The Latest 411

Let me start with saying how much I really suck at knitting math. Who knew so much math was required to plan patterns? You have to know how to adapt stitch patterns to the project you want to create and if it involves knitting in the round you need to figure out which part of the stitch pattern needs to be reworked to accommodate no wrong side knitting. I admit, I was feeling cocky! I had successfully modified Yankee Knitters Classic Socks #29 to my Ridged Feather Lace socks and thought with that being done I could simply move on to something more complex. I have underestimated the work required to make a pattern successful. I wanted to make something really special for my MIL's socks. Something lacy and really pretty. I tried and tried to adapt stitch patterns and make them fit and had to rip them out time and time again. So I am knitting her straight socks - no lace, no rib, no gansey design, nothing - just plain old straight socks. She'll love them no matter what I do to them but I still feel like I've failed. With no talent in the math department and no skill whatsoever in reading charts, nevermind trying to create my own, I'm stuck knitting other people's stuff. Not that I mind all that much - I was really hoping for my own "line" of sock designs. Maybe someday I'll have the time to sit down and devote the time I need to understanding how to incorporate stitch patterns and such...or maybe someday I'll meet a sock maven and have her/him show me how. For now, it's a straight sock or one knit from someone's else's design. Though I haven't gotten so far into the sock that I can't add a gansey...I really shouldn't push it!

No word from the dope who rear-ended me several weeks ago. After discussing my options with the insurance company yesterday I again tried to contact this guy. No answer and no call back. So, left with no options, I'm going to take the meager check from my insurance company, sock it away and wait to see if they can subrogate against him. If so, I'll reclaim my deductible and then I can get the bumper replaced/repaired whatever. In the meantime, I have to let it go and hope I can get it inspected without a repair. I'm stuck...can't afford the deductible, therefore can't repair the car. I'm giving this guy until Tuesday...no call back then it's up to the insurance company to fight with him. I made sure I told him that in the message I left yesterday. We'll see if he does the right thing. As of now, I'm not so sure.

Money is especially tight right now. We've been rubbing pennies together hoping more will spill out! No such luck. Hopefully Memere' will be able to pick up diapers, wipes and powder for us this weekend or we'll be going without much food. It's amazing what runs out when the money is not there to replace it. I've been operating without my vitamins for two weeks now and I spent the last week at home to save on having to put gas in the car. Which BTW we couldn't afford to do the last time so my SIL bought our gas for us. Not to mention she bought our groceries the week before that. Did I mention this is the SIL who is on food stamps? Tell me how pathetic that is that we can't even buy our own food and had to depend her food stamps. It sucks, that's how pathetic it is. Don't get me wrong...I'm eternally grateful to her for those two important gifts. Without them, we'd be stuck with no gas and no food. We'd be in the same spot this week if my Dad hadn't given us back the $$ we paid him for oil this week. I protested but he left it on the table for me... then I was so grateful, I cried. At this rate, it's going to be a long winter until hubby gets back on regular hours with any possibility of OT. The only good news out of the mess is at least we don't have credit cards! The only debt we have is the car. No pity please! It is what it is as I said to my friend vicioussweettart. I'm only enjoying the freedom to rant, which I feel I've earned!

Our old house has been suffering from the extreme temperature changes. We've had so many drips and leaks we've gone through a whole load of dishclothes trying to sop them up. Dad is mystified as to the origin of the dripping. We've got a new metal roof and new siding on the side of the house that is leaking the most! He's thinking it might be from around the chimney. He doesn't think the flashing was done properly. I then wondered why we didn't have this problem last year...nothing's changed since then! He really didn't know. So, this weekend we are going to be stuffing insulation up into the attic crawlspace. The stuff up there is so old it's probably disintegrated and the heat rising from the inside of the house is what's causing all the leak and drip problems. Let's hope some insulation will provide some relief. Old houses can really suck. Especially ones cobbled together like ours!

Wild man is good and wild today. He spent an hour and a half outside last night with his daddy and had a blast! We played outside for a little while this morning but not enough to please him. Pleasing him seems to be a big problem lately. He's wild, wilful and destructive. He's also fresh and rude and has given to screaming if he doesn't get his way. Not that the screaming is helping him in any way whatsoever! In fact, he's been in the equivalent of a toddler timeout many times the past couple of weeks. And, toys have been taken away. He's so fresh that when we say, "how would you like your train taken away!" He says, "ok" with this little attitude. Somehow he's always surprised when we actually take the toy from him and don't give it back! I'm wondering how long it will take him to realize his actions earn him consequences because I'm ok with taking all the toys away from him for him to see this isn't a game! Still, it is very frustrating! He hasn't stopped being loving either so we get this two sided action going on. One minute, it's Mr. Freshy and the next it's Mr. I Love Mumma. I think he's trying to figure out what it'll take to get me wrapped around his little finger! I'm onto you, buddy!

The frustration with my knitting has led me back to my books. I've been reading like a fiend this month! It's not a personal best by any means but to have read 7 books in one month with a two yr old is pretty darned good! I've also been baking a lot more - the shortage of money is good in one way, more homebaked goodies! Breads, desserts and more breads. Saves us from buying loaves of bread for $3.50 a loaf when I can make one for pennies on the dollar. Besides, I enjoy the process of baking. The math involved in it is much simpler for me!

Got to run...little man will be up momentarily. Stay safe, be well and happy knitting!

Several Things of Note...

***WARNING - Long rambling thought about God and circumstances***

Yesterday I had an interesting experience on the way home from my MIL/SIL's house. It had been an unusual day to say the least. One of our church leaders stood up during prayer and confessed to feeling distant from God - a sort of mini-crisis of faith, if you will. In any case, he concluded his story by saying as he was driving to work, listening to his worship music and singing along, he suddenly broke down in tears. He said at that point he literally felt the arm of Jesus around him and heard Jesus tell him "I am here." His crisis of faith was eliminated and his faith restored. I know a lot of you take a story like that and shrug it off. I admit I have a tendency to shrug them off too. However, in this case I felt a resonance with his story. There are many times when I'm singing along to Christian pop or whatever when I've broken down and cried. I've felt alone and afraid for a long time. To say I'm a seeker would be acurate. With all this in mind, we left for church to begin the rest of our day. It was...good and not good.

First place we stopped was unquestionabley good! It was to KnitWit we went for my new wool winder. While there I picked up another hank of sock yarn in my new favorite weight. A product of South Africa, louet Gems is 100% merino machine washable & dryable fine/sport weight 225yds. The colorway is mourning dove - a lovely varigated dusky purple, pink and cream - which should knit up a beautiful pair of toe covers! But I digress...

Next we picked up my oldest SIL who was coming along for the ride to see my FIL later that day. We arrive at my MIL's and the wild man is so excited to see his cousin, aunt and memere'! Playtime commenced and continued - no nap, it was adamantly refused - and as the day wore on I started getting this wierd feeling. In an earlier conversation, hubby and I had been talking about how much better I had been with the anxiety issue. I'm convinced I jinxed my luck by talking about it! Anyway, the day wore on. Hubby and oldest SIL went off to visit their dad and we stayed downstairs in the overheated cellar watching two rambunctious and energetic kids play. I don't know if the heat got to me but I wasn't feeling myself. I was getting cagey, grumpy, distracted and restless. I felt out of control with my body and my reactions. I should have known then what was happening. When it was time to go I felt distinctly out of sorts, anxious to leave and get some cold air on my face. When I say the basement was overheated, I'm not kidding. I was really roasting and I'm sure it didn't help my situation. Being closed into a small, hot room with a lot of chaos triggers me. Don't get me wrong, this has nothing to do how much I love my family. They are wonderful people and I love them dearly. It clearly has to do with my own issues with control, noise, heat and frustration. As soon as we left the house it became clear to me that I was headed for the grand-daddy of all anxiety attacks. Several miles down the road I asked hubby to pull into a gas station so I could take my pills. Then it hit me - and this is the connection to the first paragraph - I needed to use the bathroom in a hurry. Part of my attacks are the need to void myself as quickly as possible. If I didn't get to a bathroom I was going to embarrass myself. However, the convenience store worker was not able to let me use theirs. Out of nowhere, this face swims into focus. This lovely woman has me by the hand and pulls me outside. She tells me I can use the one at her house which is just up the road, it's the closest one and it would be too far for us to go all the way back to town. At that point I was getting in a bad way so I thanked her after having said no several times, got in the car and we followed her to her house. She ushered me in past her five children and her sister, lead me upstairs and left me alone.

I don't know if you know what a full on anxiety attack entails. Those of you who have never had one will never understand why we "can't just get over it." It's not like that at all. You no longer have control over your body. Every muscle is locked up tight and there is an elephant sitting on your chest. The pain of taking a breath is excruciating and you feel that you may not be able to take another one. Your heart is racing and your mind is racing and you are gasping for breath. Every move is agony. You think you could die at any moment. Anxiety attacks vary for each individual, mine are on the extreme end. I don't get minor ones. I get full blown attacks that last 45min to an hour. Such was the case last night.

I finished my business and went back outside, thanking my hostess profusely. I got into the car and we left. For the next 40 minutes it was all I could do to breath. My son, my husband and my sister-in-law were all very concerned. Since my SIL lives next door to the hospital, hubby asked if I needed to go once we'd dropped her at her apartment. I croaked out, "no" and away we went. When we finally got to the highway and the road smoothed out, I was able to recline my seat and put my arms up over my head. A few minutes later, my muscles relaxed, I could take my first pain free breath in nearly an hour and said, "oh, thank heaven!" Then I burst into tears. I told my husband that God must have sent me an angel back at that gas station. He knew I would need help and so He guided her there so she could help me. Hubby then told me this angel's name was Leslie and she was the mother of 4 yr old twin boys and 8, 12 & 15 yr old daughters. Her husband had died three years ago and she was living with her kids and her sister. When I told her I was having a panic attack she took control and helped me. She knew what I needed. Knowing her circumstances, now I understand why she could take a complete stranger into her home and provide some comfort. I am eternally grateful to her and hope that someday I can be as generous and understanding to someone else when they are in need of help. Someday I hope to pay it forward.

I have recently been introduced to the concepts of agnostic and nihilistic beliefs. It was disturbing in many ways and after my day yesterday I am even more convinced such ways of thought mark rock bottom in human life. How anyone can live without hope or the knowledge of an afterlife I don't think I can ever understand. Especially why anyone would want to live without hope. "There are three things that last: faith, hope and love, and the greatest of these is love." - Bible, I Corinthians 13:13 Hope is one of human beings greatest strengths. We always have hope for many things and a life without hope has to be full of fear, anger, hurt and stuffed to the brim with negativity. How can pleasure be derived from such a life?

I am now more convinced than ever that God is watching out for me. No matter where I am in my quest to know Him or to understand Him, even if I fail miserably trying, He will love me. Even when I question Him or become angry with Him, He will love me still. With that I have hope and love - I'll use them to keep working on faith part and hopefully it will all come together for me. Someone once told me that if I have faith, even the size of a grain of sand, it will be enough. I think God was using Leslie to tell me he was with me. My own version of the first story.

With that said, I bid you all good day! Too much weighty food for the brian makes me one tired chick! I'm off to get the little man up and with any luck, tonight I'll make use of my new wool winder! I have several hanks practically screaming to be made over into cakes for my immediate use!

Stay safe, be well and happy knitting!

An F.O. and Some Randomness

An attempt at photographing the socks resulted in the wild man jumping in front of the camera yelling "cheeseburger"! Doesn't he look like a little mad scientist with all that hair sticking up? He's such a ham!

This is what I was trying to do! The finished Ridged Feather Lace Socks...such a joy to knit and even more so to wear! I L-O-V-E this yarn! It's my new favorite sock yarn. Thin enough to knit a nicely weighted sock without it having the bulkiness of worsted weight yet not so thin my fingers feel fumbly when I handle it. It is Cherry Tree Hill's Supersock DK Select. 100% superwash merino with a high twist. A hank is 360 yds at 4 oz. The colorway is Caribou Creek and this photo is pretty darned close to the true colors! At nearly $20 a hank, it is a tad on the expensive side yet one hank will net a pair of women's large socks and have enough left over for a pair of child's socks or some simple fingerless gloves. Despite the cost, I will definitely be purchasing this yarn again! Maybe in a nice variegated green?

Some randomness about me:

1. I'm a "fag-hag" or so I've been told! If you have to ask, well then, look it up.
2. I love chocolate and cheese...together. I also love homemade mac-n-cheese smothered in ketchup. And, I love to dunk sharp cheddar cheese into applesauce for snacking. LOL!
3. I have two tattoos and my eyebrow is pierced.
4. I dream of living in Ireland and owning my own pub.
5. I'm seriously uncomfortable around any child other than my own. Like kid-phobic or something. Probably why I didn't have kids earlier in life. And why you'll never see me running my own day care *snicker*!
6. I'm a sci/fi geek - I love all things gaming, movies, tv, etc that are sci/fi or futuristic or even have a hint of fantasy in them. BSG is the best show on TV and the first of the last ten episodes was quite possibly the best TV I have EVER EVER seen. Simply brilliant acting, directing, and writing.
7. I have over 2,500 books in my personal library and have read thousands more.
8. I love wine.
9. I research the hell out of something I don't know until I have more knowledge about it than anyone cares to hear of. It makes me very dangerous!
10. My husband still turns me on after 18 yrs and I love having wild monkey sex with him! TMI - I know, I know!

Well, on that note, I think I'll sign off for now! Ha ha ha!

Stay safe and happy knitting!

Celebrating a New Era

I literally had tears in my eyes. How far we've come and how far we have yet to go. I pray for this man - to keep him healthy, compassionate, strong and courageous - so he can do what no other President has done. What an historic and memorable event to have witnessed in my lifetime. I am in awe!

Go HERE to watch the speech and read the prepared copy.

My Brain Hurts

There's just too much going on for me to remain sane today. First I need to comment on the state of driving...I'm no angel but I do tend to follow 99% of the rules. This guy was riding a little too close to my bumper this morning when I was venturing out into the blasted negative degree cold to bring my little guy to a playgroup. I thought to myself I need to keep an eye out for him. Then the woman in front of me distracted me by playing a game of tap and go on her brakes. I was so worried about her I forgot about the dufus behind me. So when she suddenly braked for a man and a dog waiting to cross the road MILES away from a crosswalk in the middle of Main St, I was quick to respond. Unfortunately for my NEW car, the guy behind me didn't and smashed into my rear bumper. I did mention it was below zero, right? 'Cause as soon as he banged into my rear end my bumper e-x-p-l-o-d-e-d. Had it been in the middle of summer, my poor car would have only suffered some scratches and maybe a crack. BUT NO! It has to be in the middle of the coldest day of the year! I collected his information and his apologies (BTW, the wild man was fine, just curious why Mummy was yanking her frizzy hair out of her head and saying nasty words she would later come to regret when he would repeat them back to her). However, I did pull the dumb ass move of the day - or I should say the ignorant move - when both of us decided to continue on and I called the police after the fact. I was read the riot act by the rude woman on the phone who probably thought I was the dumbest individual for not knowing to stay at the scene. I was informed that it was now my responsibility to contact this schmuck and have him meet me at the police station with his truck (NOT a scratch on it) so the cops can write out a police report and inspect both vehicles. Well, sorry, but I'm not the type of person who deals much with the police since I tend to be LAW ABIDING and NOT a criminal so I didn't realize I was doing anything stupid. Fortunately my insurance company is not so judgmental. Of course nothing is ever easy, is it? This guy most likely does not have valid insurance so I'll be stuck with a $500 deductible I can't afford because we don't have two plug nickels to rub together! End result? Inspection is due this month, my bumper is practically non-existent and we have no $$ to pay for a new one. Dad says to duck tape the pieces back onto my poor car and it'll pass inspection just fine...I have no more words.

I've had a hell of a morning, how about you???

On top of that, I don't know what we're going to do about dinner tonight, we're supposed to go into Portland to pick up my oldest SIL, we're supposed to go visit some friends in Westbrook for an hour or so, my niece wants to visit with us a while, the gas gauge is on empty and I have $40 in my wallet for gas and groceries for the next TWO WEEKS. Tell me how that's going to happen!

VENT VENT VENT VENT VENT ... better.

My brain still hurts.

Stalled Knitting

I've had a bit of a hiccup on the knitting front. It seems that in my zeal to finish the Ridged Lace socks I've overdone it. My hands ached and tingled (yup, I know) for two days. The first day I thought it was an all over kind of tired. So I popped some Advil and went back at it. The second day I had hand-falling-asleep syndrome when I woke up so I decided no more knitting activity for several days. *sniff* I was really on a role with those socks! Guess I really am older than I thought I was! Anyway, this will give me a chance to assess my stash and plan my next few projects. I think I'm going to approach it with a list. I'm going to gather my next few projects together with their yarn and appropriate accouterments and place them in a prominent section of my yarn case. (A book case I've appropriated and renamed for the new content!) I would like to be more goal oriented this year and have more time set aside for this year's Christmas gifts. Since we draw names in our family, I'll have to knit for both male and female possible recipients. Most likely...socks! My hands are feeling much better today and I was tempted to pull those socks out and get some more work done. I resisted with the thought that Wednesday night is my first night at a new knitting group and I don't want to have any problems with my hands that night. So...a temporary knitter's vacation - it'll do me a world of good I just know it. In any case, it will open up time for a couple of books to squeeze in!

I'm still working on the Tempe Brennan series by Kathy Reichs. Really, really good stuff and nothing like the TV show. For those of you who don't know, Bones is the TV version of books. Reichs is a producer on the show and I'm quite surprised she authorized the different version. It's so different there's almost nothing to compare the show with the books. I suspect it's what she wants. In any case, the show is one of my favorites and was before I started the series. So she's on the shelf. Mary Higgins Clark is also on my shelf, along with the latest from Sarah Graves. She's a Maine author who hit the big time with her Home Repair is Homicide series. I'm also still working on the Starting Point Bible Study and have 5 weeks left of that.

I'm in the process of trying to start a knitting group within my MOPs group. I've sent out the posting and several people have expressed an interest. If it floats, I'm hoping to host the group here starting next month. Would that be great???!!!

So, hubby is calling for me to come play with them in the other room. All I can hear are my son's giggles and screeches so I'm assuming they are having loads of fun!

My 365 Day Brighteners: Two are Better Than One is very profound for today:

"When one door of happiness closes,
another opens; but often we look so long
at the closed door that we do not see the
one which has been opened for us."

Helen Keller

365 Day Brightners

"Lord, who hast taught to us on earth this lesson from above,
That all our works are nothing worth, unless they spring from love;
Send down thy Spirit from on high, and pour in all our hearts
That precious gift of charity, which peace and joy imparts."

Charles Wesley

Be safe, be well and happy knitting!

2000 visiters!

I never thought anyone other than my close friends would visit this blog and I didn't even think they would visit often! So as I'm approaching my first anniversary blogging I want to say thank you to everyone who stops here for a moment. I've had 2000 visitors in nearly a year and I think that is truly awesome!

My thought for today from 365 Day Brightners: Two are Better Than One:

"A true friend is one who is concerned about what we are becoming,
who sees beyond the present relationship,
and who cares deeply about us as a whole person."
Gloria Gaither

Things are coming along nicely on the sock front. I have successfully adapted the Ridged Feather lace design from Claire Crompton's The Knitter's Bible to the Classic Sock #29 pattern from Yankee Knitter's. I'm using Cherry Tree Hill's Supersock DK Select which is 100% superwash Merino with a high twist in Caribou Creek colorway. The colorway is this gorgeous variagated berry flavor. Think blueberry, strawberry, raspberry, blackberry, grape and vine all swirling together in a pleasing mix of sensous colors...mmm. I couldn't resist. The hank is 360 yds and I had Korner Knitters wind the cake for me when I bought it several weeks ago. I didn't think I would commit to socks again so soon - I admit I'm turning into a sock addict and I couldn't resist delaying work on the never ending hubby sweater some more. If I continue to be successful in transitioning designs into the super easy Classic Sock pattern then I could possibly be persuaded into crafting a pair of socks a month. I realize they won't all be as easy as this. I mean DK weight knits up a hell of a lot faster than fingering weight and most of my sock yarn is fingering weight. We'll see. I love the end result when working with fingering weight. I just don't love the fact that my hands cramp up knitting them. Any suggestions for keeping the digits limber??? Would love to hear them!

Dinner tonight is a classic...spaghetti with meat sauce, garlic bread and salad. One of my favorites!!! Had to sub it in as a last minute thing as our year old Amana stove decided to frag the gas igniter switch. Our chicken last night had to be transferred to the rotissiere, which was a better decision actually. It cooked up quickly and deliciously, basting in its own juices and came out tastier than it would have had it been baked in the oven. Anyway, the oven repair guy came a little while ago and $105 later the oven is fixed. $105! Dad didn't dare try to fix it himself as the oven is one of the new fangled electronic models and he didn't want to break anything. It turns out the switch only cost $35 with the rest "labor." Next time Dad will do it himself now that he knows how! $105! Anyway, we've already subbed in the spaghetti dinner so we'll cook that up instead of baking something. I'm drooling already just thinking about it!

In checking Purl Diva's website yesterday I discovered a new yarn I would LOVE to have! It was the last one listed and it's called Margaree Vintage and it's a bulky weight yarn that comes in a hank of 410 yds. The colors are delightfully gorgeous but the price is up there. $45! Entirely justifyable as the hank is so generous!

Luscious, isn't it? Alas, it's still out of my price range. One of the sacrifices of my staying home with the wild man. She only has one hank of the Vintage colorway left too. Makes me sad it won't be coming home with me. :(

Wild man and I had another lovely excursion out of doors today. It was a bit too windy for me but the overall temperature you just can't beat for a January day! 39 degrees and the sun was shining. We walked all around, had a snowball fight, chased the dog, drove the big Tonka dump truck through the snow and played hide and seek. All in all a grand time! With red cheeks and runny noses we tramped back inside for lunch. He is now resting peacefully and I think I'm going to take advantage of the time remaining to do a little more work on the socks.

Be well, stay safe and happy knitting!

Photo Day

The finished iPod cozy shown with the new iPod, of course!

My current WIP, Ridged Feather Socks in a yummy colorway from Cherry Tree Hill, DK weight, on size 4 dpn's. Still hate the metal needles but were all I had. :(

My beautiful sister with the wild man...doesn't he look happy? He just loves his Auntie to pieces! She left this morning to go back for her final semester. Sad to see her leave, especially since we don't know when we'll see her again. She's a busy girl with lots of life plans! Good luck, kiddo! We'll miss you so much!

More snuggles with Auntie.

Just look at that little punem! Looks just like his Dad did at that age. I have the pictures to prove it! Thanks to my MIL!

My quote for the day is taken from 365 Day Brightners: Two are Better Than One
"We are all travelers in what John Bunyan calls the wilderness of this world, and the best that we find in our travels is an honest friend. He is a fortunate voyager who finds many. We travel indeed to find them. They are the end and the reward of life. They keep us worthy of ourselves; and when we are alone, we are only nearer to the absent."
Robert Lewis Stevenson


Be well, be safe, and happy knitting!

FOR TODAY ...

Outside My Window...it is again a lovely day. A bit more on the chillier side than yesterday but then again we are due for a pretty nasty storm overnight and into tomorrow. It figures as my sister is returning to school and leaves for the bus station at 8am in the morning. Her flight from Logan is around 1pm and who knows at this point if things will be on time. Poor kid, she always gets hit with a storm when she travels!

On a positive note, the wild man and I were able to get outside today and go for a long walk in the back yard. We did several laps, up and down hills, holding hands and laughing at the dog. It was wonderful. We are both in a much better mood when we are able to get some fresh air. All in all, we walked around for almost an hour. Good stuff!

I am thinking...how lucky I am that I have a happy child. For the most part he is charming, sensitive and very very funny! It's only during low moments when we have issues...but I think that is inherent in every toddler!

I am thankful for...my family - even my grumpy father. He is really a wonderful man, very kindhearted and giving. He's just been in a very bad mood for the last few years. Objectively? Can't really blame him, though it does not excuse his recent bad behavior. Although I suppose I would be grumpy too were I in the same situation!

From the kitchen...not much is going on right now. I am planning a yummy steak dinner for my sister's last night here. It's been marinating for almost 24 hours and should bake up deliciously! Not quite sure what to put with it as I'm really trying to limit my carb and sugar intake. Hard when you're the only one watching the food in the whole household!

I am wearing...blue jeans (of course), short-sleeved peasant tee with a lace trim at the bosom, white 3/4 sleeve cardigan - no shoes or socks.

I am creating...again, not much. The iPod cozy is long done and I have been contemplating my next creative project. Should I add a chapter or two to my book? or Which knitting project should I begin next - more socks or a felted tote? or Should I pick up the watercolors again? The desire is there, I'm ready to go, I just can't seem to make myself start another project just yet when I still have the never ending hubby sweater and the palindrome scarf to finish.

I am going...nowhere fast!

I am reading...Secrets by Robin Jones Gunn. A little slow but a nice story nonetheless.

I am hoping...the little man wakes up happy from his nap (a typical hope) and that I can exchange a pair of Thomas slippers his Memere' got him for a larger size without having to call her for the details. Not sure that will be able to happen...

I am hearing...water gurgling in the fish tank, the hum of my computer, and the sound of the keys on the keyboard clickity clacking as I type.

Around the house...things are fairly quiet. Wild man is napping. Sister is packing for her trip back to school and Dad is upstairs relaxing. He still has the remnents of the Shingles. I think it's part of what has made him so extra grumpy this last month. He still has a patch on this butt cheek that hasn't healed up and is still really really painful. So he relaxes on his bed and watches his shows or reads. It's hard for him to get comfortable.

One of my favorite things...sinking my hands into bins full of lovely, soft and colorful yarns.

A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week:
Dinner for the family tonight then I'm off to Knit Night at the local library for a little while. Probably a late movie with my sister before I go to bed. Maybe a Mommy and Me movie tomorrow, The Tale of Despereaux, though I wonder if the wild man would like it. Nothing for Thursday. Friday is MOPs so the wild man will be able to play with some other little people his size. He's almost ready to transition out of the nursery! He's really too big to be in there now! We may spend the day with my MIL on Saturday and then it's church on Sunday. Saturday could include a visit with my FIL at his new place - not sure about that.

Here is picture thought I am sharing...


Post courtesy of The Simple Woman's Daybook - many thanks!

Be safe, be well and happy knitting!

FOR TODAY

Outside my window...the sun is shining and it is a glorious day - though a wee bit chilly.

I am thinking...about knitting an iPod cozy for my new iPod. I don't want it getting scratched!

I am thankful for...a warm house, food in the fridge, clothes on my back, Internet access and, of course, my family.

From the kitchen...I'm thinking about making some hamburger stew, or a chili.

I am wearing...jeans, a yellow T-shirt and hand-knit socks. Toasty!

I am creating...not so much right now! I'm more into the thought process than the creative process at this point!

I am going...to sit in my comfy chair and contemplate what yarn to use for my iPod cozy.

I am reading...Secrets by Robin Jones Gunn

I am hoping...my little wild man will wake up happy from his nap.

I am hearing...my husband puttering around in the kitchen while he bakes a cake just for the fun of it.

Around the house...football is on TV, the dog and cat are sacked out on the couch with my sister, my Dad is relaxing in a chair with the remote, hubby is baking, the washer is running and I am blogging.

One of my favorite things...is Communion Sunday at our church. Today was also Baptism day! Four young men declared their faith and were dipped in the Baptismal today in front of all their families and friends. What a wonderful day!

A few plans for the rest of the week: knitting, knit night at the Library, a movie with my sister before she goes back to school, MOPs on Friday, reading, listening to podcasts on my iPod, taking care of my little wild man.

Here is picture thought I am sharing...

This post is credited to: The Simple Womans Daybook
Many thanks!

I was going to post my thoughts on our Christmas. However, upon reflection, none of the thoughts would be positive so I have decided to leave it at that. With the exception of the Christmas the year our son died, this was the worst one we've ever had. Suffice to say, we will not be having the combined family Christmas party at our house again. I will be happy to continue to cook the main meal but it will be elsewhere. Now the subject is closed.

On a more positive note, here is a list of FO's and other notables:

FO's: 2 pairs of socks, a pair of felted moccasins and a hat. All started in Oct and finished for Christmas.
Sticks: the Palindrome scarf, never ending hubby sweater.
Hooks: a market bag
Frogged: easy baby blanket - absolutely hated the yarn.

Planned Projects for 2009:
iPod cozy
Swallowtail shawl
amigurumi turtle
more felted mocs
Malabrigo scarf OR Dimorphous mittens (unless I can afford more malabrigo - then I'll do both!)
felted tote
felted clutch
cloche
felted hat
more socks (would love to do a pair a month as a quirky goal - just not sure I'd stick with it).

Also new to me is Facebook! What a fantastic website! I've reconnected with many of my old classmates and I'm having loads of fun with all the quirky applications. It's really a big waste of time - also one of my guilty pleasures! I've been trying to limit myself and I know the newness will wear off...still I find myself checking it many times a day to see what my friends are up to. Alas, I'm afraid it has contributed the the lack of blogging. This will change! The blog is going to continue and I'm rededicating myself to it! My goal is to blog at least twice a week. I'm hoping more but then again, I know myself...it's that whole committment thing again! Anyway, between the wild man (who is doing great BTW), knitting, the blog, my iPod and Facebook, I'm going to be one busy bee!

I haven't mentioned this before but I happen to be a huge fan of British comedy. I have just (I'm a bit slow) discovered the wonderful world of the Vicar of Dibley and I am anxious to start watching more on YouTube or, better yet, buying the complete series! What a funny, funny show. I am also a new fan of CBC's Vinyl Cafe with Stuart McLean and our own Prairie Home Companion with Gerrison Keiler. Clean and very very funny. The kind of thing I'm happy to sit back in my recliner, close my eyes and soak in the humor. I highly recommend Googling them both!

So, with all that said, I'm pretty much caught up on what's been going on. I'm off to choose the yarn for my iPod cozy and maybe, if I have the time, sit down and begin a new book. Secrets by Robin Jones Gunn. Ahhhhh...lovely.

Be well and happy knitting!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

I hope you all have a fantastic New Year in 2009 and have many happy knitting moments!