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What a lovely way to spend a sunday afternoon.  I had afternoon tea today with my friend K and several friends of hers.  She didn't think I would make it, I have blown her off so often in the past.  too tired, too depressed, too whatever.  Well, she called me as Iwas just about to fall asleep. I had totally forgotten this afternoon's shindig; I am so glad she called, and so glad I went.  The company was lovely.  There were 7 of us, two pots of tea, a plate of finger sandwiches, fruit with dip, cheeses (a gift to K from her husband's trip to Paris) and a variety of sweets (lots of chocolate, of course).   We talked of our jobs, hobbies, the children in our lives, trips taken and any other topic that came to mind.  I had met all of the other women except for one, one more to add to the circle of people K has introduced me to.  K is such a wonderful person.  She radiates such caring, peace and love.  She is very giving of her heart, her time, her spirit.  What a great friend.  

That's her on the left.  She probably wouldn't like this picture :-)

Anyway, I have to work tonight.  Actually tomorrow morning, since I have to be there at 3 am.  I think I'll go in at 4.  Cleaning is so not happening right now, too tired.  Why are the exterminators coming tomorrow *sigh*

sp 10 Questions & answers

1. What is/are your favorite yarn/s to knit with? What fibers do you absolutely *not* like?

I love natural fibers, hate most acrylics.  Call me a yarn snob, I admit it.  I realy love mohair, alpaca and silk blends.  

2. What do you use to store your needles/hooks in?

Currently my needles are stored in anything I can find to put them in.  I have cloth holder that hangs from a bookcase, and I have started putting the dpns in ziplocs, 'cause I keep sitting on them :-).

3. How long have you been knitting & how did you learn? Would you consider your skill level to be beginner, intermediate or advanced?

I started knitting years ago.  I mostly taught myself, but I did take a beginners class at a yarn shop.  

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

Yes, I will supply the address later.

5. What's your favorite scent?

I love gardenias.

6. Do you have a sweet tooth? Favorite candy?

I love good chocolate, caramel, and twizzlers.

7. What other crafts or Do-It-Yourself things do you like to do? Do you spin?

I would love to learn to spin, but haven't gotten the courage to take a class yet.  I sometimes make beaded jewelry.

8. What kind of music do you like? Can your computer/stereo play MP3s? (if your buddy wants to make you a CD)

My music tastes vary, I pretty much like everything except Kenny G.

9. What's your favorite color(s)? Any colors you just can't stand?

I like vibrant colors, jewel tones more than pastels.  

10. What is your family situation? Do you have any pets?

No kids, no significant other, one cat.

11. Do you wear scarves, hats, mittens or ponchos?

I don't wear ponchos, but I love scarves, hats, gloves, wrist warmers and shawls.

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

I like scarves because they are so quick, sweaters because they will be worn so much, and thick wooly socks because they are such a comfort item.

13. What are you knitting right now?

I am finishing "Fantine" from French Girl Knits, in the middle of a second one, and at the start of a pair of Snicket Socks.

14. Do you like to receive handmade gifts?

I love handmade gifts!

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

I prefer circs to straight.  Bamboo to plastic.  I have a love/hate relationship with my Addi Turbos.

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

No on both counts, although I have been eyeing both.

17. How old is your oldest UFO?

Well, it's now up to three years.  still haven't finished that darn sweater.

18. What is your favorite holiday?

Christmas.  My birthday is pretty cool too :-)

19. Is there anything that you collect?

Teapots and teas.  

20. Any books, yarns, needles or patterns out there you are dying to get your hands on? What knitting magazine subscriptions do you have?

I have a subscription to Interweave Knits that I received as a gift from my rockin sp Sabine.  I'm always drooling over books, but nothing comes to mind right now.

21. Are there any new techniques you'd like to learn?

I would like to learn to spin and dye my own fibers.

22. Are you a sock knitter? What are your foot measurements?

I have knit socks, usually the wooly walk around the house type.  

23. When is your birthday?

 April 21st, Taureans rule!!!

no blogging for the last couple of weeks.  very lame of me, i know.  
and now i once again have had a liquid and electronics accident.  
I spilled vitawater on my digital camera.  *sigh*
last time it was diet pepsi and my ipod, which i had replaced, but now it's my camera.
i really need to stop this :-)
 

EE 11

I needed pictures, so I am putting in these.
These are from my first ee (estrogen event).  I am really looking forward to the next one.  I have never been to michigan (I think that's where we are going, I'm just following Kelly's orders :-)
The last picture is a view of the hill I am standing on in picture 3 from the bottom.  I can't believe I walked all the way up there.  Kelly said I was very quiet.  I told her I had two choices, I could breath or I could talk, but not both.

owwwwwww!

I feel like I am falling apart *snatching up a chocolate truffle*
I mean, my thumb hurts, been sore for a while *opening box and munching on another 
truffle* Now my leg hurts!  What is this, I feel like I am falling apart!  *eyes box, thinking 
"should I?"*   Could it be my diet?  Is there something wrong with eating chocolate chip 
cookies for lunch and truffles for dinner with a diet coke chaser *where did I put that soda 
anyway???*
Oh well.

My needles haven't arrived at springwater yet.  I called the store yesterday and they said, 
nothing comes in a week.  Hmf!  Well, we'll see about that.  I have already paid for
those needles or else I would have canceled the order.  I found a site that sells needles.  I ordered 3 sets: size 19 double points, size 19 circulars and size 17 double points.  They said they would send it in two days, lets see if these take two weeks to arrive (somehow, I doubt it).

I am really in love with this Fantine pattern and I intend to make it lots.  I am going to make one for big sis for her birthday and probably one for middle sis for mother's day.  And maybe one for mom.  It is such an easy pattern, I have to see how it does with the lambs pride bulky.  That would mean size 13 or so needles.  Which seems strange because that yarn doesn't seem as thick as the stuff I am using.  Whatever, a swatch will answer that question right quick.   
On a totally different note, I called another yarn shop and asked for the 17 dpns.  they tried to talk me into a smaller 16 inch long set of circulars, most likely Addi Turbos.  I am now very much anti Addi Turbos (in anything larger than a size 10).  One of my size 17 Addis broke!!!!! midproject.  The darn tube just slipped right off the needle end and I can't get it back on.  Of course, no one takes needles back so I just lost $24.  @%^*  and more importantly, I can't finish the second sweater until I finish the first!!!!!  Which is why I am getting the size 19 needles, because I think the blue sky is too heavy for the size 17s, and I think the gauge will be fine.  
Anyway, this is more than long enough.  Still needs pics!

shoppin' with the kiddies!

Had the neice and nephew last weekend.  We had a blast, even though the boy didn't find
the video game he wanted.  Got lots of stuff at REI for the neice's trip to Canada.  Snow
boarding pants, glove liners, gaiter.  Spent like 250 on the kid, told her it was her Christmas,
birthday and Christmas gift.  Like I'm not going to get her a birthday present, hah!
They did my laundry, 7 loads of it, and washed my dishes, and cleaned my bathroom.  For
pay, of course (whole foods rates of 10 bucks an hour, with slight deductions for the repeated reminders to finish their tasks).  It was lovely to have the company (and the labor).  I really need to be more social, but I am not sure how to work it in my schedule (and commit to it).  I have tried the local snb, but sometimes some of the folk there seem a little snooty.  I went for a while, but then I stopped.  I tried going back one day last year, but the feel wasn't right.  I am kinda shy (hard to believe sometimes) and so it takes a lot for me to get into conversations with people and to make friends.  

*sigh*

I am sitting here, waiting for springwater fiber to call and inform me my knitting 
needles have  arrived.  Until that time, I am stuck, sleeveless, in Fantine.
Of course, I could work on my snicket socks......oh, yea, those are in the bag too........
hmmmm.........I think, snicket socks it is!  
Still no cable, so no pics.

okay, i'm late

gotta go to work right now, but first I need to thank my pal Sabine, who totally rocks!!!! 
I recieved my last package and it was all yarn, the most beautiful, softest, fatest yarn, 
I totally love it.  I took pictures, which I will share later (need to find the darn cable 
for the camera), but for now I wanted to say Sabine is awesome!!!!
Thanks Sabine!
 

doan wanna go to work, wanna knit!!!

Okay, I have to go to work.  Work sucks right now, but that's okay.  
Actually it doesn't suck, there are just numerous challenges that need to be met.
And I have started Fantine, it's a French Girl pattern I picked up at Stitch DC.  I went to the Chevy Chase location, which I think I like better than the Cap Hill location, even though it is very tiny.  I am now kinda stuck on the short row shaping thing.  Never done it and I think I am going to have to break down and go to a shop for advice.  Oh, well.  It's a beautiful color though, found a wonderful wine shade.  Also, I think I am going to make it in several colors, to use up that yarn I bought on sale.  Stash reduction, yea!!!!!  Plus it knits quick, bulky yarn on size 17 needles.  I would be finished by now, except for the short row shaping.

Happy Birthday Daddy

 Today you would have been 72.  
I still miss you.  
I hear a song and think of you.  I hear that laugh of yours.  I hear you sing.  I hear you give that funny call you used to give when you heard a song you really liked, or when you just felt really good.  When I hear Moody's Mood, I can see you grab Mom and begin to sing as you danced her around the kitchen, while she shrieked with laughter.
I think of you when I watch a movie, and I wonder what you would say about it.  I think of you when I watch your favorite movies, and I remember lying across your bed as you sat in your favorite chair, and I remember the conversations, and the silence of sharing. 
I remember the hugs.  I remember the games.  
I remember the things you taught me and the fun we had in the teaching.  The darkroom you built.  The pictures we took.  The time shared developing them.  The 3 hour drives in search of good ice cream.  The time you took me to see a horror movie and I had nightmares for weeks. The fun of the drive-in, where we watched so many movies and we all laughed, or screamed, and just enjoyed.  How every outing was an adventure.  How you made the little things special.  You showed us the world and encouraged us to think.  
You taught me to enjoy things, how often I now forget to do that.  
For these things I thank you.
I love you.  
And I miss you.
Happy Birthday.

*sigh*

I admit it, I'm just a big ole kid.  I want one, I want it now!!!!  I want a wii!!!  *sigh* But unfortunately, I don't know where to find one.  And I am not paying $400 to $900 for a system that lists for only $250!  Those people are nuts.  I guess I'll just save my money until January, when they ship out more.  I hate waiting *sigh*

The pictures wouldn't come up before, but here they are now!!

 

to open, or not to open..........what, are you crazy!!!!

I recieved an email from my sp just yesterday, informing me that she had sent me 
a package.  She said it would arrive next week.  
Well, wonder of wonders the post office put me out of my misery and send it early!  
Yea!!!!!!

I looked at it for a moment and then opened it.  I admired the pretty Christmas wrap and 
thought  "I should probably wait for Christmas to open this".  I opened the card and
read that the theme for my gifts was "hand made".  At that point I thought "Wait?  Forget that!" and I ripped into each small pack.  

I admired the lavender bubble bath, and thought thankful thoughts about Sabine for writting 
the english translation on the back.  Way cool!  Can't wait to get into that one.  I loooooove lavender.

I gleefully felt the bigger pack and after ripping it open (very neatly, my father would be proud) 
donned my beautiful new wrist warmers.  Love the sparkle and the color!  Kitty loves them too!

I love the delicate and beautiful hand made stitch markers.  How did she know I was thinking of 
making some?  The cat liked them too.  They are now safely put away, out of kitty reach.

My favorite was the book.  Didn't take exact pictures of it, but I will.  She made me a knitting journal, complete with patterns, advice, and important notes on yarn, needles, sizing and yarn estimates.  She put a lot of work into it, and I am almost hesitant to use it, it's so wonderful!  But use it I shall, and I will think of her everytime.  She even included one of her own sock patterns!!!!  I am definitely going to make those!  And use my new stitch markers to keep track!
There is also a hat pattern and clapotis, with room for notes!!  I make copies of patterns and then loose them.  This is the perfect little book to put in the patterns I use and my notes.  Wonderful *sigh*

Sabine, thank you sooooo much!  It's a wonderful gift and you totally rock!!!!!!
 

day 1 - Peppermint Tea

Today I started my Advent Calendar, the one I recieved from my sp.  
Yes, I know it's late, but I claim illness fogged my brain.  It was sitting right next to my
computer, but it didn't register that the first was time to start! I've never done an Advent
event before.  This just puts me in the spirit of the holiday in a different way.  With working in retail, I tend to focus on the whole sales aspect of it, not the meditative thankful aspects of it.
It's nice to be reminded to sit back and take a bit of a break.  
So I just opened it and welcomed the aroma of peppermint.  Yummm.
Thanks Sabine! 

On the needles:
Well, the red and charcoal bag is done, but for the felting.  Now that means I am 6 knitted 
projects, and one check (niece needs cash for school trip to Canada, hope she knows this means
no present, or that this is her present) down, just 4 more to go.  I think the Balloon Bag will be
too big for the younger niece, so I am making her the larger of these.  It should be just small enough for a gameboy, a couple of games and a lip balm.  That should be perfect.  so far it's not
too big and I should be able to finish it today.  Way cool!  Pics to follow.  I still need to find little patterns for things like caps and beanies.  Just two more projects and my goal of finishing
knitted gifts for the bulk of the family will be reached!
Yea!!!!

WoooHooooo!

 Hey, I won the contest!!!!!!  I actually won something!  Shelby emailed me that I won the drawing for her contest.  Don't know what it is yet, can't wait to see.

10 inches and growing!!!!

ya know, somehow that doesn't sound right :-)
but here in all it's growing glory is Imani's purse.


And here is one for one of the little girls.



The other is a deeper purple.

Now I must say thanks to my sp who sent me the cutest get well card.  I really appreciated it
and it made me feel so much better!  Thanks Sabine!  She actually sent me several cards.  I really like them all!

And because I needed a picture of something relaxing, this is my eldest sister (the one we call the Little General) with my nephew, learning to juggle at the Maryland Renaissance Festival.  What is it about kids and jackets?  My nephew refuses to wear one and I usually have to carry and extra along 'cause I know he will eventually get cold *sigh*  Fortunately on this occassion I had a sweatshirt his sister had left at my house (and what is it about kids not understanding the phrase "get all your things together before your mother gets here to pick you up"?)

whine, whine, whine

well, i came home early today. i went to work and stayed for an hour, before i just told everyone isabel was in charge and left. i have a fever, or what passes for a fever for me, and i am tired. my temp is 96. which in a properly hydrated person is probably about a hundred plus. so i am sitting here feeling crappy and listening to my new favorite song, Anna Molly by incubus (see below) and trying to find tickets on line for the show. I think I am going to bed. waaaaaaaah, i feel sick. whine, whine, whine............
at least i have knitting! got the yarn for the coco bag. will start on that when i wake from my nap.

Incubus!!!!!!!!

I know my neighbors must be tired of this by now. After all, it's 12am and I have listened to this song like 6 times. I love this song!!!!! Okay, 'nuff said.

Incubus - Anna Molly

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happy, happy, joy, joy!

Incubus is playing the 9:30 Club and they have a new album!!!!  yea!!  
the tickets aren't on sale yet.  boooooo!!!  neither is the album.  hisss, boooo!!! 
I feel better today!  yea!!!!!!
just finished watching Aeon Flux.  ya know, i actually liked this movie.  it wasn't too bad.  
going to bed now.  still very sleepy.

2:30am, 2 hours and counting

it's been a rough week.  the store was jamming, i missed my sales target, my team 
basically fell apart at the seams on wednesday morning/tuesday night.  
gotta have a planning session with the new assistants.  folks just don't seem to 
understand volume, or initiative.  i mean, don't get me wrong, they are all good people, but why would someone during thanksgiving week, when the traditional items are pumpkin and apple
pie, make only 60 lbs of pumpkin pie filling (makes about 35 pies) and bake only 70 apple pies
(we had 65 special orders).  my assitant didn't check a darn thing *sigh*.  it's not their fault.
 i gave them too much credit.  in the future, i need to assume nothing.  

anyway.  this week i had over 15 hours of overtime in just 4 days.  i am exhausted.  still.  even after having a day off.  i realized today that i had consumed only 2 cups of water in 3 days, and
not taken my allergy meds, again.  i felt sooooo sick today.  i came home from work and fell
asleep for about 4 hours.  then i woke up and ate some ham.  bad move.  i spent the next 3
hours experiencing the worst nausea.  then the usual end result of a bad bout of nausea
occurred and i spent the next hour just lying there, on the sofa.  i really need to take better care
of myself *sigh*  i drank some water and had a nice warm roll with butter.  i feel better, but i
am still concerned.  ya never know.  i also had a nice cup of ginger raspberry tea.  that probably
did the trick.  yes, i know, you really wanted to hear all about this :-)  the roll was courtesy of
my 12 year old nephew (the one in the picture from about 3 posts ago).  he loves to help cook.  
he made the rolls all by himself, with just some hints from his mom and a few questions for his baker auntie.  they were quite good.

on the knitting front.  i am working on the pattern i chose for my sister, but she wants one to match her hat.  the charcoal and beige will be for my other sister i think.  the other one will get
the coco purse.