What's going on?

Well, it seems as though I keep thinking that there's a lot to blog about but when I sit down. . . . .writer's block. I can't think of all the stuff I want to say. So, if I am a bit disjointed, I apologize. It rained here last night. . . .AGAIN.....Our grounds is so soaked that it feels really mushy to walk on grass. yuck! Even Sunny doesn't want to go out and has been doing her business on the walk up to the house rather than get on the grass. The rain of course has done nothing to help with the extremely high pollen count around here and everyone looks as though they have been crying for weeks b/c of their allergies. VERY attractive. Poos DS had 2 solid weeks of 3-4/week baseball practice then had 2 straight weeks of all games/practice cancelled due to rain. He got to play his first game (finally) this past Wednesday but then last night's game got rained out again! His team did win their first game so at least it was worth the wait. DS? He got to go to bat twice and was walked both times. He drew 4 straight balls at his first at bat and then had a full count on his second try. Kept a good hold of his bat and a good eye on the ball and got another walk! Woo hoo.
He is showing off his "raspberry" in the second picture. He slid into third when forced to run but despite his great effort, was tagged out. Oh well, at least he got his first official slide out of it right?

On the knitting front (oh yeah, this IS a knitting blog), I did tell you all that I finished the sassy socks right? Lovely, lovely, lovely to work on I must say. I used the Lorna'e laces sheperd sock yarn in the sassy coloway gifted to my by the fabulous AMY of Yarntopia fame using this pattern. Here's a really BAD picture but a picture nonetheless:


I LOVE them. Thanks so much AMY. They are fab and so are you! I've started another pair of socks now. I am FINALLY attempting the Jaywalkers. Can you believe it? After all this time? I know, I know, I can be a bit slow on the uptake sometimes.

As far the alpaca and silk. I've yet to fully decide what to make. I am think that I am going to go with Wendy's "Somewhat cowl" in the longer sleeve version but am not 100% convinced. I know what I think I want it to look like, but I have yet to see "it" in a pattern, y'know? This stuff is so GORGEOUS, I want to be sure to use it in something that is IT for me. Therefore, the search goes on.

Besides the socks I am still working on my beaded shawl. I have slowed down considerably with that project, but, it will get done prior to the fall and that's the next time I will really be able to use it anyway.

OK, so write in, comment and let me know what you all think and are up to. It's been quiet on the comments. Oh, well, maybe that's because I've been such a slacker blogger huh? Yeah, I know. Sorry.

Oh yeah. . . . .

I would like to say that I hear the title of this post as the song from this movie when thinking of this quiz. . . . . .

I'm a Ferrari 360 Modena!

You've got it all. Power, passion, precision, and style. You're sensuous, exotic, and temperamental. Sure, you're expensive and high-maintenance, but you're worth it.

"Take the Which Sports Car Are You? quiz.

tee hee! Thanks to Erin for posting this quiz!

Suggestions anyone?

OK, so this weekend I went to a LYS and got some Blue Sky Alpaca "Alpaca and Silk" in the apple green colorway (color i16). I got home and realized I had a few other skeins of it. . . . . I now have a total of 9 skeins! NINE! That's enough to make a significant piece. So, my question is, what do I make out of this FABULOUS lot???? I originally bought 5 skeins, thinking I had 2 at home to make the Somewhat Cowl. But now I realize that instead of 7 skeins, I have 9. NINE! so, again, what should I make with this huh???????

Finally some time to post (properly post that is)

OK, so now that the dining room redecoration is completed (except for hanging my prints on the walls)







And the First communion is over:





I can concentrate on some knitting talk. I've done knitting while all this has gone on. Truly. If I hadn't, I probably would have been in the nuthouse by now. Let's see. Sassy socks? 1 and 3/4 way done with the pair. Here's a picture of the first sock (coloring is bad - will retake when pair is done) They are going to be "almost" knee highs. I had enough yarn to make them knee highs but I didn't think I would wear them that way. I'm weird I know.

It's been raining here for 10 days straight now. 10 DAYS! Every day. Very little sunshine. Cold temperatures. YUCKY overall. So bad that poor DS hasn't been able to have a single baseball game this season. Each and every little league game has been cancelled so far. RATS!

Work has been OK. There is some restructuring going on and I am involved. I will have my job but it will be a bit different. Good thing is that it will just be 3 days a week. Bad thing is the shifts will now be 12 hour shifts. Still no weekends or holidays though so I really can't complain. The stress I've been feeling at work is easing up a bit so overall I guess the change will be for the good.

I just finished teaching a beginning knitting class at the Ireland Cancer Center affiliated with my hospital. I have my "caring caps" program where I make, along with many volunteers, and collect chemo caps for the patients there. There was recently some interest in holding a knitting class for the patients/families from the center. I got a group of 9 lovely ladies (I wanted just 8 but ended up with 9) in the class. They were so appreciative of the class. The social worker at the center went over the therapeutic and meditative qualities of knitting while I taught the actual process of knitting. I had referred her to this book as well as this one, both of which I own. She was not a knitter but she got the books and went through them. She chose bits and pieces and I chimed in here and there. The ladies took to both aspects quite well. Today was the second and last session and I entered only to find that not only had all my students practiced and mastered the basics (casting on, knit, purl and binding off) BUT the social worker picked up needles and had already completed 2 scarves!

These ladies decided that they wanted to start a knitting circle at the center. I am thrilled. They could immediately sense the change in themselves since taking up this wonderful art and could not believe what a difference the "community" of knitting made for them. One of the patients stated that she liked this setting because the group could be therapeutic without solely focusing on "just sitting there and talking JUST about cancer". Today's session turned into a sit 'n knit and they talk of cancer yes, but also of other things in their lives, in their worlds, in OUR world. It was calm, peaceful and relaxing. Just perfect.

The social worker has invited me to come back from time to time as a 'guest speaker'. Tee hee! Whodda thunk it?

OK, I've babbled long enough. Regular postings will resume now.

That is until DH convinces me that we should start the kitchen painting. SIGH.

I can NOT believe she did this. . . . .

OK, so quick synopsis but I promise that I will post pix and longer post SOON. No, really. I mean it this time. I WILL right soon.

ANYHOW, dining room was finished in time and is (if I do say so myself) lovely, First communion came off hitch free, visit with Mom was short but good. Mother's day was great. Back to work is ok.

OK, so now what I am REALLY excited about. I couldn't even wait to actually get it before I wrote about it.

It amazes me how kind and generous people can be. Life also continually surprises me with the synchronicity that pops up and how things happen just at the right time. I've been a bit stressed and down lately and trying to "bounce back" quickly. Today I went onto bloglines to catch up on all my friends and found this post at my pal Knitting RN.

That's for me. ME! Can you believe it? She actually dyed it just for me. I'm so excited I don't know how to thank her enough. I've read so many unfortunate problems with horrible comments left on people's personal blogs, unkind statements from cowards who use pseudonyms to hide themselves. But, overall, I am amazed by the warmth, kindness and generosity of the friends that I have made via blogging. Ladies, ALL of you, you make my day a little brighter and I am a better person for having had the opportunity of communicating with you all.

Thank you all for EVERYTHING that you have given me. I've been truly blessed. (an extra-special thanks to Erin for the amazing act of kindness - you ROCK!)

Too funny!

What Disney Ride Are You? Mickey's Philharmagic You're not a ride at all, but you're magical, and 4-D, and when I'm on drugs, you're the coolest thing I've ever seen. You're Philharmagic!!!

Click Here to Take This Quiz Brought to you by YouThink.com quizzes and personality tests.

Nothing like waiting until the last minute. . . .

Why is it that it seems as though the only time we get any real home improvement projects done is when we HAVE to????

DS's First Communion is this Saturday. I've been thinking we really had to finish what we started in the dining room. About 1 year ago (yes 1 year) we tried to take down the HORRIBLY done wallpaper job in the dining room. Well, the folks that did it before us not only go adhesive all over every bit of wood trim and chair railing, they also didn't proper prime the walls so we were unable to fully remove the wallpaper. We decided we would have to sand it smooth and then re-wallpaper. So there it sat. For a year. With wallpaper backing in strips on the wall. Nothing else on it. Except some (minimal) exposed areas of dry wall. For a year. Seriously. No, I mean SERIOUSLY!

OK, zoom to now and of course, DS has only been preparing for 6 months. I knew we should redo the dining room. We set the date for the ceremony 2 months ago. I knew we should redo the dining room. We had the retreat 1 month ago. I knew we should redo the dining room. SO, NOW, 1 week prior to the event. I start to redo the dining room. YIKES!

OK, so last Friday, I primed from the chair rail down. Then Saturday morning I painted 1 coat on the bottom section. Saturday afternoon I did the second coat. Sunday I sanded down all the walls from the chair rail up to smooth out the walls (with one of these) which took all day b/c the sander is small and there was so much to smooth out.

This evening I primed 1/2 of the walls. So the plan is to finish the priming tomorrow evening and possibly begin to paper. I will finish papering Wednesday and Thursday nights. I also have Friday all day and night but I would rather have it done so that I can spend that day with my Mom who is coming up from FL on Thursday afternoon.

Sigh. I knew I should redo the dining room.

SO, anyhow, as a "fun" thing, I just got my name pimped.

I would like to be known as "Sugartastic J. Flow" from now on. Peace!

;->

gotta run watch Horatio get married!

Hi tea swap pal!

Yes, I am indeed STILL alive! You wouldn't know it from my blog, but I am alive and well and knitting on my sassy socks. It's been crazy over here for quite a bit. I am hoping to get some pix taken to post and writing a nice catch up post since I've been a horribly neglectful blogger.

Come back, I will have some info for you, I promise. For the rest of you guys that are kind enough to read my blog . . . . .

Come back, I will have some info (posts) for you, I promise. ;-P

AAAACCCCCCCKKKKKKK!!!!!!

OK, so WHAT was up with tonight's TV lineup? Seriously! I mean, SERIOUSLY?!

Let's start the night off with The West Wing, shall we? Great episode, loved the whole Donna setting Josh straight deal. LOVED seeing Sam (who doesn't love to look at Rob Lowe? Seriously?) I always did love to see the eventual melt-down that Josh always has when there is a LOT going on. He's so nuts but SO predictable. I love seeing the "take charge - carpe diem" side of Donna. Y'know, it's about freakin'time with the 2 of them. Then, I am sitting there at the end. I hear the words that I always want to hear at the end of a show. "Stay tuned for scenes from an all new (insert show name here) coming next". And then, WHAM - straight into Law & Order Criminal Intent. What was THAT? Where were my previews people?!? Seriously! I need my previews to hold me over for the full week until the show is back on. What did those dang broadcasters do???? Ack!

Ok, Ok, it's all good. There's a "synopsis" episode of Desperate Housewives on. Now, let me explain. I don't routinely watch DH. No, really, I don't. I hear my co-workers talk about it every Monday. THIS is how I am hooked to so many shows. Lunch time TV talk. I HATE not knowing what they are all talking about. So, I watch here and there. So, I got the synopsis show tonight. Yeah! I'm caught up for now. (not committing to the show - at least not now). All is good there although, eh, I'm not too worried about it.

THEN, the show of shows is on. Grey's Anatomy. I've been in deep withdrawal now for 3 weeks. THREE WEEKS! So, I settle in and I have my knitting waiting (tee hee) when, POW, it's a synopsis show. Another GA synopsis show. We've HAD a GA synopsis show. I want a new episode. A real episode. It's not fair. I've been good haven't I? I've done all the waiting and rationalizing about how it'll be OK and that a new episode is coming (with hunky Chris O'Donnell no less) and that sanity will once again rule my kingdom. But, NOOOOOOOOOO, they throw yet another wrench in the system and play a synopsis show. AUGH! Well, at LEAST I got the previews for next week to think about - at least they gave me THAT much!

I'm going to bed now. I'm going to dream of the visions of GA preview scenes in my head. Chris (Vet) O'Donnell asks Meredith out, George and Callie get it on, Burke and Christine do their little 'dance', Denny, Izzie and Alex continue the triangle, Bailey is back in full force and Addison and Derrick fall apart (OK, so that's not what happens - YET - but it's MY dream, remember?).

God I hope I can sleep!

Yeah I officially belong!

What a COOL idea is this huh? If you are a knitter and tea drinker, you should come on over and join in! It'll be fun, dont'cha think?

OK, so, I am working on sock #2 of my Lorna's Laces Sassy Stripe socks. The first one is done and FAB! I knit these toe up b/c I wanted to use every bit of yarn that I had. I didn't. The first sock was getting to be so looooong that I ended it before I ran out of yarn. I have a nice little bit left of it. I think it's enough for a heel. Hummmmmmmm, OR I could use it for toes and cuff????? Hummmmmmmm. . . . I'll have to see what I decide to do with it after the socks are done and I KNOW how much I have left.

These are my first toe up socks and I do believe that I like doing toe up socks. I still have to perfect my short row heels though. This particular pattern ended with the heels having "hole" along the short row ends. Although it was NOT the look I was hoping for, upon further review of the picture with the pattern, THEY TOO had holes in their heels. I live with it because it actually looks like part of the pattern. These socks are also my first patterned socks and have YOs that result in lacy areas. THUS, the "holes" in the heels fit in to the design.

HOWEVER, I do not want these holes there for all other socks. Any good sources of short row heels for toe up socks that do NOT results in "Holes"? Let me know will ya?

Next time I'll post pix. It's late now. Just finished with Survivor (poor Bruce - I hope he's OK) and CSI. Re: Survivor, although I hope he is doing well, I hope that Bruce does not get well quick enough to return to be on the Jury. Why? Because I am hoping that they then will recruit the person that was just shy of being on the jury. This will give Terry 3 members of his old tribe out of a total of 7 on the jury. I want Terry to win. I believe that he SHOULD win. We'll see what happens.

What was with Shane asking "you want to do that now?" as the medic informs him that Courtney and he will have to help get Bruce on the stretcher and into the boat? What part of "medical emergency" did he NOT understand? And the wood blackberry thing for next week? BIZARRO!

Shane, pick up your emails. It's the Surreal life. They want to book you already.

CSI Miami and Project Spectrum

OK, so who on the CSI Miami film crew is a knitter? There has to be one (or at least a fan of Lolly's blog. I say this because as I am watching tonight's episode, almost every character (and every MAJOR character) is wearing a shade of orange shirt or an orange patterned shirt. Even the 'tough' cop is wearing an orange print tie?

How karmic is THAT???!!?

Catching up

Wow! Time goes by so fast. It's been a week since my last post and that one shouldn't even really count! I've been buried at work and it doesn't seem to want to end. Lots of sick people, not enough nurses and unsympathetic (both to the patients AND the nurses) doctors add up to a lot of mayhem and misery! YUCK!

Luckily though, we had a FABULOUS weekend. DH, DS and I went to see the Tribe at the home opener. We played a fabulous game (we even had a GRAND SLAM) and won quite handily! Woo Hoo! GO TRIBE!

OK, so from there we drove straight to Breezewood, PA and stayed there for the night. On Saturday morning we went on to D.C. for the National Cherry Blossom Festival. I have looked forward to going to see this for years. YEARS people! I'm talking for at least 14 years. So. . . . . What happened you might ask? Cold, rain and wind, that's what was happening. YUCK! I was so dissapointed b/c as we drove, I could see all the barren branches of hundreds of cherry trees. ARGH!

I must say I was being a bit of a brat, very sarcastic and quite a bit whiny (shhh don't tell DH that I've admitted that). DH kept a stiff upper lip and did his best to make me feel MY best. We went on the U.S.S. Barry and walked in the U.S. Navy Museum. We had never done either. VERY cool!


Here are DH and DS at the helm. This was DH's favorite part of being aboard.


Here is another bridge picture. Honestly, DH was just like a little kid up there. I enjoyed watching the 2 of them but mostly DH!


Here is the little man at his favorite post on the ship. The sonar room. He was enthralled by all the maps and graphs and sonar screens. Glad he enjoyed himself. I on the other hand enjoyed another portion of the ship. Actually 2 portions. Any guess as to what they may be????? The sleeping quarters and the sick bay.
It amazes me the sacrifices that the members of the armed forces go through to protect the freedom which we so often take for granted. AND, the sick bay, well, that was just my sick sense of nursing curiosity at it's best. ;->

The rest of the evening was spent driving around the city. We shopped in Georgetown for a bit (Stitch DC). Tee hee! and went to dinner here. The food was good and I relaxed after a margarita! HaHa!

Sunday was a gorgeous day. We walked around the city, saw the few blossoms left after the storm and then we saw the FDR monument which we had never visited. The great thing is that the way the monument is built, it protected quite a few of the trees and I saw some beautiful blossoms like:









I felt much better about the trip once I got to see a few trees covered in blossoms and I was anxiously awaiting the "meeting on the mall" that Lolly had organized. It was fabulous to get to meet some of my blog friends and other bloggers that I have read about. It was a gorgeous day and although I couldn't stay long (we had to drive back to OH that evening) I enjoyed the few moments that I got with the ladies. Here are a few pix to add to the one's Lolly already posted:
Lolly and I on the grounds at the base of the Washington Monument.
And here is the whole group that I got to meet:
Tee hee!!! Thank you ladies for a great afternoon! It was a pleasure taking a few moments out to sit and knit and enjoy the great company. Knitting amongst a group that appreciates it as much as I do just adds to my overall enjoyment of the process and for that, I thank each of you!


I will know leave you with (more - oops) gratuitous pix of our weekend including some Yellow & Orange Project Spectrum inspired shots!

Seriously? SERIOUSLY!

OMG, OMG, OMG, O-M-G!!!!!!! I was just besides myself when I was reading Amy's blog and she had this there:



How COOL is that??????

What's on your Ipod??? Plus a cool bonus.

OK, I am stealing from my friend Amy from Good to be Girl as I thought this would be a fun one to play along with. The idea is to put your ipod (or whatever MP3 you use) on shuffle and write down the 1st 10 songs it plays. here are mine..

1. Slipping away by Big Bad Zero
2. We both reached for the gun by Richard Gere and Renee Zellweger (Chicago Soundtrack)
3. She's Not Innocent by Antigone Rising
4. When I'm Up by Great Big Sea
5. She Lived here by Antigone Rising
6. If I had a boat by Lyle Lovett
7. Breathe (2 am) by Anna Nalick
8. Changes in Lattitudes by Jimmy Buffet
9. We shall be free by Garth Brooks
10. Beverly Hills by Weezer

As you can see, my taste in music is as eccentric and quirky as I am! AND that didn't even bring up any of my Big Band/Swing, classical or latin music. Sheesh! What a whacko huh? ;->

On another completely NON knitting topic, all I can say about this is AMAZING!!! How can people be so talented? I thought that I was pretty coordinated but now I am bowing to this man. DS stood there mouth agape and wanted to watch it twice!

It's done, it's DONE!

So, I took my lovely shawlette to sit 'n knit on Tuesday determined to get back on it and finish it for Project Spectrum. I worked on it for a bit last night as well, washed it, blocked it and it was dry this am! YEAH! I LOVE IT!!!!!








It's my first 'lace' project and I love it. It was such a cool thing to see the pattern just 'show up' when I blocked it. It had been all wrinkled and balled up and then it opened up so beautifully when being blocked. I couldn't help but think of it as a very similar experience to a birth. The shawl, in it's pre-bath, pre-blocked state was all curled in on itself, very much like in a fetal position (I SCREAM nurse at times don't I?) then the pattern just opened up and was revealed or 'born' during the blocking process. I included the one picture of just a portion of the shawlette for a better representation of the true colors of the yarn.

BTW, this was my first project with Koigu and now I understand the obsession with it. It was a delight to work with from casting on, to ripping back (ack, the memory still hurts!), to knitting, blocking and wearing. All lovely phases of this project with Koigu. I will DEFINITELY be using Koigu again and again.

Back to the shawlette itself now. If you compare mine to the picture from the pattern you will notice that I blocked mine out much further than she called for. I did that on purpose. I blocked it to the specified dimensions but then I pulled it out a bit more and I liked the look of it better. It has a faroese shaping to it which I really like. The shoulders just seem to 'fit' right onto my shoulders, just perfectly! Ahh! ;-)

I can TOTALLY see how lace knitting would be so addictive. I can't wait to find a new lace project. What should it be? What should it be? Hummmmmmmmmm,

OSW pictures . See post below.

This is a good representation of the colorway.

Another FO! (and it's still NOT the shawl)

I know, I know, I am in knitting denial. I can't help it. I haven't had it in me to pick the shawl up again. I will though. I have to. It's my Project Spectrum project for March.

BUT, I started and finished a OSW this weekend! Yeah! I would post pix but blogger is being silly and won't upload them right now. I'll post them later. It was a really quick and easy knit. I think I am going to make another one in cotton this time. I used Reynold Odyssey in the purples colorway. This picture is bad though. It has some greens and taupes in it as well. I really liked the color variations in it. Hopefully, I will be able to post pix sometime tonight.

And on the Grey's front, wasn't that a good show this week? I liked that George decided to go for the Doc but HATED that it took Alex being a complete ASS (even if it was a displacement of his own self-loathing) to get him there. Not quite sure how I feel about the whole Addison wanting to be friends with Meredith deal. Oh, and did you SEE, DID YOU SEE??? In the previews for next week's episode? The girls are knitting in the surgical gallery. KNITTING!!!! They get busted by Bailey but they were KNITTING! HA! I knew I loved that show for a reason, medicine and knitting in one GREAT show. Ah, life is complete! ;-} And I TOTALLY DIGGED the whole bad "juju" thing. As a nurse I can tell you that all that superstitious, mumbo jumbo, juju stuff IS TOTALLY TRUE! We buy into that all the time. Doing things certain ways, working with certain people (or NOT b/c it's a 'bad' combo), following full moons, counting patient deaths or ANY interesting patient scenario in threes, etc. . . It's all true. So, just remember, when you put your life in to the hands of Doctors and Nurses because of all their sound scientific knowledge, etc., you are REALLY dealing with our superstitions and beliefs. It's corny but it's true. Now I must go and clean off my lucky nursing clogs and get my lucky scrubs ready. We have an open heart tomorrow. . . . . . See ya! ;-}

Needle Exchange Package! THANKS!!!!!

Looky, looky what I got today! Tee hee! I got a beautiful forest green skein of Plymouth Yarn baby alpaca brush, ADDI turbos (woohoo), an embellished tape measure (too cute), a needle sleeve, the cutest 'purse' card and stickers (tee hee - those made me smile). WOW! I made out like a bandit! Thanks to my "yarnyetta" heatherly needle exhange pal(I'd link to your blog but it wasn't listed on the exchange page)! OK, so, besides a scarf or a hat, is there anything that I can make with 1 skein of baby alpaca brush (110 yards - 3.5 st/inch on size 9 US) or should I google the color and lot to try to get more?

A FO! (no not the shawl YET)

So, after the setback with the shawl, I had to do something quick, uplifting and fun to get me back on the upside of knitting. I whipped out another one of my baby caps. It's amazing how many people are having babies or grandbabies around me lately.

Here is the newest addition:



Cute right? I think it is anyway. I used Lion's Brand cotton-ease and made up the design as I went along. I think it's different but still cute. I especially like the top. Now all we need if the baby to decide it's time to meet Momma and Daddy!



Ok, Ok, OK. I WILL work on my shawl so that I can complete my first Project Spectrum project on time. I will. Really. Tonight. No kidding. (sigh)

You know what they say about the best laid plans. . . . . .

Well, I was fully intending on having a picture of a complete shapely shawlette to post today. Sigh. This is where the title of this post comes in. . . .

I have been talking at my sit 'n knit group about the importance of life lines. Especially in projects involving many YOs and 'made' stitches. I was using them all along with this project. So, what's the problem you might ask? Well, in my last pattern repeat in the last 'lace' portion of the shawl, I got a unwanted lesson. Here's what I learned.

NEVER.

GET.

COCKY!

EVER!

"I'm almost done." I thought. "I don't need to spend the time to run one last life line through". (you see where this is heading, right?) "I'll be on the garter ridge before the bind off in 3 more rows". Then karma came in to play. BAD karma.

I was all ready to finish this up yesterday. My count was off. WAY off. I tried to unknit a row or two until I could get to a purl row where I could decipher what was a true stitch and not something I was accidentally picking up.

I had to rip back to my LAST life line. AT THE BEGINNING OF THE LAST LACE SECTION. I had to rip back about 5-6 inches worth of knitting before I finally got to a row where the stitches all made sense. SIGH. Sigh again. Sob. Tear falls slowly down the cheek.

Thankfully, there was a new West Wing and Grey's Anatomy last night to make me forget my woes.

I might try to pick it up today. I don't know. But I DID add a life line!

Some knitting to show you

OK, so I really DID participate and 'silver' in the knitting Olympics. I washed and pinned my slipped stitch mesh poncho on Sunday but it didn't dry until Monday night. Oh well, I am still THRILLED to have completed it in the 16 days. Yeah! Here are some pix that I finally got my DS to take so that I can show you (please disregard the navy scrub pants - I had just come home from work). I am usually not a big fan of colors pooling but I like the look of it in this. The colors are bright and cheerful and it makes me smile!;-) Here is a view from the back:

















I also wanted to show the detail of the stitch so here it is:
Isn't that a pretty stitch???? Didn't look like much while knitting but boy did it POP when I blocked it.










Speaking of blocking, I can't wait to finish and the block my Project Spectrum March project. It's this made from this. Here is progress picture of the project so far: I know that it doesn't look like much but I am about halfway done. Yeah! This is my first project done in Koigu and I love working with it. The colors are FABULOUS and the 'spring' in the yarn makes it very nice to stitch with. I tried to get a picture of what it will somewhat look like when blocked. The colors are nowhere what they really are. It's a nice combination of pinks, lilacs and blues. Very very pretty.


Ok so now I am off to shower and work a few more pattern repeats in the shawlette. See ya next time (hopefully with another finished project).







UPDATED ON 3/9/06:

Got a question about the yarn used for the olympic poncho. It is blue heron beaded rayon in the marigold colorway. Isn't it FABULOUS?????thanks for the lovely compliments! Just 2 more pattern repeats on the shawlette then it's back to work on the beaded shawl. I am planning on having lots of little wraps for spring and early summer.

I knew there was a reason why. . . . .

"For Better or Worse" is still my all time favorite cartoon strip!

See??? I KNEW it all along . . . . . . .

You Are Most Like Carrie!

You're quirky, flirty, and every guy's perfect first date. But can the guy in question live up to your romantic ideal? It's tough for you to find the right match - you're more than a little picky. Never fear... You've got a great group of friends and a great closet of clothes, no matter what! Romantic prediction: You'll fall for someone this year... Totally different from any guy you've dated.

Which Sex and the City Vixen Are You?

Let's not tell my DH about the "falling for someone this year totally different from any guy you've dated" thing, shall we? ;-)

OK, now onto the knitting front. I can not believe that it's been this long since I have posted. Sorry about that. Had the whole sprint to the finish line with the Olympic project. made it to a Silver medal (self determined as I finished the knitting portion but not the blocking part). The slipped stitch mesh poncho is still drying. Pix will be up soon. I was pleased to have done the knitting in the 16 days (and I used every minute of it - had to with the Carpal Tunnel rearing it's ugly, ugly head) as I don't believe I have done a full project in that amount of time before. I tend to have many pots going at once so start to finish time takes a while because of all the different project knitting I do. It ADHKD - attention deficit hyperactive knitting disorder. Tee hee!

All my 'goils' completed their projects and earned gold. Yeah for them!!!! It was such fun to have that sport competition aspect to my knitting. Watched a lot of Olympics, did a lot of knitting and had a blast at it. What's not to love???

I am onto my Project Spectrum project now. I have a confession to make though. I started it before March. I couldn't help it. We are talking Koigu here people. My FIRST Koigu! My first Koigu and it was in the PINK family colorways. PINK people. How could I resist?? I HAD to get my hands on it. Forgive me Lolly, OK?

BTW, it's Knitting RN's 27th birthday. If you have a moment, go on over and wish her a happy one! She'd love it I am sure.

Oooh, ooh, almost forgot. GREY's ANATOMY! OMG! I mean O - M - G!!!!! Aack! What WAS Mer thinking??? (I am such a geek - I am subscribed to their podcasts and read all the blogs) I understand the whole reason behind WHY she went for it but, to act that way in the midst of it all??? omg, OMG, OMG!!! Poor George! Big breaths, it'll all be OK, right? Right??? In the meantime, isn't this too cool??? Price is kinda steep though. Although I am Seriously going to get a "seriously" t-shirt. Seriously!

See ya soon with pix, OK?

Olympics progress and embarrassment.

Well, being that the Olympics are at the midpoint or so (YIKES!) I thought I would post progress on my slipped stitch mesh drape/shawl/poncho (still don't know how I am going to finish it). The pictures are not good and it's hard to see how pretty it actually is since it's not blocked but I am pleased with my progress so far. It will be a close call, maybe even a photo finish, to the end but real olympic athletes never give up, right?

Which brings me to the "embarassment" portion of the post. Is anyone else out there as utterly appalled and embarrassed by the lack of sportmanship and goodwill exhibited by Lindsey Jacobellis yesterday in the women's snowboard cross finals? Both my husband and I just shook our heads at her obvious attempt at showboating to the end. In a slightly wicked and evil way, I am kind of glad that she fell out of it and ended up with a silver. It would have tarnished the true spirit of the Olympics had she showboated and still gotten the gold. I was just so disappointed at the whole thing. To have looked over your shoulder to check the competition and then decided that you had a good enough lead that you could show off just seems completely reprehensible. Isn't the true olympian the athlete that competes to do their best and for the sake of competing? What WAS she thinking? And I don't care that she's young and it's her first olympic experience and she "got caught up in the moment". The moment wasn't her moment yet. The race was still going on. She's an athlete. She's representing the USA. She should KNOW what good sportsmanship is. Celebrate like hell after the race. Jump around, holler, hoot, pump your arms, laugh, cry, whatever you want when you actually have WON but how dare any athlete be arrogant & pompous enough to 'celebrate' and show off in the midst of competition?? It's one of the things that turns me off about professional sports. Give me college sports anyday where the athletes are there for the love of the game and the privilege of getting to play. If you would like to see this embarrassing moment in US olympic history you can go here and click on the link to "jacobellis' SBX race" and also read an article about it as well. And people wonder why Americans are often seen worldwide as being self-serving and arrogant. Exactly why that image exist can be explained by that race yesterday.

Needle Exchange Questionnaire.

Yeah, I'm in on the needle exchange again. How fun, how fun! Here's my questionaire (my answers are in the bold lettering):

1. What do you like to knit or crochet? (socks, sweaters, etc.)All of the above!
2. What fibers do you like? I mostly work with natural fibers, wools, silks, cottons. I don't care for the 'feel' of acrylics although I do like the feel of some of the microfibery stuff out there.
3. What type of needles do you use most often? Addi's or Lantern moons
4. Do you like to knit in the round? YEP!
5. Do you use a magic loop method or any other we should know about? I do magic loop but I seem to prefer DPNs. Are you interested in learning a new method? A new method? Where, where, WHERE? I want to know! (tee hee)
7. Do you have a favorite place that you shop online? (knitpicks.com, knitpixie.com, jimmybeanswool.com....)? I shop at knitpicks and yarnzilla (and soon yarntopia ;->)
8. Do you want to be surprised? then erase all your answers above and write surprise me!!! You can surprise me if you like but I'll leave my answer in as well. Either works for me!

Secret pal 7 Valentine's (February) Package

OK, so the dark chocolate dove heart shaped candies are gone (a whole bag I might add) but here's the rest of my FAB goodies! Yeah to my secret pal. I can't wait to work on the ladybug socks! Tee hee. I must find the best pattern to showcase that yarn. . . . .

Now comes a question. I got these cool 'little' circs. Size 4 and 22 cm (that's 9 1/2 inches!) what do I DO with these? Can these actually be used or are they just to be admired for the adorableness (so small - tee hee)?


Olympic knitting is coming along. About 1/3 of the way through the knitting portion of the shawl/poncho/drape (haven't decided how to finish it yet). Will take pictures soon. LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the slipped stitch mesh. Very neat stitch. You'll see.

This is pretty funny. . . . (considering I'm a brunette)

You Are a Golden Blonde

Men see you as flirty and fun, yet deep and thoughtful You've got all the pizzazz of a blonde... With the intensity of a brunette

How Blonde Are You?