiving, she's ADORABLE. Gotta get her package off to her, I have most of it here to send while I'm at moms.


Gonna go torment my niece now, and raid my clothes from my sisters closet. hehe, getting my clothes back will be fun.

Holiday recap

Ok, my family must be cursed or something, Tuesday afternoon I wound up with the tummy glu. This happened to me last year too, though it at least had the good graces to happen at the begining of the month. It was my mom and sister who got it last turkey day, the night I got to their house too! I wound up making turkey soup for the holiday last year. This year it was J and I trying to see who could stay in the loo longer. But we're all better now, thank the gods.

I'm heading off to my mom's tomorrow with Scott for a week, she hasn't seen him in a year, and as anyone who's ever been around a baby knows, a year is a LONG time, he's changed so much. I mean, he's sitting up, standing, walking, WAY past crawling, and is starting to talk and potty train himself.

Finished the baby sweater for my SP11 partner, and also have a blanket for her. Saddly, Scott poured grape juice all over the shawl I made for her other daughter, and I'm attempting stain removal on it. Dat's all for now.

Happy Turkey Day!!

Yes, I'm a bad blogger, but between moving, a torn muscle in my shoulder, and a router that's on the fritz, I'm amazed I got online at all. I've been spinning up some of my cotton yarns because a friend has a display in an Art Boutique and needs more stuff to sell, so I'm helping her out.

Scott is so cute, he's trying to potty train himself and he's starting to say bigger words than that and mama. His word of the day is bubble(ok, the week, but it's cute) and he likes to sat bath too, though it comes out as bapth. Poor kid is gonna have a speech impediment just like his mommy.

J's cousin should be finding out if she's having a boy or girl today. I know that they are rooting for a girl, since they have a boy already, who's almost 2. I want a girl too, that way I can spoil her a lot. I try and spoil Scott and Kyle (cousin's kid) but it's not the same.

Off to rescue the kid from the crib. He was a bad baby, so he got put back in there so I could clean up the eggs he threw all over. He's not a food thrower, and I was a little ok with it, but when he threw the plate, he knows that's a nono.

Oh, here's what I did last night, since we're actually going to a friends for the holiday. I wanted the meat. Very proud of myself, if I may say so. Isn't it all pretty and golden? Nice crispy skin, juicy meat. Flavorful too, since i roasted it with an onion, apple, and 3 cloves of garlic in the middle.

Package

I have to guess the theme of the package sent to me by my secret pal. I'm guessing it's country. There's cows and sheeps, and pretty blue yarn, and Scott gets his own dishes. Oh, and Highland oatcakes.

I'll write more when I get internet access back, I'm dashing this off on my phone.

Moving Sucks!

Yeah, I forgot how much I hate moving. We're moving into our 2 bedroom apartment starting today. It's bigger, and I have just doubled my kitchen counter and cabinet space. My storage space is now more than my mom's kitchen, and that's sad, since her kitchen is the size of my son's bedroom. I'll update more as needed or as such happens. For those who have our address and want the new one, it's #212. Yeah, we are lazy and just moving to a bigger place in the same building. For those who need the address, send me a message.

Shawl progress

I thought I would post some of the progress in my knitting. It's going slowly lately, because I can't knit with the wrist brace on, and as you can expect my wrist hurts when I knit without it. But last night I passed the halfway mark in knitting on the edging of what I'm calling a shawl (though it can and probably will be used as a tablecloth for tea parties too). It's being knit out of what I like to call hand-plyed cotton. I take Peaches and Cream cotton yarn (comes in big pound cones from wal-mart) and sit there and separate all the plys and than ply it back together as a 2 ply. It makes the softest cotton yarn I have ever used, and it's a beautiful fingering weight.

So I'm knitting a lace shawl for a little girl who just turned 4, as a birthday/baby present. She's getting a baby sister soon. Here's a picture of the shapless blob that it looks like now, and one of the edging.

I'm hoping that once it's blocked it will be 45 inches, in a slight hexagonal shape. It's knit from the Azeala patter in the First Book Of Modern Lace Knitting and it's a total of 3 repeats of the pattern (I think they called it the placemat) but since it's knit in fingering weight and not size 40 cotton, and on size 7 needles, not size 1, I'm expecting it much bigger than the original 15 inches it should be. :) It's over 20 from rim to rim, before the edging has been knit on, and I estimate the edging to be about 3 inches wide before it's going to be blocked. The edging is a pattern I got from my gran, it was written on a scrap of paper tucked in her yarn collection. I have hopes of reversing the decreases and knitting a scarf out of it, with the edging being back to back. I call it my leaf lace edging.

Wheeeee!!

I'm having fun out here. I'm attempting to knit (and type) with a messed up wrist. I get to have a nerve test done on it, because there's these funny things like tingling and numbness and the dr thinks carpel tunnel. :( he told me no repetitive motions, and I was a good girl, I resisted the urge to flip him off.

On the SP front, I'm almost done with a present for her, the sheep scarf is done and waiting until I knit a bunch more repeats of the edging needed on what will either be a baby blanket, shawl for her daughter, or a table cloth for said daughter to use with tea parties. I have no idea how big it will be when done and blocked. But it's pretty.

Scott walks, he'd rather walk now than crawl. He's sooooo cute, even right now when he's a whiny little wanker who's getting all 4 eyeteeth (the pointy ones) at the same time. Why couldn't he have done this last week, when he was at the in-laws?????

Speaking of in-laws, I know what my christmas present is and I want Dec. 25th to hurry up and get here. I could really use it before the holiday season, so I could get my baking done. hehe, it's pretty, and red, and it comes with many attachments.

Happy birthday..........to me

Ok, this makes me laugh to no end. Every year, since I was old enough to get birthday cards from my dad, he's gotten my birthday wrong. And not by a day or 2 either, sometimes by a whole month! Yes, he's not been around in my life that much, for which I'm actually thankful, but still, it's only 6 days before his! He gets my sisters day right, he gets my mom, and he gets my half-brothers (whom I've never met) right, but he can't remember mine. It just makes me laugh.

So for my special day, I'm babysitting (ok, conscripting her to help watch Scott for me) my friends 9 year old step-daughter to be. I know, seems weird, but I like her and she loves helping with Scott. We're just gonna run around in my now very dented car (more on that farther down) and than I'm going to teach her how to cook a little, as we make my birthday cake. Yes, I have to make my own cake. I have to make my own prime rib dinner too, because I won't let J in my kitchen.

As to the dented car, yesterday J changed lanes right into the front bumper of another car. Woohoo! Is it sad when your car is worth so little that the insurance would rather total it out than pay the money to fix it. I'll post pictures, cause the damage isn't horrible, just ugly.

Speaking of pictures, I'll be posting some of my loom. I still can't find my camera cable, but I found the phone cord for the computer, so I can take them with that. Expect those tomorrow, or later tonight.

I love my loom. I'm playing around with a belt, woven out of a rayon slub yarn, that's very pretty. Just have to practice on keeping straight edges. I haven't been spinning much lately, hurts my legs a lot. I have been knitting a lot. I can't find the pattern for the bunnies I was making, because a little person walked off with it, so for now I'm knitting a scarf for my partner, it looks like a sheep. I feel kinda bad though, it's only partly wool. But it looks pretty, and I think she'll like it. I also have a pin for her, but I can't say what it looks like, cause she might read this.

As for partners, something I forgot to mention that I got from my lovely partner. She sent me some Sherbert Lemon candies as well. For those not failure with the British phenomenon of Sherbert candies, think of lik-m-sticks, the powder that comes with those. And not forget the really fruity tart flavor, and make it smooth and creamy. That's Sherbert candy. Usually found with a lolly (sucker) to dip in there, or a straw of black licorice (EWWWWW). So I stick to the lollys. I hadn't seen these candies for a few years, since i moved away from my English neighbors. Thankfully I know where she got them, so I made a pilgrimage to Cost Plus World Market. There I found my wonderful Peach candies again, they're not Juicefuls but they are still good, and chocolate covered marzipan. I can't eat very much of the latter without wanting to enter a sugar induced coma, but it's SOOOOOO worth it.

Off to play with Scott and make up the grocery list for dinner tomorrow. I still havent' decided what I'll do for my cake yet, maybe bread pudding.

Happy dance

I got a package from me secret pal today, and nearly burst out in tears. She got me a little loom to weave on. I really shouldn't call it little, since it's 20 inches square. Sooooooo happy. I'll be posting a picture in a day or so, Scott has made off with my USB cable again for the camara. I'm already warping the loom. *happy dance*

Yeah, yeah

I know, 2 posts in 1 day, what's the world coming to?

I got my ravelry invite today. *bounce*bounce*bounce*

Off to put all my projects and yarns in

Yarns will be the fun part

Hippity Hop

I'm actually knitting right now, ain't it great? I'm making stuffed bunnies for my SP11 partner. Ok, they're not for her, but for her little girls. I just haven't found a pattern for sweaters that goes from newborn size to 4t. So bunnies it is. What little girl can resist a stuffed toy anyway? I know that my niece can't. The little wench has stolen all of my stuffed critter collection. I'm also making a baby blanket for her new bairn Gaelic for baby) who's not even here yet. Thank the gods that they know what gender the baby is, makes it easier on me. It's going to be pink and black, a very classic color combo that brings to mind Channel clothes. Just black trim mind you.

Other than that, J and I are learning Scots Gaelic and it's going pretty well. Ok, I can write it and understand, but still can't pronounce it easily.

Scott WALKS!!!!! Yes, he's off and walking, not all the time, and not for long, but he's a walker now. Woohoo!! Please remind me in a few months when I whine that he won't stay in one place that I was happy about this.

Update time

So Scott is almost walking. He'll walk if you hold out something he wants and bribe him. Excepting I'm not calling it bribing, it's positive re-enforcement. Yeah, that's my story and I'm sticking to it. He doesn't want to do it cause you want him to, but he will when he wants something. He's so cute, 11 teeth, and one that just doesn't want to break free and join the rest. He's 15 months now and has been up at Grandma's all weekend visiting his Auntie Bekah before she goes off to Iraq. There's something to be said about the mental state of J's family, she volunteered. But after a year there she gets to spend 2 years in England. Lucky wench.

As for me, the dr's say I'm depressed and anxious. In the words of my generation DUH! Tell me something I didn't know. PT is going ok, makes me sore and tired after it's over, pretty much for the rest of the day too. I need to talk to my primary care doc and get something for the days when nothing helps the pain. I don't need it all the time like my mom is doing, but when it's bad I want something.

Spinning silk right now for a birthday present for a friend of mine. I have found someone who knits, crochets, spins, weaves, and does all these beautiful dresses in the ren faire style. It's a match made in heaven friendship wise, because I also like her hubby to be and his daughter and they all like J and Scott. Woohoo!!

Other than that, not much is going on, planning on spoiling my SP11 partner, and sending messages to both the spoiler and spoilee lately. I'm also learning how to speak Scots Gaelic, which should be interesting.

Ravelry Update!!

No, I'm not on the site yet, wishful thinking.

Just 3729 people ahead of me, and I can't wait.

The find of the year!!

Ok, so I was up on craigslist looking for a loom (for those who don't know CL, go to www.craigslist.org and poke around. You'll have to pick your city though, or it'll come up as San Francisco) and I found this wonderful woman selling off her fiber collection because she's moving. Yeah, I know, strange, but she's got a HUGE collection, and so I can see why she didn't want it around when showing her house. So, here's the haul, because of course I like to help people out and this was the best way I could find. 8.5 Pounds of a black coltswold fleece, washed and carded into this big ole batt. An Award winning fleece too, blue ribbon. $25 for the whole thing. Than 2 ounces of beautiful white bunny Angora, so silky soft it's amazing. $1. Yes, that's 1 dollar for 2 ounces. Next up is a big ball, 15 oz, of a merino and what I'm assuming Colonial in black and beautiful reds, blues, greens, and some goldish yellows. $4 for that. 3 oz green and 8 oz white merino, $4 (those were for a friend). Silk soft grey suri alpaca 7 oz, $1.50. Last, but not least, somewhere between 2 and 3 pounds of beautiful red-fawn aplaca, washed but uncarded. $3.

I'm in fiber heaven. I want to spin up all the black and knit shawls out of it. No idea what to do with the bunny fiber, except cuddle it. The beautiful grey aplaca is going to be spun lace weight and made into a shawl. I'm thinking shawls outa the fawn aplaca too, but not sure yet.

Are we sensing a theme in the project planning there? I'm sure that there will be some of the yarns made outa this stuff for sale in the shop as soon as I can spin it.

Ravelry

Had to go and look, and here's where I stand in line. Woohoo!! Maybe some day I'll actually get on there. I feel for those at the end of line.

• You are #14514 on the list.
• 4853 people are ahead of you in line.
• 12757 people are behind you in line.
• 34% of the list has been invited so far

Contest questions SP11

1. What is the one knitting accessory you could not live without? My Knitpicks options needles
2. If you're heading on vacation, do you take knitting with you? If
so, how much and what type of project? Heck yeah. Whatever I'm working on, or some lace yarn, cause I'm sure to think of something to make by what I see.
3. Where have you travelled to that you'd consider your favorite spot? San Francisco (but lived there for 1.5 years) The bay area in general. More wine country than anything
4. What is your favorite knitting book at the moment? Do you own it? Barbra Walkers books. and no, I have none of them. I like the 2nd the best. *hint hint* :)
5. Do you listen to podcasts? Which is your favorite(s)? Not really

The last month in general

Ok, so I haven't been blogging much lately. There's reasons for this. I mentioned that at the beginning of last month I had the weekend from hell. I wound up having to go to court a few times to get that weekend settled, but it's all taken care of now.

My mom was planning on adopting 4 little girls from TX into her family. They were Shelly (7), Susan (5), Mary (3), and Rose-Marie (9 weeks). On the day they were to be flying up to meet their new mommy for the first time, the got on a plane, and thought they were starting a new life. Instead their chartered flight went down, and they got to rejoin their birth families. It was a hard blow for my whole family, and so I haven't been up to writing very much lately.

I'm sure you all heard of the bridge collapse here in the Twin Cities. That kinda shook me up, because we had been stuck in traffic on it not 15 minutes before it went down. Scary.

On another note, I have good news health wise. I finally have the diagnosis I've been trying to get for the last 4 years. I have been diagnosed with Fibromyalgia. Fibromyalgia is a chronic condition characterized by widespread pain in your muscles, ligaments and tendons, as well as fatigue and multiple tender points. All it took was a doctor to actually listen to my history and look at the tests that said everything was normal and decide it wasn't just in my head.

More good news, I have my website up and running. I feel so happy. There's not a great amount of stock up right now, but give me a few more days and there will be. I've got yarns drying right now.

Happy Weekdays!

SP 11 questions

1. What is/are your favorite yarn/s to knit with? What fibers do you absolutely *not* like? Love silk and alpaca and wool and cotton. Acrylic is ok, but not up there. I like using new fibers and yarns, like soy and bamboo

2. What do you use to store your needles/hooks in? whatever is handy. Except the Options, they are in their case and there they will stay

3. How long have you been knitting & how did you learn? Would you consider your skill level to be beginner, intermediate or advanced? A long time ago (to me anyway) over 10 years now, and advanced

4. Do you have an Amazon or other online wish list? nope, but if you ask I can tell you things I covet

5. What's your favorite scent? my baby boy when he's fresh from the bath. Nothing really heavy. Clean natural scents

6. Do you have a sweet tooth? Favorite candy? Chocolate, the darker the better

7. What other crafts or Do-It-Yourself things do you like to do? Do you spin? Spin, dye, tat, crochet, weave, cook, sew

8. What kind of music do you like? Can your computer/stereo play MP3s? (if your buddy wants to make you a CD) Anything but rap and gospel. And yes

9. What's your favorite color(s)? Any colors you just can't stand? Greens and blues. No pinks unless a dusky rose, and please, no yellows or oranges.

10. What is your family situation? Do you have any pets? Hubby and son, no critters

11. Do you wear scarves, hats, mittens or ponchos? Yes, yes, yes, HELL NO!

12. What is/are your favorite item/s to knit? Lace anything

13. What are you knitting right now? Lace shawl and a bunch of other things

14. Do you like to receive handmade gifts? yes

15. Do you prefer straight or circular needles? Bamboo, aluminum, plastic? circular, and metal

16. Do you own a yarn winder and/or swift? nope, and nope

17. How old is your oldest UFO? 26, but I love him and he'll never be done. :) (hubby)

18. What is your favorite holiday? Halloween

19. Is there anything that you collect? Stuffed critters, rubber ducks, yarn, craft stuff, and odd friends

20. Any books, yarns, needles or patterns out there you are dying to get your hands on? What knitting magazine subscriptions do you have? No subscriptions and I'd love to get my grubby paws on the Barbra Walker books.

21. Are there any new techniques you'd like to learn? Can't think of any

22. Are you a sock knitter? What are your foot measurements? nope, and I wear a size 7.5 US shoe in womens. I can always measure the feet if needed

23. When is your birthday? 10/6/19??

24. Are you on Ravelry? If so, what's your ID?

Yeah, well.....

Ok, so the tour isn't doing all that great anymore. Not for lack of trying or wanting to, but because my dingbat hubby sprained and maybe tore a muscle in my shoulder. *sniff*. Meanie. So I have all this wool (and soy, and silk) that I can't do anything with. Except look at, and dye up. And for the record, when I said my goal was to spin all my fiber (not that I'll make it now) I ment all that was for me, and not what I was dying for the store.

Yes, store. I'm starting up a craft business. Website soon to be up, I just have to add some more products to the site, and get someone to host it. It's called Tangled Web FiberArts and soon there will be a real site there, promise. I'm gonna get working on that as soon as my camera stops transfering pictures of the rovings to the computer. I'll be offering hand dyed and hand spun yarns, in a bunch of different fibers.

Off to code. :)

Tour De Fleece

Well, the tour is going good, already done with the white that I have, and am about to start the pastels. Silk is for when i have to go places, so it's great for the doctors, and bus rides. Not to mention that the lady in court was interested in what I was going.

Oh poop

We just found out that my sister-in-law (the only one I can really stand from that family) is being sent to Iraq in December. Please keep her in your thoughts and prayers, and hope that she comes home safely. Her name is Bekah and she's 20 in the Air Force.

In other news, I'll be doing the Tour De Fleece this year, using my new wheel, I plan to spin up every bit of roving I have in the house. About 2.5 pounds in total, with natural, pale pink and pale green, and a lovely dark green. Until the wheel gets here I'll be using my spindle with 1.5 ounces of silk caps. Woohoo!!

My new baby

I'm gonna have a new baby soon. It'll weight a little over 8 pounds, and have white and black skin. Parts of it will move, and twirl in a circle whenever I step on it. Yes, I'm talking about a spinning wheel. I just bought a Babe's Production double treadle spinning wheel and I'll be bugging the leasing office everyday about if my package has arrived yet. I would have asked them today, but since I just purchased it today, I doubt that it would be here. I tried to talk J into driving to WI to go and get it, with the phrase of "It's just a 4 hour drive, it's not that far." He laughed, because I always tell him driving 3 hours to see the in-laws is about 2 hours and 59 minutes too long. Oh well.

Damn it, I want my wheel already!

The good, the bad, and the fuzzy

Ok, so the weekend from hell. You want to know more, email me. All I can say is it blew the big one!

Than good stuff happened. All day I've known I had a package down at the rental office (since our mail boxes are tiny they leave them there) but didn't have the time to go and get it. Had to go to the bank and run around downtown Minneapolis. Than we went to the Yarnery and wandered around in there. Never been there before. Wound up getting a few things. Some Misty Lace Apalca in a beautiful denim blue, a skein of Debbie Bliss's Pure Silk (cause I deserve it after the weekend), and some sock yarn aptly named Smooshy. Plus the pattern to make socks (never tried it before) and some DP's.

Than I got home and got me my box. And what a box!!! It's from my Secret Pal, and what made me laugh is my Secret Pal is the person I was spoiling! My first one dropped out and so I got a new one. BJ, you a wonderful partner. I'll be posting pictures later tonight, I have to unpack the camera first. But there's 5 skeins of 1824 cotton yarn, in a lovely blue color, the same yarn I had been thinking about buying today! And 2 skeins of a beautiful fawn colored alpaca, so soft! And 2 skeins of Crystal Palace's Panda Cotton, so pretty and green. Scott won't give me one of them. A big skein of some superwash wool in blues and purples, so I'm gonna make myself some socks too. Not only is that soft and cuddly, but it's hand dyed by BJ herself! Bwt, go check out her Etsy.com store. More Alpaca to follow, 5 skeins of either a heavy lace or a fingering weight in a dark heathered blue. The labels are in Spanish (or whatever they speak in Peru, I used to know) but it's oooohhhhhh so soft. That's it on the fiber side, but not it in a long shot. Some wonderful lemon tea, which I can't wait to try iced. Pretty blue stationary and post-it notes saying to be reasonable and do it my way (so true). Cute little buttons that I can use on Scott's sweater I'm making him, they are train cars, and a yummy smelling cinnamon candle. A book to read to Scott about a day in Maine, and something that I think even trumps the wonderus yarns. A 75% cocoa bar of chocolate from Droste and a 85% cocoa bar from Lindt. I think J thought I was gonna share with him, til I told him I was still mad at him and there wasn't a chance in hell. Maybe in a day or 2 I'll share.

Thanks again BJ!!!

Crazy much?

I must be crazy. I just entered the shawl I'm knitting in the State fair. Problem is, I JUST started it. Should be fun, my first attempt at desiging a lace shawl. It'll be done in the knitpicks shadow that I just got. I'm gonna try and get a big chunk done this week, cause Scott is up at the MIL's.

I have decided that the shawl will be a shetland style shawl, something I've never done before. Again, I MUST be crazy!!

On a SP10 front. My one partner dropped out or something, so I have a new spoiler, and she's sending me a package soon. Still haven't heard anything from my person I'm spoiling, and I can't send her package until I do, because I was a dingbat and deleted her address. I know, if it wasn't attached it'd fall off.

Feeling Guilty

For some strange reason I feel really guilty right now. I went and ordered yarn, for me. *GASP* Usually when I buy yarn it's to make something for someone else, and not this time. I went and ordered 5 skeins of Knitpicks Shadows in Redwood Forest. It's all red and brown and really pretty. I think I'll knit lace (duh!), maybe check out the Victorian Lace Today book from work (the perk of working in a bookstore, checking out books) and make something from there. Or maybe I'll try a shetland style shawl. OOOOO, liking that idea. That's what I shall do. Oh goodie, I have a plan. And for those reading, knitpicks has that yarn and color on sale right now, $1.99 a skein!!!!! Not feeling so guilty anymore. *happy dance*

Still haven't heard anything back from my person I'm spoiling, and I don't want to send the box until I do. Which is ok, cause I'm adding little things I find to the box.

Oh, Scott had a good b-day. Or so I think. We took him to the park, and than he was so tuckered out he napped for about 2 hours. And of course we gave him some cake. I'll have to post pictures up here of the mess. Than we met up with some friends at Chuckie Cheese's to play skee-ball and just have fun. Poor kid crashed when we got home. We've been keeping him up later and later, to move his bedtime back a little bit. He didn't get to bed until almost 10pm, so later than normal for him. Just means I'll get to sleep in later, which is why we started moving it back in the first place.

Off to plan a pattern, cause I have yarn on the way!!!

Scott's growing.

Scott's one!!! How dare the little monkey grow up. He's so big, and so cute. Expect more videos of him to be posted, cause we just got a camcorder.

WAAAAAAAAAAA. My baby grewed up.

Just found this in Kerry's blog, and I had to.

1. WAS YOUR FIRST PREGNANCY PLANNED? No
2. WERE YOU MARRIED AT THE TIME? Not at the beginning, but by the end we were. At the start we weren't even dating. There's a story for you.
3. WHAT WERE YOUR REACTIONS? Oh S***, what do I do now. Than happy
4. WAS ABORTION AN OPTION FOR YOU? No
5. HOW OLD WERE YOU? 22
6. HOW DID YOU FIND OUT YOU WERE PREGNANT? I took a pregnancy test.
7. WHO DID YOU TELL FIRST? the dad :)
8. DID YOU WANT TO FIND OUT THE SEX? Yeah, daddy blurted it out at an ultrasound
9. DUE DATE? June 24, 2006
10. DID YOU HAVE MORNING SICKNESS? Just certain smells made me queasy, never puked
11. WHAT DID YOU CRAVE? Cookies and cream Ice cream, and anything crunchy (chips and salsa)
12. WHO/WHAT IRRITATED YOU THE MOST? Not being able to eat meat. It made me wanna upchuck
13. WHAT WAS YOUR FIRST CHILD'S SEX? Male
14. DID YOU WISH YOU HAD THE OPPOSITE SEX OF WHAT YOU WERE GETTING? At the time I was a little miffed, but I love me my baby boy and wouldn't change him
15. HOW MANY POUNDS DID YOU GAIN THROUGHOUT THE PREGNANCY? 30
16. DID YOU HAVE A BABY SHOWER? Just one, and I ended up cooking for it, since I couldn't trust my mum's cooking
17. WAS IT A SURPRISE OR DID YOU KNOW? I knew
18. DID YOU HAVE ANY COMPLICATIONS DURING YOUR PREGNANCY? I was always dizzy. Walking into doorframes dizzy. And more seizures too
19. WHERE DID YOU GIVE BIRTH? Inter community Hospitals, La Palma Ca. Not the hospital I'd been led to believe I would, I got told 2 days before he was born
20. HOW MANY HOURS WERE YOU IN LABOR? c-section, but had pretty strong contractions for 8 days, they were just REALLY far apart
21. WHO DROVE YOU TO THE HOSPITAL? hubby and mommy
22. WHO WATCHED YOU GIVE BIRTH? hubby
23. WAS IT NATURAL OR C-SECTION? C-Section
24. DID YOU TAKE MEDICINE TO EASE THE PAIN?Only for the op, and than after. Was cut in half, gimme a break
25. HOW MUCH DID YOUR CHILD WEIGH? 5lb 12oz
26. WHEN WAS YOUR CHILD ACTUALLY BORN? June 9th, 2006
27. WHAT DID YOU NAME HIM/HER? Scott Wayne
28. HOW OLD IS YOUR FIRST BORN TODAY?He'll be 1 in just under 2 weeks. WAAAA< my baby is growing up.

It's done!!!

Woohoo, the pineapple shawl is done. It's not as big as some shawls, it's just a little shoulder shawl. J is trying to convince me to put fringe on it, but no thanks. It's cotton so I think that the fringe would constantly stick to itself and tangle and who the heck wants that?? I hope she likes it. Still haven't heard anything from her for a while.

J and I have a friend moving up to live with us, and he should be here by Friday. He's Scott's godfather (ok, one of them) and a really good friend. We'll be happy to have him here.

Lifestyle changes

I know I haven't blogged lately, and I'm sorry. J and I have been making some changes in our lifestyle and it's been playing havoc with my free time. Not to mention that I've started
a second job, where I actually get to take Scott with me. So between work, more work, and taking care of the family I have little time to do other things.I have been working like mad on a custom design for something. I have to keep it hush hush for now, because it's for my secret pal. I doubt she's going through all the blogs and looking for hints, but you never know. All I can say is it's an amazing pattern, custom made by me, and of course she's going to be getting the finished item too. I am making it from hand-spun cotton yarn of a fingering weight, and once it's done I'll be dying it. I decided not to dye it before it was made, because with having to spin up more yarn as I need it, I could never be sure of the yardage. Plus, it's lace and I don't want to have pooling in the pattern. I'll post pictures once it's done. I just hope she likes it. Haven't received any answers from her lately, and hope that everything is going ok over there. I know that she has a little baby girl, so I can understand lack of time.

Off to make teriyaki chicken sandwiches for dinner. Toasted with mozzarella cheese and than topped with pineapple and lettuces and tomato. How yummy does that sound?

Sorry

Sorry about the lack of posting lately. I've been working on something for my SP partner and also trying to get my company up and running, which involves working my rear end off on a website and also making product to post in it.

Hi SP swap partner, sorry I haven't done this lately. How's the baby?

I'm back

Yeah, so that was a waste of time there at the hospital. They told me exactly nothing, except what I already knew. Apparently I suffer from non-epileptic events. Well, DUH, I could have saved a week and not had to be there with things stuck to my head. Been having these things all my life, I think I know what they are by now.

On a fiber note, I have knit 2 mobuis scarfs (using the method where they are knit from the center line out, not knit the scarf and do the half twist) while I was in there. Planing on making more, but I need to get some REALLY long circs, because a 29 inch isn't cutting it. Maybe go buy some Options with a 60" cord.

Sending swap stuff out soon, so that'll be fun. Hoping that she'll like what I send, but that shouldn't be hard. Who doesn't love yarn and other stuff. :)

Scott's 10 months now, and he's so cute. Just learning how to walk while holding onto my fingers, so we spend half the day doing that while daddy's at work. Little brat still won't say mama much, once a week is the norm. And he's taken to screeching when he doesn't get his way, or is bored, or because he want's something, or because the sun is shining, or because he's breathing. Yeah, it's annoying, and wishing I had some hefty earplugs doesn't help much.

Off to eat the head of a chocolate rabbit now. *evil laugh*

Offline for a while

I'll be offline for a while starting next week. I'll be in the hospital having an extended Video EEG done for my seizures. I think of it as a vacation from the kid :)

So I have no idea if I'll have internet access but I promise to pop back on when I do.

Moving and other info

Hi everyone,

The move is going pretty well, almost all settled in now. Scott's loving the new place, so I am happy with that. On another note, I'll be vanishing off the face of the planet for a week or so starting on the 2nd of April. The doctors want to run some extended video EEG's to see if they can record a seizure, so I"ll be in the hospital for that. My sister and niece are coming out to watch Scott while I'm in there and J is at work, so I get to see my baby girl too, and they get a break from the mum and step-dad.

Best wishes to all, and if you're someplace warm think of me, cause it's still only about 35 here. :(

We move

Hi everyone. Welcome to my new Apartment. Yes, that's right. I have finally moved from the clutches of the AIL into our very own apartment. It's not much, but it's mine. Scott seems to like it, and J and I are ecstatic. We just got internet access today, and cable as well.And since we're here, I must have gotten my computer fixed. All it needed was a new graphics card because when my sister's old monitor blew it fried my card. :'(

So happy!!!

And to my new SP10 person, the hostess has my new address, so never fear. Kerry is a great hostess, she was mine last round as well. I look forward to being spoiled by whomever you are.

Thanks!!!

New Apartment!!

Woohoo!!! A place of our own, finally. We sign the lease on the 6th (awaiting the IRS refund so we can buy furniture and such) and than we will have our own apartment. Yet, it's just a 1 bedroom, and yes, it's not that big, but it's mine, and his, and his. No aunts, no In-laws, and I can kick out whomever I want. Plus, I can have people over. What good are friends if you can't invite them over to your house for snacks, games, or movie nights?? What good is wanting to cook for people if you can't do it??

I'll post pictures and progress. SOOOOOO HAPPY!!!!


*** does a little happy dance ***

Questions for you

here are the SP 10 questions. Hope that they help my partner with spoiling me. Just so you know, I'll be moving soon in the beginning of March, so please emial me and I'll give you the new address as soon as I know it. Thanks.

1. What is/are your favorite yarn/s to knit with? What fibers do you absolutely *not* like?
Cotton. I love cotton. Wool is good, but i do have a sensitivity to it sometimes, so fair warning. i love Alpaca *hint hint* and silk. Pretty much I love anything natural (soy included). Not a big fan of acrylic yarns, though they do have their place. After all, once the world explodes we'll need some yarn to knit sweaters for the cockroaches. :)

2. What do you use to store your needles/hooks in? Whatever is handy. Right now it's in the interchangeable needle case, and the crochet hook case, and balls of yarn with their projects, a box, a bag, and a pocket in my purse, for the ones I don't want the hubby finding.

3. How long have you been knitting & how did you learn? Would you consider your skill level to be beginner, intermediate or advanced? Been knitting for 12 years, learned from a teacher in high school. Would consider myself advanced

4. Do you have an Amazon or other online wish list? Not online, but if you email for suggestions I can always give them. I work in a bookstore and get a good discount so I usually don't have a want list for books.

5. What's your favorite scent? NOT COFFEE. Sowwy, work in a coffee shop. I usually don't wear scents, but I like cinnamon, and citrus scents for around the house. And generally those "waterfall" and "ocean breeze" ones. If you go to the Body shop they have an oil called Oceanaus, I love that scent. Clean smells, with not a lot of notes.

6. Do you have a sweet tooth? Favorite candy? Heck yeah. Chocolate, the darker the better. you'll win my heart with 70% cacao chocolate. But red licorice, suckers (watermelon and strawberry). peanut M&M's, snickers. Those are all the favorites.

7. What other crafts or Do-It-Yourself things do you like to do? Do you spin? Knit, crochet, spin, weave, tat (needle, not shuttle), some basket weaving. Some sewing of renaissance costumes.

8. What kind of music do you like? Can your computer/stereo play MP3s? (if your buddy wants to make you a CD) Anything but rap and gospel. Yes, and yes (have an Ipod and a phone that plays them too.)

9. What's your favorite color(s)? Any colors you just can't stand? I love blues and greens, and deep dark reds that aren't too blue. Not a big fan of yellow or orange, and the only pink I like is a dusky rose color.

10. What is your family situation? Do you have any pets? Have the hubby (J) and bairn (Scott) and we're about to leave the aunts house and get our own apartment. No pets, the kid follows me around like a puppy dog anyway, so it's good.

11. Do you wear scarves, hats, mittens or ponchos? Yes, Yes, sometimes, hell no

12. What is/are your favorite item/s to knit? Shawls, baby things, scarves, toys

13. What are you knitting right now? baby presents for a friend at work. And the sweater below this post

14. Do you like to receive handmade gifts? Hell yes!!! I love handmade gifts

15. Do you prefer straight or circular needles? Bamboo, aluminum, plastic? circular. I never use straights, I lose them. metal are best, unless I'm using Dp's, than bamboo or metal. I really like the new Knitpicks Options needles. I have them in size 2 already. I plan on getting a full set of the changeable ones with the tax refund.

16. Do you own a yarn winder and/or swift? No, and no *sniff*

17. How old is your oldest UFO? 4 years

18. What is your favorite holiday? Halloween, and whatever excuse I can come up with

19. Is there anything that you collect? Rubber ducks, doilies, yarn, patterns, needles, dust, friends :)

20. Any books, yarns, needles or patterns out there you are dying to get your hands on? What knitting magazine subscriptions do you have? No subscriptions. See above on books. same with needles. Patterns are always a changing item. please just ask, it's easier.

21. Are there any new techniques you'd like to learn? I still need to learn how to knit socks, someone please inspire me to do that

22. Are you a sock knitter? What are your foot measurements? hehe, read #21. I wear a size 7 womens shoe, and the socks I buy say size 4-10. I'll measure and get back to you

23. When is your birthday? October 6th

I must be crazy

Ok, I must be totally insane. I am knitting a sweater. No, not a sweater, but a f***-ing amazing sweater. If anyone has the book Domiknitrix, by Jennifer Stafford, look in the back. See that pattern that's not even there? Elfin Goth. For those who don't have it, go here. Go ahead, I'll wait.



Did you see it. Did you love it? Did you take one look and say not a chance, I value what sanity I have left? Well, I did, I did, and I must not, because right now I'm un-plying yarn. Yes, that's not plying, that's un-plying. I'm taking those big honking cones of Peaches and Cream cotton yarn that you see at Wal-Mart, those only really good for dishcloths, and separating the sets of 4 plys in to 2 of 2 plys. It's a long and boring process, but something I can do when the migraine flares up into the Marine Corps Marching Band. (side note, I had an MRI on Tuesday, and I see neurologists on Monday, maybe they'll figure out what the hell is going on). Please note, for a small I need almost 1,200 yards of this stuff, and there's about 850 on the cone, so I can get almost 1,700 yards of dk weight cotton for 6 bucks and some tv watching time. not too shabby.

I knitted up a *GULP* swatch with my yarn, and on size 4 needles it'll work just fine. I promise to post pictures ASAP, and will keep you all informed of my hair pulling out status. It should help that we're moving into our own apartment when the IRS check gets here. I gotta say, get married, have a kid, and move cross-country all in one year, you'll get one heck of a nice refund back. It'll be here by the 6th of March according to the IRS, and they usually don't lie about that. Than Sushi here we come, and new apartment here we come (via IKEA cause we have NO furniture).


Ok, rambeling on and on. I need to take advantage while Scott is sleeping and get cracking!!! Wish me luck!

Pattern complaint

Ok, if patterns are published or posted, and they say that they've been tested, you would expect that they don't have many problems. The pattern I used to make my SP9 partner her birthday present, a circular shawl in a feather and fan lace pattern, really doesn't have a problem in the pattern, but she might have mentioned that it cups! I used a fingering weight cotton yarn on size 5 needles (one bigger than normal cause it's cotton and has no give) and the bleeping thing cups. I soooo don't want to remake this, but I just might have to if I can't block it flat. Maybe it's the cotton, but I hope not.

I'll post pictures after I dye it and block it to within an inch of it's little organic life.

Fianlly pictures

I'm finally getting pictures posted of all the goodies my Secret pal Natasha sent me. Explanations of the items will be included.



Above we have magazines she sent away for for me, from GERMANY!! They both have beautiful lace designs and I love them, already working on one, will post as it goes

These are hand dyed rovings she made for me, from buttery soft merino wool. I'm spinning the orange one right now, and it's looking like spun copper, so beautiful. There's about 3 to 4 oz of each. but more of the pastel rainbow in the back.

Lovely soft merino fingering weight wool, in such beautiful colors. Haven't decided what to make yet, but I have an idea. The purple poppy is hand made by Natasha as well.



Last, but not least by any means, some hand spun /hand dyes yarns. The one in the back is from a farm in Wisconsin, but the others are hers. Both of the greens are singles of a sport weight nature, thinking scarfs for them. The wheel is wool, and the twist is an apalca blend, if I remember correctly. The multi-colored is a mohair blend, sooooo soft.

There was also a cinnamon candle and a bunch of 70% cocoa squares, which have long since been munched on.

Thanks again Natasha, you're the best!!

Oh, if I didn't tell everyone, wander over to www.luxefibers.com and check out more of her things!

Move over Addis

Ok Addi Turbo's, move it on over, there's a new needle in town. I hate to break it to ya, but the Knitpicks options are just sooooo much nicer. The cord is as bendy (big plus) and the points are nice and points, which is something the turbos lack (being blunt like they are). I have got to get me some more of these wondrous needles and see if the larger sized match up to the little ones. And they make DP's too!

Yes, I know, bad blogger. I need to get pictures of my haul from Natasha posted, which should happen next week when the aunt is out of the house for a whole week. Getting ready for a new job where I'll actually be making money! and the hubby and I are looking for a place, since he just got a good security job again. Things are finally looking up and I place all the blame for that on all you guys shoulders, for keeping me cherry and telling me it'll get better. Thanks!!

Now back to my knitting of my SP's final present. I know it will get to her after the swap ends, but it's for her b-day and she's been warned. I'd tell you what it is, but just in case she somehow read through all the blogs and discovered mine.....mum's the word. I'll post after it's done.

On the baby front, Scott's crawling EVERYWHERE!! and has learned how to stand up with a little bit of assistance (ie. the couch, chair, toy, box, leg). Kids are so great and he's really cute too.

My Secret Pal

What a pal I have in my secret pal. I just wanted to pop up here and let her know I got the box of goodies and to say thanks. More details and many more thank you's to follow, but I want to get pictures posted with them, and have to find the dang cable for the camera.

THANK YOU SOOOOO MUCH!!

Can't hardly wait

So far so good, this year is doing ok. I'm starting to plan the wedding thingie for J and I, cause we never really did one except at the courthouse and that should be interesting. And my Secret Pal just told me that my package is on the way, so I want to wait out by the mailbox and mug the mail man to get it. There's things from Germany in there and i think I know what they are and I just want the mail to get here. I don't do the whole waiting game very well........too impaitent.


Scott has teeth now, 2 on the bottom 1 on the top, and he's learning how to crawl. can't remember if I said any of this before.

Happy new year to everyone.



Is the mail here yet?????