The New Year

It seems only fitting that the first real post of the New Year comes as the folks all around me are still setting off their fireworks and yelling hurray! This year in some ways has been worse that '08 or '09 were, though they each have their highs and lows. but I'm not here to share the woes of the year, rather some highlights. No, Scott's still not with me, and he's not with J yet either. Soon, we both hope. But I did get to spend a good chunk of time on the phone the few days before Christmas and we had some fun. I knit a sweater for him and according to J he didn't want to take it off. Once again the midget needs new socks, so I'll work on some of those. Getting to play with him on the phone made me want to cry, yet I was so happy to get to talk to him it didn't matter. I love trying to tell him a story, because if you don't ask what the person's name is, and what animal they are, and what they're doing before hand he'll interrupt you and tell you that you're not telling the story right. He speaks so beautifully now, I can't get over it. I know he's growing up, just hard to remember that sometimes when you're away. I had the hardest time trying to find things for him for the holiday, as I didn't want to get just toys or clothes. I think I had a good mix going. A few books, stuffed dragon, couple of crafty toys. Yes, I'm a parent who gives educational and craft related toys. Some regular ones too, but what's the fun of that?

Christmas Eve I went with some newish friends to another friends house for dinner. By dinner I mean we got there around 12:30 and didn't leave until 10:30 that night. There was duck involved, you know I was all ready for that. I just feel bad because I dozed about 4 hours of the day. Didn't sleep very well the night before, haven't slept well in weeks. The big day our landlord/neighbor drove us to gamma's early in the morning. Mainly cause out car is deader than dead. Not sure if it's the engine or transmission. Doubt it's worth fixing the car, not with its age. But spent the day at gamma's house with a roasty toasty fire going. I'm the firekeeper at her house, had a very nice bed of coals going by 10, so I took a nap for an hour. Than I made dinner. Just being there with her, whom I hadn't seen since early November, made the tight holiday here in the house worth it. I got jammies and everyone knows that xmas jammies from a grandma are the best type.

Than Monday night I checked my email and there was 2 emails from Amazon, each with gift card codes of $98, for a total of $196. From a Rybecka Johnstone. I have no idea who this woman is, and I just want to wish her a huge thank you from the bottom of my heart. Honestly and truly, I started crying when i say those in my email. I checked with amazon and the codes are legit, so Wednesday found me laying in wait for the UPS man, who was bringing me a Wifi Kindle. I also got books for Scott (sent straight to J so there's books for him at his daddy's place) and a light box setup so maybe the pictures I take for work will look decent.

The kindle couldn't have come at a better time. All day I've been laid up in bed shaking like a newborn foal, and coughing. I'm hoping that this is just an upper respiratory infection and not pneumonia rearing it's nasty head again. Just got over that thanks, don't want it again.

Anyway, that's my Year end review. I will be trying to blog more often this year, now that I have a decent computer and all that jazz.

SP16 questionaire

1.      What is/are your favorite yarn/s to knit with? What fibers do you absolutely not like? I love wools and cotton yarns, as well as some fancier ones. Not a big acrylic fan (not a snob, but it squeaks and sets my teeth on edge) and I'm super sensitive to mohair.

2.      What do you use to store your needles/hooks in? I have a few different cases for hooks, a large binder and smaller one too for my needles.

3.      How long have you been knitting & how did you learn? Would you consider your skill level to be beginner, intermediate or advanced? I've been knitting for 13 years or so, a sub in school taught me. Crocheting for 18 years easy, my grandma taught me. I'd consider myself advanced on knitting, and advanced intermediate for crocheting

4.      Do you have an Amazon or other online wish list? Amazon Wishlist

5.      What’s your favorite scent? I like clean scents, nothing fake. I'm actually fairly sensitive to scents so would prefer not to get any.

6.      Do you have a sweet tooth? Favorite candy? I do have, though it comes and goes. I love dark chocolates and other things.

7.      What other crafts or Do-It-Yourself things do you like to do? Do you spin? I knit, spin, crochet, tat (needle) weave, make jewelry, do chainmaile. I also make soaps and lotion bars and have played with paper

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. I have a few mp3 players and the laptop can take them.

9.      What’s your favorite color(s)? Any colors you just can’t stand? Darker colors. Blues, greens, reds (like wine, garnet, brick), greys. please no super bright ones and no pink, orange, or yellow please.

10.  What is your family situation? Do you have any pets? Live with family, 1 4yo son who's away from me. 8yo niece with me. We have a mutant goldfish and a turtle. The fish and turtle are both 6 inches, body length only.

11.  Do you wear scarves, hats, mittens or ponchos? Yes, yes, yes, and maybe.

12.  What is/are your favorite item/s to knit? Socks actually. Started knitting them for Scott, and he loves them.

13.  What are you knitting right now? Scocks (Scott Socks)

14.  Do you like to receive handmade gifts? Yes a million times yes

15.  Do you prefer straight or circular needles? Bamboo, aluminum, plastic? Circs please, I like metal ones though bamboo are growing on me.

16.  Do you own a yarn winder and/or swift? I have a winder, no swift

17.  How old is your oldest UFO? I think a few years. I usually unravel them after a while if they don't get worked on. I can always find another use for the yarn

18.  What is your favorite holiday? What winter holiday do you observe? Halloween. Myself personally? Not really any winter holiday. We keep xmas in the house because of my niece. I'm agnostic with pagan leanings. By that I mean respect for nature, paying attention to the turning of the seasons, the phase of the moon and that stuff.

19.  Is there anything that you collect? Yoda, the little green muppet from Star Wars. Love him. Hummingbirds, rubber ducks. Yarn, pretty stones.

20.  Any books, yarns, needles or patterns out there you are dying to get your hands on? What knitting magazine subscriptions do you have? Soft squishy yarns, lace weight or up. Sock yarns with interesting colors or shading. I'd love odd balls of sock yarn if you have any. Anything over 25 yards in one type would be awesome. Knitting a miter square blanket.

21.  Are there any new techniques you’d like to learn? I want to get better at cables.

22.  Are you a sock knitter? What are your foot measurements? I am, but I'm a noob. 8" ball of foot circ, 9.25 heel to toe, if you need more than that let me know.

23.  When is your birthday? October 6

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