Wow!

It's 2009! (well for the east-coasties already!) A bit longer for us yet. Have a great year folks.. may it be filled with wealth, health and happiness!

can you believe a it's about gone?

came from work saturday and a plow had finally made it through our neighbothood! it helped so much! snow started to melt on the roads and we could stop watching cars get stuck out front of our home. here are a few pics of hubbys car after storms:

The snow buried the yard lights, snowflakes under the snow, buried penguins, as of this morning i can see green grass again, wild! Oh snow is in the forcast again this week!



after storm one:

We cleaned off his car between storm one and two, here's storm two:


Then came storm three, back to back:

Let it snow, let it snow...la dee da! and 2 pimps

Yup, guess what we are getting more of outside this morning! I did steal my 4 wheel back from hubby and one of the other guys who carpool is having to drive (somehow i am the only one out of them all to own a 4 wheel) Their work was delayed 2 hours but they went in early anyway..so they can leave early! So far my 1 client has not cancelled or rebooked yet! Hoping though, lol. No biggie otherwise, i'll head in, touch up her lashes, pass out gifts, then head towards home. All errands, shopping, prepping have been finished so i can relax and enjoy! Hope you are all also in a similar situation!

***Sears update*** i have tv, lol. Daughter and i plan to sit and relax with crafts this evening watching corny xmas movies. Hubby and i had to go on roads that had been closed in our area to get to the repair man's house and pick up the part, then repair it ourselves. I do have to say i do not think it was the tech's fault. I think the company he works for partly dropped the ball and sears was just screwed up and lost in general. They have lost our business as well as the goverment company my hubby works for who "used to" make many purchases with them.

PIMP:

http://thenewnew.blogspot.com/ check out this bag. Made by Red Bridge Studio, very hip and retro but classic in design. Looks like it could be used for many differnt purposes. I love it to keep my messenger bag organized but think my daughter might try and swipe it for her own personal supplies.

http://spinknitup.blogspot.com/2008/12/name-that-puppy.html someone got a new puppy and needs help with a new name, both official registered name and nickname, she is adorable!

ENJOY YOUR HOLIDAY!!!!!!

Never never again...

Hubby says we will seriously never again shop at Sears for anything. We have had such a difficult time with them this month.

See, on Dec 1st when we awoke at 430 am and tried to see what the news said, well...no picture on the big tv. So called their service dept. No prob, a tech will call you within 24 hours to book and appt. 48 hours later i call back cause no tech called. Oh, i see the email to them did not go out, we'll try again. Dec 3 the tech does call, says he thinks he may know the problem (but has not seen the tv) and says he is ordering the lamp and it takes a week to get in, so he will check back with me on the 10th to schedule the appt to fix it.
Well.....no call, no word whatsoever. Still to this day have not heard from the tech again. Have called sears 7 times total since the first and done everything they have asked of me, they have said they are shipping the lamp directly to me and it will arrive on a certain day, that day arrives no lamp delivered..call again, oh we cancelled that cause we found out your tech has the lamp.(when frist they told me the lamp was boxed to send on the 8th but never shipped) Yet this comes from their shipping dept, they have also not heard from the tech. They say he received it on the 12th but due to weather he can't get out. (we have had no weather until the 19th) I was informed he lives in a town about 30 minutes away. So a few times i have tried the number he called me from...goes to a fax machine.
Finally this morning the sears rep gets snotty with me on the phone and without saying it specificlly lets me know i'm screwed till they get around to it. I got upset, actually cried due to frustration over this situation. Then just to see tried the tv tech's number again...and guess what, he picked up! And...yes, he has my lamps and lives 5 MINUTES AWAY, literally 1/4 mile from my daughters boyfriends house. Says he called me but my cell phone shows NO record of any call from him. He now says he can't get out of his house due to weather...still.... so i ask him if i can drive over and pick up the part and fix it myself (that is if this is the problem, remember he hasn't even been to the house to see the tv in person, which sears says he was required to do initially)
So....long story short, paid almost 3000. for a tv 3 years ago (now they are half that), got talked into the "extended coverage plan (cause they don't like the word warranty)" for 600 and have yet to see a tech and will have to actually pick up and repair the tv ourselves...after more than 3 weeks of waiting!

So, now i am off to grate carrots for a carrot cake, finish my coffee..which i started at 5 am, take some canadian aspirin..and maybe by dinner be able to sit, knit and watch a few favorite holiday movies before the holiday arrives. Le sigh...i hate drama! Why can't people just do what they say they are going to do. A simple phone call to communicate and touch base would have been all that was needed.

Putting the soapbox away now. Oh, and after 2 feet of snow since thursday they say we may get 6 more inches tonight, lol....beware of what you wish for! after hawaii we wished for some white, well...we got it! my jeep is the only vehicle making it out the driveway...hubby and daughters car would act more as plows!

just a note

that snow? well it started falling harder and heavier. Hubby had his eye check up today just 2 towns away, maybe 16 miles..a 20 min drive. Could not be cancelled as his schedule and their office would not mesh for 2 more weeks! (not risking that after his lazik! So, 4 HOURS LATER of just freeway driving. All other roads were closed which is why this was a problem, so i have tomorrow off for sure as hubby needs to take my 4 wheel drive to work in the morning as he needs to get to a boat and do some work, and all my clients have already rescheduled for both friday and saturday! Me....? I am now home in pj's and drinking some spiked eggnog! will post some adventure pics tomorrow....and it's still snowing and temps sposed to drop to 17 tonight. I have not seen this much snow here since we moved here! (secrestly...i love it!)

SNOW SNOW YEAH!!! and a pimp

Shouting i know but we were not supposed to get anything last night..as we are in the shadow of the Olympic Mtns and it was supposed to pass us by on each side....NOT!! Poor hubby did head into work this morning and is now slowly trying to make his way home. He should have taken my vehicle as it is 4 wheel drive. I am taking the day off as i was on call anyway. Glad i made my daughter ride to her friends house and not drive. SHe and her friend are sitting watching cars attempt the hill next to their house..not many are making it they say. I know it sucks for some folks but i still love the snow!


The girls (daughter and best friend) decorating the gingerbread house...which they have now also eaten half of!
http://darcyknottyknitter.blogspot.com/
pimp: darcy has one for Knit Two fans:

PIF's

i mailed them out yesterday ladies who had signed up a couple months ago! (look at that, i got them out to you in well under the year! smile) Now it will be your turn to spread the love!

A SideNote RIP

to miss Bettie Page, the lady in red on the side of my page) who died this past friday at the ripe age of 85 of heart failure! Bettie, you had a full life girl and many of us will still worship you!

Brrrrrr !

Brrrr, yup. It is a whole 20 degrees outside today, before any wind chills or anything. Thank goodness i have the day off! Aside from a trip to the post office (the last xms foods to be mailed) i can pretty much hibernate, and daughters and my plans for the day include baking cookies so WARMTH!!

Lol, no pics today as i am too lazy to get out from under the snuggly blanket to get my camera. But guess what.... we woke up to about 2 inches of snow yesterday morning and it's still here! We do not see to much snow being on the water as we are so this was exciting. Although the still blooming flowers that were in the flower boxes are dead now i do adore the snow! No big frosts had happened so all lawn goods are still outside, the hammock, birdbath etc. Ooops! (the foolish cat wouldn't come in last night then gave me attitude this morning when she did)

Hubby had his lasik last wednesday, i could post a pic of the surgery ( i got to watch) but i won't gross you out! Hubby is so happy! The blind groping for his glasses man awoke the day after surgery with 20/15 vision! He bought his first pair of non prescription sunglasses yesterday.....between the surgery and glasses i wished him a happy birthday/merry xmas!

Otherwise just knitting! fingerless gloves (those last few pairs as last minute girts), finishing my tacky 70's shawl (about 1/2 way there Whispering Pines pattern) and a few other goodies! Assembling the neighbors and friends baskets...mulled wines, canned goodies, baked goodies, soaps, knit goods, sewn goods all handmade by us! Hopefully they like them!

Stay in, stay warm, thanks for listening to my rambling...off to find aspirin!

where has the year flown to?

Happy Holiday Season!!

Isn't this little sheep the cutest? My mom sent her to me. She don's a bikini underneath the fur coat and has 6 outfits. Her boyfriend tried to talk her out of sending it to me cause he thought it was dumb..but mom knew i'd like it!


And some one posted a question about tea. I enjoy tea in a mug, it's a funky mug with a gecko peeking over the edge. But for true tea enjoyment my favorite cup is this one. It seems very irish to me and being green (my fav color)and earthy / organic all at once it covers the bases! i have a simple ceramic tea pot (one large one little) both with knit covers that steep the tea and a whole shelf in our cupboard is dedicated to mostly loose teas. Both my daughter and hubby enjoy simple unsweetened teas as well....lately cranberry being the flavor of choice ( hey, if you know where to locate an apple/pistachio blend please let me know though! a client brought me a bag about a year ago and i milked it till it was gone and have not relocated it's source!) Off to run my days off errands and get things set up for the holidays. *smile*




Also have you seen this?: http://thenewnew.blogspot.com/2008/12/let-it-snow.html


I love snowflakes, they are each beautiful and unique. I grew up in northern NH though and was buried (literally, lol) under snowflakes more months out of the year than not! (not complaining though, i loved it) A few years after marriage hubby moved me to a tropical paradise, no snow..for 13 years! i started collecting snowmen once settled. My daughter who grew up on the islands did not see snow till she was 14, now 16. We still both run outside to play and catch the snow, build a mini snowman on the neighbors car, etc... I would love to have this snowflake made with her birthstone for us both to wear. Myself so that she was near my heart during the day and for her so she could enjoy the piece and think about their uniqueness...and know her mum loves her!

This and that and a bit o pimping

Well, hubby turned 40 monday! Wow, a new numbers bracket...this officially makes him 2 years older than i am. He always argues that he's only a year but there is clearly a 2 year digit between years we were born and for almost 6 months of the year he is 2 years different...so HAH!

Work has been eh. Not busy but still slightly steady enough to make some money but and still have some time off to get holiday stuff done. Had a late no show last night though. Drive me crazy when they do not even take the time to call...just rude!

Been making a lot of soap and it has been selling well at the spa. Fun! What is funny is hubby and daughter have as much fun seeing how the designs or soaps turn out as i do. (so cute!)

My Ideas

I do not cook with too many real recipe's. But for sweet potato we use it more than regular potato.

1. slice potato as if it were french fry style. layer with onion and mushroom, sprinkle with salt, pepper,paprika, garlic (really any of your favorites) drizzle with balsamic and olive oil and wrap in foil. Grill or bake till tender....yum!

2. we also use the turkey chopped, leftover veggies, cranberries and mix into the leftover gravy. mash leftover sweet potato (and reg potato if left) and top. Sprinkle with cheese and stuffing if desired and bake. Turkey day leftovers shephards pie.

3. chopped turkey bite size, celery, onion , chopped pecan and chopped cranberries.Mix with salt, pepper, tarragon and mayo...makes the best sandwiches!

Pimp:

http://www.skeinsherway.com/index.html Got ideas for cranberries or sweet potato?

ME and pimping again!

borrowed from Cass' post

Me.
Where is your mobile phone? end table
Where is your significant other? couch
Your hair colour? red
Your mother? new england
Your father? deceased
Your favourite thing? time
Your dream last night? strange
Your dream goal? ireland
The room you’re in? cozy
Your hobby? knitting
Your fear? fire
Where do you want to be in 6 years? secure
Where were you last night? groceries
What you’re not? work
One of your wish-list items? sheep
Where you grew up? NH
The last thing you did? coffee
What are you wearing? flannel
Your TV? on
Your pets? comatose
Your computer? loved
Your mood? eh, waking up
Missing someone? no
Your car? dirty
Something you’re not wearing? shoes
Favourite shop? bookstore
Your summer? short
Love someone? yes
Your favourite colour? green
When is the last time you laughed? earlier
When is the last time you cried? ??hormonal
You.


PIMPS:

check out darcy's contest: let her know turtle sent you! http://darcyknottyknitter.blogspot.com/

Pimps and ... critters!

Look what cuties we saw at the fair!




PIMPING:
http://www.phatfiber.blogspot.com/ Check out these lovelies, and a contest!

love gorgeous quilts? wanna win one? seriously, check them out! http://oldredbarnco.blogspot.com/2008/11/win-1-of-3-quilts.html

check this contest out as well, let her know turtle sent you!! smile: http://toknitandwrite.blogspot.com/2008/11/contest-just-because.html

SNOW on the mountains !!

SNow on the mountains this morning, they were covered (but hard to see, had the lil camera as i went to the ferry!)



Pumpkin designs for 2008



Halloween Spooks!

Hi there...rain rain rain! Daughter and her boyfriend were a bit nervous about driving in today. That and the fact that the road heading home is closed at the moment and they do not know for sure how long it will be closd for due to natural gas line repairs and the rain... they will make it taking it easy. (actually the rain has let up a bit for their drive, nervous mom i know!!)

Did ya vote??

K, i know i am not alone but i am SO done with the election. The political slander of commercials from all candidates for both local and presidential is just disgusting and i am done with it. If these candidates pooled the money they waste on these commercials, just think of the good that could be done with it! Lol, K off my soapbox now.

Halloween was good but...where the heck were the trick or treaters?? Hubby bought so much candy and even with passing out 3 pieces per person we have 4 gallon sized bags in the freezer leftover. Oh well, the ones that showed up were having fun. Will try to get up pics later of daughter and her friends.

Pimping:

Not only is there a contest but this is a great site! If you knit and are ever curious about all the books out there check this site out. It will help you decide if the book is worth your time, has what you are looking for, etc....
http://knittingscholar.com/2008/11/02/first-contest/

and a knitiversary of sorts:
be sure to check the blog out, very nice and personable! http://riizu.blogspot.com/2008/11/blogoversary-contest.html

I stopped counting at twelve....arf!

have you ever heard a seal bark? They seriously bark, loudly.... and sound so travels on the water. As i got out of my jeep yesterday and approached the landing for the foot ferry you could hear a couple of seals chatting with eachother over near the shipyard. Ahhh, makes me happy, the dorky nature girl that i am! Anyway, as usual i sat outside on the ferry (worth the freeze!) and as we traveled you could see seals, many seals. Playing in the water, sunning themselves on buoys, etc. well i stopped counting at 12 and there were a ton more of them! Of course the camera i had with me would not bring them close enough to truly identify.. will try with the other camera today.

such a cute pimp! (and dead trout) smile

Just do it, lol, go see Bea's fuzzy creatures and their opinions on the whole election bit! so cute, let her know turtle sent ya! (this is my electoral mentality as of late!) http://bea-blacksheep.blogspot.com/2008/10/presidential-race-abigail-and-augustus.html

also remember Brittany at : http://knitwitchblog.blogspot.com/

and: (so cute, my daughter so wants him!) http://thenewnew.blogspot.com/

"I really think this jack o bunny is a her, not him. I think someone was confused. She is adorable and would love to hang in my room with myself and some of my other friends...never mind that their gloom-animals and skele-animals, they nibble but don't really bite! I think you would fit in so well and i need a bussy to trick or treat with. You aren't afraid of gothic fairies are you?" (posted from turtles teen daughter)


Hey, it's snowing in the mountains! And gas is below 3.00!!

trout put to rest:

a great weekend and hallows eve question

It was a very good weekend. Nothing specific done but we enjoyed the city of portland oregon and learned the lay of the land. Hubby took me to a few yarn shops, we explored the city at day and night and found a lovely irish pub. Was given grief by hubby when i suggested we go peek under the kilts of the bag pipers... no fun!... and purchased the winter coat i needed at the rack, lol it was cold when we were out! we now do know the city better to know how to plan a thrilling weekend for next trip, but this was a good one. I love this city!

question:

If you could go anywhere at all to enjoy a wonderful fall vacation - where would you go and why? Somewhere you've been? Somewhere you've heard has amazing fall colors? Somewhere that's LESS fall-like than where you are?

honestly i would go home to VT and NH. I have not been home for a fall since 93, it would be great to show daughter all we enjoyed growing up!

misc crap (and q 3 of hallows eve)

PIMP: check it out! http://bellybuttonknits.blogspot.com/2008/10/wow-contest.html


Question 3 is a quiz:

Q1: Where did the idea of Jack-O-Lanterns originate?
A) Scotland
B) England
******C) Ireland
D) Wales

Q2: Halloween is the 2nd most successful commercial Holiday - what's the first?
****A) Christmas
B) Valentine's Day
C) New Year's
D) Easter

Q3: What is the intense fear of Halloween called?
A) Hallowphobia
****B) Samhainophobia
C) Ghostophobia
D) Mortephobia

Q4: The mask worn by Michael Meyers in Halloween (the Movie) was actually a mask of who?
A) Leonard Nimoy
B) William Shatner
C) DeForest Kelly
*****D) No one - it was an old hockey mask

Q5: In 2004, what was the most popular Halloween Candy?
****A) Candy Corn
B) Snickers
C) Dum Dums
D) Milky Way

At least these are my guesses! as for my fav candy? i stand by the good ole peanut butter cup! just can't go wrong there.

pimp and hallows eve q!

a seriously quick pimp: http://lovincomfortknits.blogspot.com/2008/09/its-my-birthday-theres-contest.html ends today!

also:
http://www.knititupyarns.blogspot.com/

and: http://garnfiti.blogspot.com/2008/10/halloween-contest.html

and again:http://woolandhoney.typepad.com/blog/2008/10/a-contest.html?cid=133329553#comments

the strangest thing for halloween. This one i really did not specificlly buy to use but... hubby used to pick on my dremel tool, unitl i found him carving his pumpkin with it! talk about a mess...but it worked well for those intricate designs!

can you say true love?

i was asked, what is one of your favorite creations? Well, the full set of pink and whites i did as a test in school ... on my husband! One hand had tips, one all free forms. here is a pic to prove it!

my fav all time good anytim e sock pattern (oh so basic and mindless:)

Question 2

Question: Here in Atlanta, it's finally cooling down, and beginning to truly seem like fall. I sit now with windows open, and the air is cooler than usual, and trees are beginning to change. For me, cool mornings, crisp evenings, and trees in red, gold and orange glory are the very best parts of Fall - What are your favorite parts of fall? How do you know it's truly arrived where you are?

Having grown up in new england the fall season was a major deal. I loved it so much and missed it most when we moved away. The crisp smell, the colors...leaves, pumpkins, corn fields, apples...everything had a smell and feel to it. The warm days and cooler evenings. I still lvoe it and now that we are back on the mainland i can enjoy it more, though not quite a new england fall, it is a fall!

Simply Pimping...

cause i am too tired after a day at the fair! (lol, and full, although i was very good on the eating...not the spending!)

This is adorable (i so want it) and i love that it is made out of all recycled yarns! check it out for your own chance to win!

http://thenewnew.blogspot.com/2008/09/its-monday-which-means-its-time-for-our.html

All Hallow's Eve Dishcloth Swap Sign Up Q's

Want to sign up too? visit: http://dishclothexchange.blogspot.com/


Knotting Yarn
1. Do you knit or crochet? For how long? Knit, for 2 and a half years now, knit everything!! yes, addicted.

2. What sort of needles or hooks do you enjoy using the most? Are there some you've been dying to try out and haven't? I have been using the harmony needles for the last year. Not sure about different ones? I love new "toys" though! (aside from the pricey hand forged needles, someday!)

3. What kind of projects do you most enjoy? Small things you can take with you, or big complex ones that are just gorgeous when they're done? Both, seriously!

4. List one pattern for a dishcloth that you love to make, or just tell us about one you've made or received that you loved. I really lvoe them all, the variety of design, color, etc it all makes me happy.

5. What are your 'must have' notions? Are there any notions you need or can never have enough of? Any that might make you cry if you owned more? stitch markers i can never have enough of. I love things a bit different and unique.

Petting Yarn
6. What are your favorite yarns to work with? Any you hate or are allergic to? Not into the fun fur types and am a bit of a snob with not much acrylic, although there are some beauties out there that are appropriate for some projects. I love unique fibers, indy styles, soft....again unique!

7. What colors do you like to use in projects? Any we'd never catch on your needles? Lol, i love the greens, purples, blues, earthy...lol, i'm easy though. SOme unique blends of color catch my eye as well!

8. Any cottons you'd like to try you can't find by you, or just haven't gotten around to getting?...suprise me! I don't get out too often. smile

Halloween, Fall, and General Stuff
9. Do you like to use bar soap or shower gel more? What kinds of scents do you love? What kind do you hate? bar soap, cannot do too floral, love fruity and fresh.

10. What's more 'Halloweeny' - Ghosts, Pumpkins, or Witches? Witches of course!

11. What's your favorite Treat to get? Sweet or Salty? Anything you're allergic to or just hate? love kettle korn, dark chocolate, marzipan

12. What was your favorite Halloween Costume as a kid? As an adult?? still a witch

13. Are you on Ravelry? What's your ID? Turtlemoon

14. Anything else you'd like to be sure your pal knows? I do collect little witches, love organic looking things, i try to eat very "granolaish but am human to being evil at times. Addicted to coffee, tea, a big time spinner and dyer, crafter. collect turtles and getting into sheep!

sunday football , sick knitting minds....and this:

Yup, it's that time. We hung in bed being lazy this morning, me reading, hubby sleeping. It is the only day of the week i get to be in bed past 5 am. Almost missed the entire first quarter, it completely slipped our mind!

Sick minds: my daughters best friend (our non-daughter) sent me this sick knitters link, lol...i love it! She said it made her think of me: http://www.slightlywarped.com/crapfactory/curiosities/knittingpsychos.htm


Pay It Forward is based on the movie with Helen Hunt and Kevin Spacey. It was a book first, written by Catherine Ryan Hyde. With all of the things happening these days, random acts of kindness are a good thing.
What is the PIF exchange all about? The knitty gritty is… I’ll send a handmade gift to the first 3 people who leave a comment on my blog requesting to join this PIF exchange! I don’t know what that gift will be yet ... and you may not until 2009… but you will receive it within 365 days, that’s a promise! It may be knit, it may be beaded, it may be painted...I'm not 100% sure just yet, but it will be handmade and just for you!
The only thing you have to do in return is then ‘pay it forward’ by promising to do the same on your own blog.
So... do I have 3 people who want to play and receive a handmade item from me?

YES!!! It's already wednesday evening.

Three days left to my work week. I'm really whining, seriously! My paycheck is so gonna suck this next time as i had one client today, one yesterday, so far no one booked tomorrow! The big fait starts this friday, one just finished as well as many local festivals. School started or college soon....folks are broke! And i am so a luxory for most, not a necessity. So, my pay today just covered a tank of gas and all daughters used text books for school....yikes! Oh well, it's money, easy come easier goes! (wave good-by all!*smile) life, so be it!

Here are a few pics of what i am working on:
This is from the Stole 3 knit along, loving it!



Made these a few weeks ago for daughters best friends birthday, she loves them! This is our second child, not really but might as well be, we lurve her!

just me, alive and kicking! and a pimp!

just saying hello, i kind of figured out a way in a very round about way to get a pic from my camera...since i have yet to get geek to help. He bought a new xbox game and has been busy, go figure! Work, fairly busy....who knew there were more august weddings than june, at least this year! Another wedding party this weekend as well as last. Knitting, well hint 1 & 2 are finished from the stole KAL 3. horrible pic so i won't torment you with that right now.

A few of the first blueberries from the garden, now more than 2 gallon sized bags fill the freezer!



Is this yarn not scrumtious? Maple Corners hand spun and dyed it for me! I made the Gretel slouchy beret hat from it, loving it! Almost felt cold enough this morning to wear it on the ferry to work, but not quite!



I finally got Saartje's booties knit up. A very easy pattern! Do admit the first bootie i made was just a little bit big. Fine if your infant had elephantitus of the foot, but otherwise these are cuter! I have 2 clients preggers right now!



Enjoy your weekend! Maybe i'll get caught up later on , lol, well everything! ( 2 more work days left, le sigh!*

PIMP WORK***

check it out all you knit freaks!!! http://spinknitup.blogspot.com/2008/08/contest.html

pimp 2, a yarny anniversary contest!

http://keepingknitsimple.blogspot.com/2008/08/blogaversary-contest.html

it's hot!!! lol, and a new pimp!

It was in the 90's yesterday and tomorrow it should hit 96...which truly means closer to 100! So i was evil and marked out of work for most of the afternoon as my room does not connect to the a/c . I need to go shopping for a new shirt or something for our girls night next weekend for one of the girls sweet 21 birthday. i do not usually do girls nights but she is a good friend so....knitting her a lovely choker necklace. will have to find the pattern link and post!

A few new contests:

http://fibreholic.blogspot.com/2008/08/its-my-second-blogiversary-contest.html check it out!

and

check out this contest and great info on the Red Scarf Project. I had not known about it and am very interested! http://www.scoutj.com/2008/08/15/red-scarf-contest-eye-candy-for-norma/

or just send your scarves to:

Orphan Foundation of America
The Red Scarf Project
21351 Gentry Drive
Sterling, VA 20166

Pimp me....with lime!

Ok yup i'm a dork! but ok, i admit it so, hmm.....

Sorry worked late but it was a short day as i took most of it off to run errands with hubby, while he is home! Then worked later on a client or two. So we had to get take out from the new mexican place that just opened down the road (where our fav pizza place used to be!) Very very good...kudos to the folk at Blue Agave! It inspired me to make a dowble margarita to go with dinner and sadly i am so feeling it! Also waiting for daughter dear to get home from college, had her final tonight in her very first college class...a math one no less...fingers crossed!

So check these out, very adorable cable needles (which i am using so much on the gretel hat) mine is a boring needle though! May have to special order a celtic knot one! http://darcyknottyknitter.blogspot.com/ You can win a putty cat one!

also olympic buffs! looks like a funone! http://maryinredshoes.blogspot.com/2008/08/one-year-one-month-one-day-blogiversary.html

quick pimp

Sorry, hubby did not have a chance to help, as a matter of fact he is on a 38 hour work day right now, then comes home and heads back to canada!! What fun , eh? So no new pics yet.

Check this new hand dyed yarn shop out...it is evil-y good!

http://chrissythegreat.blogspot.com/2008/08/few-more-buttons.html

Tibet: "None of us are free until ALL of us are free" Pimping & a lack of photos!

So sorry for no photo content lately. Have been taking some pics but my pc is being strange and not wanting to check properly with my camera...geek will help me this weekend getting it all straight! Not much knitting lately due to busy hours at work, cannot complain as this helps support winter knitting once everyone has stuffed their toes back into socks and boots till spring! So, pics this weekend for sure!


Tibet, Want to help? check this out to help this needy country!

http://www.savetibet.org/
http://www.studentsforafreetibet.org/

or (wording borrowed from PoMo Golightly as she worded it so well)

The lovely Pippi, creator of wonderful fibers and amazing human-in-general, recently posted her new colorway, Free Tibet, with a reminder that on this eve of the Olympics, it is important to remember that Tibet has seen no improvement in its great need for freedom. She created the yarn as a prayer, emulating the Tibetan prayer flags that are traditionally hung to "promote peace, compassion, strength, and wisdom" (wikipedia, linked above).

You can order your own skein, to knit prayerfully, as I intend to do with mine, or, you can join our Free Tibet Awareness Contest. Here is the link to order: http://www.pippikneesocks.com/page-iteminfo/ctg-26/item-404/hand-painted-yarn-free-tibet.html?zenid=45cbb48eac48c26b9f35aca26c866a97

A Quickie pimp and update

Apparently mom is all right, have yet to speak with her and they have no internet, cable etc (but cell phones work!) and her boss told me today everyone is allright, so yeah!

Flat yarn? check it out and you may get to try some: (tell them turtle sent you)
http://darcyknottyknitter.blogspot.com/

What the ??? In New Hampshire??!!??

what the ???? I remember as a kid once having a tornado come through the valley in new hampshire and being a little freaked as we lived iin a trailer park at the time...and we all know how tornados love to eat trailer parks! Well just after getting home from work today my father in law called me to see if my mom was ok. Huh??? What?? I had just gotten off the phone with hubby who is still in northern northern , did i say northern canada. Apparently they had tornados and storms in new hampshire today, check out the pics: Tornado pics: http://wbztv.com/slideshows/New.Hampshire.Tornado.20.591273.html?rid=0 and pics of the storms aside from the tornados: http://wbztv.com/slideshows/new.hampshire.tornado.20.778984.html I have yet been able to get ahold of my mom, but i do not want to call her just now as it is almost 11 pm there and the storms look to have been about 40 minutes south of her, but in the morning!!! i will be calling. again, in new hampshire! Well, off to make a drinkie, been a long day and tomorrow and saturday will both be just as long! sigh, i just want to sit and knit!!

an awesome link

check it out! http://oldredbarnco.blogspot.com/2008/07/win-this-quilt.html

well, no grams left

...aside from my hubby's gram that i do think of as my own after close to 20 years! But a sad note, my mom called me the other day and let me know my aunt (dads sister) had left her a message on her machine. i knew right away why she called as she has not called or anything since i did not sign over the rights to my dad's estate to her, somehow she felt like everything was meant to go to her???? I don't know.

So....in the last 3 years we have had both my grandmothers, my grandfather, my step-grandfather, my husbands aunt...i think that is all....pass away. So many years with no family members leaving and then all at once, or so it feels. This was the gram that sadly i had not been too close with these past dozen years due to situations of both distance and with my dad. But she was a classy lady who lived in white shorts (with pantyhose) and always had her hair colored black and done just so (she was a former cosmetologist) and bright red lipstick. She loved big chunky silver and turquoise jewelry, and made the best vegetable dishes from her garden...and she loved her horses! RIP gram, may you have peace and be safe with daddy and gramps.

Some Q's answered: A bit o me revealed!

1.) How long have you been knitting?
Just about 2 and a half years ago. I was in the process of going through my state exams and my mom taught me the easy fuzzy scarf to keep me busy and stress free.

2.) How long have you been knitting socks?
This coming sept will be 2 years. I so love knitting socks, they are one easy thing for me to take to work and do when it is slow.
3.) What do you do with a problem like Maria? Hmmmm, an ant hill, some honey...


4.) What is your all time favorite sock yarn? I do not have just one, i seriously like trying new yarns and blends as this is half the fun!

5.) Toe Up or Cuff Down? I am still on my first toe up, so as of now i must say, cuff down.

6.) What's your favorite color (this week or for all time)? I love greens and purples but admit to loving turquoise and brown together and purple and orange combo.

7.) Do you have a pet(s)? i have a good old golden retiriever, Ocean Myst and a kitty who adopted us Stalker Kitty

8.) Babies: Oven Roasted or Barbecued?

Lol, bar b que'd!

9.) Besides socks what is your favorite type of thing to knit?
i have been really enjoying lace patterns and fingerless gloves as of late!

10.) What's your favorite scent? I am around scents all day in the spa. My fav's are vanilla, and citrus , fruity scents. They wake you up!


11.) What music are you really loving right now? Like a song or a band? The Dresden Dolls


12.) How many pairs of socks have you hand knit?
About 23

13.) What's your favorite treat? Salty or Sweet? Lol, kettle Korn falls into both of those categories!


14.) What was the most interesting thing you smelled yesterday. Not good or bad necessarily, just the thing that stuck out most so that you actually took notice of it. A dessert dip a friend brought over to nibble on. Very rich! it was a blend of cream cheese and brown sugar, i think that was it but it smelled like a heavenly birthday cake when blended with a bit of apple or strawberry!


15.) Needles - DPN's: Wooden, metal or plastic?
Usually wooden


16.) What is your favorite sock pattern that you've knit? What do you recommend?
The basic sock pattern i learned in the sock class i took.

17.) The last Question: If you were stuck on a deserted island who would you want with you, what knitting would you want with you and would you ever want to leave?

I'd want my honey, for a project though, a really big cotton throw of some kind, it would keep me busy and be useful after! I may never want to leave as i am also used to being away from others in the woods and love it! But can we have a sheep and a spinning wheel too?

not a creative title at all

hey all, been not to busy with work this week but busy enough, that's ok though as after the last 3-4 weeks a bit slower with the nice weather suits me fine! hubby is getting ready for his canada work trip which will take him away for the next 3-4 weeks, bummer, but the mooulah will be nice. i have taken pic's and will get off my lazy butt and post later! Did finish the cotton bathmatt yesterday and am making a wine sweater cozy as we are having friends over tomorrow night and it will be put to good use!

Pimps:

Stitch n pitch contest: http://barknknit.blogspot.com/2008/07/stitch-n-pitch-goodies-bag-contest.html

a special summer memory and a pimp

As kids it seems we would disappear as soon as the sun came up and not return till sundown, or to replenish on food! The town i grew up in was very small, your best friend was your kindergarten teachers grandson, your mom delivered everyones mail, no one locked their doors. We would spend the majority of our days at the river jumping off the big rock aptly named "big rock", body surf down the current, soak up the sun....nibble berries along the riverbanks, kind of a scene out of some older fashioned movie although it was not that many years ago!! Those memories are my special summer memories.


pimp: check out this blogiversary !! http://www.monniblog.com/2008/07/05/post-1000-contest/

also, fab, check out their bowls as well! http://knitwitchblog.blogspot.com/

A quiet post....lots of tequila after a full long day! Question #3 (or is it #4??)

K, sorry. no knitting this evening as it has been a long ass week.i can't complain really as my check will be nice and with all the increases in life right now (gas, groceries, a teen now in college and junior year high school simultaneously)but my neck and back.....ouch! Today was a typical day lately, 5 pedicures (classics, sigs, and spas), 1 polish change, 1 manicure and a staff meeting. Yesterday i also had an eyelash extension set as well as a gel fill. the margarita helps ease the pain, or numbs it very nicely, smile.but of course drunk knitting is not worth it, you frog more than you knit! So....for tonight....

The Q : Here's this week's topic: Go check out one other person's blog who's answered some of the weekly topics.. find someone you have something in common with, who posted a really cool cloth pattern, or who 'calls' to you for some other reason, and post about them on your blog sharing why!

I chose:

http://kat65.blogspot.com/

What attracted me to this blogger first off was her knitting the green market bag. I had recently finished one myself and though not difficult was very time consuming and boring truly. Yes, i may make more for function but not enjoyment, though a new pattern may be all that is needed. i am still crusising through her blog but enjoying the read and pics and finding more things we share aside from just the eco interests!

off to work but pimping a bit!

number one: http://ponyknit.blogspot.com/2008/06/belated-first-blogoversary101st-post.html

number two: (let them know turtle sent you) http://greatyarncompany.com/blog/2008/06/27/do-you-have-flat-feet/

number three: http://mvwindwalker.blogspot.com/2008/06/my-blogoversary.html

Things always love to go wrong at the same time. Late last night we get a call from MIL, dad fell off a ladder while spraying bees in the house eaves. Broke his arm, no cast , too swollen and a surgeon must look monday and see about bolts and pins. Most people break the arm bone from shoulder to elbow straight across..not dad, he broke it right in half the long way. It must have been when he bounced *gotta smile cause otherwise it's time for another shot of liquor!* Hubby got upset as one reason we moved here was to help out, dad has inner ear issues so should never have been up on the ladder to begin with, and we are going over tomorrow anyway to change the outside light fixtures....so the bees could have waited a day, or we would have even gone over today for that. But dad has learned now the hard way about asking for help. I understand the man is just 59 and feels young but, k enough o that!

The sun is finally out. yeah! trying out a new drummer in a bit this evening. Been crazy busy at work the past few weeks so am happy for my friday to finally be here. Got the liquor cabinet reloaded and plan on making a few sedona airport margaritas. Aside from the bug bite i have on my cheek (which makes me look like hubby beat me up) all else is well.

My new sock yarn i dyed up is knitting along fairly cool, will try and post a pic soon! i hear loud bass music, must fix a drink and go be busy!

Pimping:
http://mspalmtree.blogspot.com/2008/06/2-contest.html

another day another two dollars (and dishcloth q #3)

Boring, not much knitting, just work! I am working on the new STR sock, my first toe up. Not sure yet if i am doing it right, lol! Off to get ready for work, sigh it is hubbys thursday? my tuesday (concerning work). I see all these fiber festivals, fairs etc. I am wanting to make some girlfriends into spinning/knitting who also would love to go play at these! I got invited again to a girls night but they are just drunk fests and dancing, not my thing. Someday maybe!! (the friends not the drunkfest)


The Q : Well now that Summer has OFFICIALLY begun.. what do you do to beat the heat? A nice tall glass of lemonade? Frozen Coffee? A dip in the pool? What's your favorite way to keep cool this summer as things heat up?

K, after growing up in humid new england then having many many years in hawaii i have not been hit by huge heat in WA state as of yet. Our home is also located next to a lake with almost 200 foot trees behind the home that keep things a bit cooler....so aside from a fan? And maybe extra iced tea or coffee....that's about it. boring i know!

PIMPS:

a blogiversary, check it out!!
http://theknittingwildflower.blogspot.com/2008/06/blogiversary-contest-begins-and-waht-i.html

stuff and a dishcloth question...(#2)

The kids had a blast at the water park and all, completely sunburned! the day ended up a beautiful one. Not to jinx anything but this is looking like day 3 for gorgeous!!! (loving it, as is the garden!) I can hear my neighbor starting to do our yard. Sadly i have so much crap to do and hubby just hates doing the lawn. he also travels wuite a bit and for this reason our neighbor cuts and edges our lawn twice a month. he does not want to take any money from us but i have insisted on it. Our lawn takes a good 2-3 hours to do and i appreciate it. Gives him gas and beer money! He actually this year opened his own business doing lawn care and is really good at it, i have sent a few of my clients his way already and hapy to do so! Daughter just got home from school and is officially a junior (yikes) and starts college in a week (double yikes!) full time come fall for elec engineer. My smart cookie!

Well, question number 2 for the summer dish cloth swap!

Q:Share with us how you know that summer has truly 'arrived', or something that signifies the start of Summer in your world.

When the french doors can be left open and the furnace can be turned off! The garden is growing and i want ot don my shorts again! The sun tea is "perking" and salads look like heaven for dinner!

wild waves, stepmonsters, cupcakes and contest pimping

hi all, it has been a crazy CRAZY week! Busy busy, lots of bridal parties coming through, good for me business wise, bad on my wrist and back....my chiropractor would have a fieldday with me!
Tomorrow hubby is dropping the group of kids off at the water park for the day. A belated birthday for daughter. It is supposed to be near 70ish..oooooh! I had told her it needed to be out of the 50's to go.Sadly one of the kids has a stepmother, or more appropriately stepmonster who is a beast. Hubby got handed the phone and she hmmed and hawed for the longest time basiclly just asking if he was staying there all day. now these kids are all 16 and in a week start college courses towards their AA. (Hellooooo!)Anyway hubby lost patience with her as we had just walked in the door and he had just started eating his dinner. Sadly the boy is not going, he is daughters boyfriends best friend. He has been placed in the middle of a complicated three way parental divorce twist where the stepmonster wears the pants and all fear the reap of her bitching so just give in. (ok, sorry rant is done now!)
Must go bake cupcakes in a moment, waiting for my second child to show up for the slumber party.

pimps:
http://darcyknottyknitter.blogspot.com/2008/06/200th-post-blog-party-drawing.html

check it out!!

also go peek at: http://toknitandwrite.blogspot.com/2008/06/blogoversary.html

and also: http://garnfiti.blogspot.com/2008/06/contest.html

a quickie

Mom made it off last night. Was questionable as we had a big storm come in, seriously the mtns 30 minutes away got dumped on with snow while folks down the road are still without power and the high school got closed today due to the lack of power/limbs on the roads. We were lucky and only had winds....hmmm, a high of 56 is expected. Such a weird summer so far! I am in the midst of a couple of projects mostly knitting but did enjoy some beading earring fun this weekend.

summer dishcloth swap q's!

k, first off business wise: i do not have any favorite dishcloth/washcloth patterns but prefer the ones to be about 7 inches (or so). I am pretty mellow!

now for the q's! (sorry, mom and i have been out today and had so much fun! i just assembled the 5 pairs of earrings i created at the bead shop and am relaxing with a tom collins, thanks goodness tomorrow is my sunday and sadly she flies out tomorrow night, boo hoo!)

1. Do you Knit or Crochet? For how long? Knit, for just over 2 years now. Am addicted and love all aspects from dying to spinning as well! I cannot crochet to save my life!

2. Do you enjoy using metal, wooden, or some other kind of needle\hook? I prefer wooden but then have only tried one addi needle, liked it just beyond my funding to complete a set. love the harmonies!

3. What are your favorite types of yarn? Any you just can't stand? i love trying new yarns, more the indie style and made from odd or differnet fibers. Do not care for eyelash or un natural fibers.

4. When it comes to cotton, are there any brands you'd love to try and haven't? cannot think of any off the top of my head, the lesser known than what you'd find at joannes.

5. When you make Dishcloths, do you use them yourself, or tend to give them as gifts? we use them daily in the home. as washcloths though, only ones we own!

6. Do you have a favorite color? Any that you dislike? not huge on neons, love greens, blues purples and earthy ones best!

7. What color(s) (if any!) are your kitchen and bath decorated in? daughters bath is kind of green where as ours is an ice blue.

8. What are your favorite scents around the house? not into florals, more fruity and vanilla type.

9. What is your very favorite thing about summer? warmth and things growing! love to be outside and having lived for over a dozen years in hawaii then moving to northern washington miss it some.

10. What is your least favorite thing about summer? when it ends and humidity.

11. Do you use soap or body wash in the shower?soap, love handmade natural soaps.

12. What scents do you enjoy in the bath? again, fruity or light tropical florals.

13. What is your favorite dishcloth pattern? i do not have any one fav pattern, truly.

14. What sort of treats do you enjoy? Sweet or Salty?both, (lol, depending on the time of the month) i do not eat much in the way of sugar or white flour, love dark choc and nuts though! i'm a granols girl.

15. Imagine today is one of the hottest days of the year - what do you do to keep cool? Or are you one of those folks who loves the hot weather? i would be in the woods hiking in the cool cover of the forst canopy than camping out. or out on a boat!

16. What sorts of hobbies do you enjoy besides knitting or crocheting? photography, dying, spinning, scrapbooking, hiking, backpacking,kayacking, scuba, reading, cooking gardening, crafting

17. Do you collect anything (besides yarn!)sea turtles, mermaids, dragonflies

18. Are you on Ravelry? If so, share your ID! i am turtlemoon

19. Do you have any allergies?just bees, but i am sensitive to strong florals.

20. Do you have any pets? one poor old girl, golden retriever and a stray stalker kitty who adopted us a year ago.(calico)

it's friday ... and goals and such!

So....yeah friday! mom's visit has been nice, although what the he??? Snow last night in our mtns! Yikes! the broccoli seeds are loving the cooler weather though. At least something is! Took mom to the spa today and she got her massage, facial and pedi, so she was feeling mellow, then we headed out for the end of happy hour at anthonys! Was nice, so i type to you with a mellow slight buzz as my last two days have been hectic crazy at work! Just 2 pedis and an eyelash extension touch up tomorrow then off for a few days!

my summer knitting goals:

1. to keep up with my STR socks
2. to finish my shawl
3. to work on at least 1 sweater productively
4. to become a better spinner on the wheel!

List your goals and play too! http://www.skeinsherway.com/index.html

contest pimping some more:

sock lovers? http://gingersnapswtea.blogspot.com/2008/05/my-first-contest.html

Mom countdown, two days!

Yup, only 2 days till mom gets here! Lots going on getting the house a bit cleaned up, lol as well as fresh sheets in the guest room. I already cleaned up the closet in there as it hides my stash! (but mom loves that stuff as well so she will not mind sharing the closet) Dear daughter officially enrolls in college today! Yikes! Next monday she turns 16. So she will take one class this summer than this fall she and a few friends are going to go full time and by the time she graduated from high school she will also have her associates! Good for mom and dad as all we have to pay for till graduation is her books and she wants to be an engineer (6 years of school) so that is 2 years of tuition savings on mom and dad!

contest pimping:

This is for a good cause folks, check it out. Ladies there is some important info here! http://yarnyenta.blogspot.com/2008/05/so-i-had-to-tell-becka-first-but-i-cut.html

check this one out! http://yarnfamily.com/blog1/2008/05/24/anne-every-which-wayslowly/

i got tagged!

Well, tha garden is planted...yeah! SO happy to have it all in, ok aside from the red onions and swiss chard i have sprouting in the green house. The folks picked up daughter and her best friend and took them to the mall today for daughters birthday next week. They were hoping they would want clothes, but no aside from the few shirts they did pick up at Hot Topic they got "stuff" and had a good time. Daughter does not understand that papa is ready to spend a ton on her when he does take her (about twice a year) Oh well, before school he can try again! BBQ'ed, we have SO much leftover as the folks did not stay.

Rules first..
I need to answer 6 questions. I then tag 6 people and post their names here, then go to their blog and comment to tell them that they have been tagged and to visit here to find out the rules. I must then let the person who tagged me now when I have posted my answers. I did need to read it twice.

What was I doing 10 years ago?
I was in Hawaii teaching scuba diving and working at a steel company as the assistant to the president.

5 things that are on my to do list for today?

*get the garden in (finish)
*grocery shop
*knit some
*girls to the mall
* ???? Hmmmm. dying yarn which did not happen!


Snacks I enjoy.
Nori sheets seasoned with sesame , Pirate Booty, Cookies able to be dunked

Things I would do if I was a billionaire.
I would purchase a new home for us with property enough for a mother in law home. I would have a fantastic craft room, get hubby his dream car with sound system, get a tummy tuck, lol, let father in law retire!

Places I have lived.
Vermont
New York
Canada
Connecticut
Rhode Island
New Hampshire
Hawaii
Washington State

6 people that I want to know more about
I have decided to pick people who I have only just 'met' via my giveaway last month.
*This one i will have to get back to you on. The brain is not fully awake!

Between the Bees and the Thorns

I am so sore of the garden weeding and being hunched. Every muscle is sore after 2 days, legs, arms, etc! So hubby (wonderful hubby) went and bought a rototillar for the garden and is going to till it for me in about an hour , yeah!! Otherwise it may have taken forever! I have some seedlings i planted waiting in the small greenhouse and picked up a few extra plants this morning. Herbs as well for the kitchen garden. Been getting clothing washed, dishes, the jeep (not an easy task!) the jeep sahara is much larger than my old little wrangler, but i love her! Fern...she's a good jeep!
May have photos soon! I took them, just need to download. Must get my butt back outside now and finish. I really need another day off, lol, right! My mom gets here in less than a week for a visit!


Contest Pimping:

summer questions draw on may 31 : http://ridiculousobsession.blogspot.com/


In need of hand measurements: http://knitasaur.wordpress.com/2008/05/17/i-have-creepily-scrawny-wrists/ (may 31st)

monday....a good day!

Lots and LOTS done! Aside from the norm of dishes, laundry, vaccuming, garbage recycling etc.. I got ALL the flower boxes , planters, hanging baskets, etc planted..about 24 in all. I also got the wall in our room nearly re-painted. need another small quart to finish but it is close! The light purple accent wall just wasn't cutting it for me so we are a mystical blue( kind of a deep purply blue) and it is much better! Switched throw carpets around to change things up, etc etc! Just lots of small things but yeah! Lots off my list of to do to make things look a little different.
If you haven't tried the new Green Works cleaners they work great!
Back to the Grind tomorrow though! Not much knitting done this weekend, sadly! Need to get dying some yarn!

Contests:

I'm pimping a birthday contest, due by the 21st!
http://bookwyrmknits.wordpress.com/2008/05/15/better-than-thirteen/

http://stringsandpurls.blogspot.com/2008/05/im-having-blogoversary-contest.html

http://learnersperknit.blogspot.com/2008/05/win-win-situation.html

Surgery a Success

And some big freakin teeth they were too! All 4 were removed without having to cut them and daughter is doing well. Of course the main pain killer is still in her system so we'll see a bit later.


Fun contests:

A cat by a phone and caption contest, for yarn of course! http://cynicalgal.blogspot.com/

another one: just go check it out!! http://1870pearl.typepad.com/myweblog/2008/05/comment-contest.html

and again, reading and yarn! http://oneschemeofhappiness.typepad.com/home/2008/05/blog-contest-bl.html

and a fun pattern idea contest: http://www.learnersperknit.blogspot.com/

Another week yet again! No cinco de mayo recovery!

Been so crazy busy! I do not believe i got home from work any day last week before 7 pm. Then friday was First a
Friday so Art Walk. Had a great turnout! We had a cellist and catered the event at the Spa. My week starting looks busy as well with Mothers Day this coming sunday.
I feel a bit bad though as this coming saturday the family is having the memorial service for my gram. I will not be able to attend. One due to it being 3000 miles away and two that it occurs on one of my busiest times of year. I know Gram would understand, but i was hoping to see the family as well. Oh well, next time!
Daughter dear is a bit stressed as she is having all 4 wisdom teeth taken out on thursday. I have my juicer all warmed up for her!
Finishing the 2nd STR Lucky sock and still kind of working on the Patons retro ski sweater. Finished the blue sky lacy cardigan but still need to block it. I feel like i suck at blocking!

Got some advice for a young girl? Come on dig deep! :http://shutupimcounting.wordpress.com/


Get to know someone better blog contest: check her out! http://knittingasfastasican.blogspot.com/2008/05/contest-yup-you-read-correctly.html

just a quickie!

i kind of see sunshine? well it was there a minute ago! I went looking for those hanging tomato things but could not find one. thinking of picking up some paint for our fireplace, it is brick and from floor to ceiling (on 2 floors) with a seat hearth on the main floor. Needs some color as it blends with the walls/ceiling right now. Haven't gotten hubbys opinion on color yet though so think i may wait, just to be nice at least!

links:
http://pursuitoffiber.blogspot.com/2008/04/happy-birthday-too-meeee-contest.html
a birthday contest of favorite things!


For me:Simple things make me happy! A good book, a walk through a farmers market, watching the animals (both pet and wild), the clicking of my needles, a hike, sitting by water, eating gorp in the woods, wildflowers, warm sunshine, a new toe polish color, yarn....

This blog made me think of my mom's 29th birthday. My mom and i are so much alike it is scary! On her birthday one year when asked how old she was she told the folks at work 29. On her next birthday again they asked how old she was, she did the math and told them 29...they thought she was really just trying to avoid 30 but seriouslly she had goofed up the year before and was only 28, oops! She missed 28 entirely! Yup, my mom and i are so much alike!

earth day is my day...smile..my birthday!

Worked a half day but then took off and relaxed!

What do you get when you run away to Woodstock in 1969, then go into labor on the very first earth day and give birth under the sign of a full moon??? You get me! Just ask my mom! Another year older, oh well, it's just a number anyway! Off to be productive, or try!

links:

blogiversary contest! check it out, let them know turtle sent ya! http://brileyknits.blogspot.com/2008/04/blogiversary-contest.html

also go see this contest as well: http://mustkeepknitting.wordpress.com/2008/04/20/its-been-a-year/

and a good one, check it out!: http://dillydallyknitter.blogspot.com/2008/04/wish-me-luck-contest.html

april 18th...can you say snow??

I know the forcast has called for possible snow but hell....it's the end of april! I had a client stop in for a nail repair and said that halfway across the sound on the ferry they hit snow. They are showing photos of the pass right now and lots of snow is falling, to the point it is falling sideways! As of today, the old late season record was yesterday, april 17th. Avalanch people are on standby for this weekend as they are calling for a good deal. Sadly the ski areas we frequent closed last weekend....huge bummer! Lol, had to place my flowerboxes away under the eaves and cover them with some old sheets against frost. I am more than ready for summer already!

a few links!

here is a fun 500th post contest, let her know i sent ya! http://aknittersstudio.blogspot.com/2008/04/birthday-contest_16.html

Poor hubby ... and links!

Poor hubby has had a bad week of travel for work, as well as a crappy hotel! But it looks like he may actually make it home today after all. So tonight, much later, i will be off around the sound to go retrieve him! Yeah! (i bought hom diet coke in case he needs to mix a good stiff drink when he got home)

So as I was supposed to pick him up this morning i took the day off. I did need to finish painting my room at work though so when his flights disappeared i stuck on my old patched jeans, some slippers (flip flops here on the mainland) with little beads and a cute top as it was in the 80's today!!! Got tot he spa and the receptionist on the phone asks quickly if i mind taking 3 mani's for regulars, all together. Sure if they'll take me dressed super casual! The the spa's hubby called asking if i could give him a foot paraffin and massage, sure! ALso did get the room painted and was out by 4pm. A bit of yard work done, mostly yard decor back ut and a few things cleaned up. Daughter and her boyfriend played a little tetherball out back...all the windows and french doors are open. I even layed on the hammock for half an hour and read. Come on summer!!! Stalker kitty is loving the door being open again. Sorry to anyone stuck in the freeze still! My mom is cursing me i'm sure as she has well over 3 feet of snow around her driveway, etc still.

Links:

Like bunies? like yarn? what are you waiting for! Let her know Turtle sent you!
http://knitterbunny.wordpress.com/2008/04/11/time-for-a-little-contest/

Music and knitting? Check this contest out! Again, let her know i sent ya!
http://cre8tivkjspatterns.blogspot.com/

Is it friday yet??? First sock done!

Hey all, sorry been MIA for a bit, work the norm..you know! Somehow last week was mostly ten hour days, which for my schedule is a damn long day! Been busy though! Got my daughters class ring ordered, she is registering for classes at the community college for their fast track program, been redoing my room at work, hubby is on travel for the week, planting flower boxes and dragging the hammock up onto the upper lanai from the storage barn... lol , my barn consists of the old shed, it looks like a small barn and is larger than the bedroom i grew up in many times over!I keep telling hubby it would nicely accomodate an alpaca or sheep or two but he just grunts. Lots been going on!

I finished the first sock from the Lucky socks that rock package. For some reason i kept mis reading the pattern and majorly ripped tuesday afternoon many many rows. But the first is correct and complete, cute! Still working on my lace cardigan from Blue Sky Organics, the back is complete, onto the front. The sweater is slowly coming along for skiing next season. Been taking it to work with me but have not had time to knit there. But more later! Must go eat dinner, store roasted chicken and a big salad...yum!

braindead and links!

yeah i know...lame. Maybe this weekend. I have been working 10-12 hour days all week and stopped by happy hour with the girls this evening, hubby joined us! More and better this weekend, promise, hmmm. after work tomorrow!

contest links though!

check em out, let them know i sent you!

http://modestpurls.blogspot.com/

SNOW!!! and contest links

K, we have had the lawn/yard done twice the month of march due to the grass getting high and now last night it snows....and they are calling for up to 6 inches for us by tonight. Hello???? Of course i am also having to go into work early this morning for a bridal party of pedi's. Oh well, i'll dress warm, smile.

A fun contest link, check it out!! http://www.cassknits.com/2008/03/giveaways/more-big-girl-knits-review-and-giveaway/#comment-686129

Fun contest with adorable pics of some dogs! http://bea-blacksheep.blogspot.com/

A few spring inspiration pics! I love the variety of daffodils..just a few! (of course they are covered with some snow now)

A few of my favorite things!

I love living in the pacific northwest! I have been lucky to live in various areas of the U.S.. Born on a VT farm, lived in the NH woods, on the coast in Ct & RI, then off to HI for years and now the pacic northwest. Above are a few of my favorite things about our area. The seafood of course! My backyard, the spring flowers in the garden and the numerous hiking trails around our area...happy happy!

Visit http://knittinginpink.wordpress.com/2008/03/04/random-tuesday/ who inspired me to post about these fav's!

Check this out, a fun vote! http://knitnana.blogspot.com/2008/03/contest-and-vote.html

http://www.skeinsherway.com/2008/03/spring-2008-knitting-goals-contest.html Did you know spring was right around the corner? I had kind of forgotten about the technical aspect of that. I was reminded here though! My spring knitting goals are : to finish my lacy edge sweater, start working on the ski sweater (for next year), choose some strange winter hats (for next year for the ski gang), work on the silk sweater, cap sleeve .... and get organized! As well as socks that rock monthly and the dishcloth swap. I love knitting and it keeps me sane! Check back on the above link though and let us all see what your goals are as well. Fiberous gifts there!

Morning, just a little catching up and contest links!

Hurry this one ends today! Let her know i sent you, and try not to drool over your computer screen...seriously! http://knitandrip.blogspot.com/2008/02/bloganniversary-contest.html

Ever dream of opening an LYS? These ladies are and need some input on your fav's so are hosting a contest, tell them turtle sent you: http://enchantedyarnandfiber.blogspot.com/2008/03/yarn-contest-and-giveaway.html

This contest you can post about bloggers who have wonderful patterns they have created but may not have been posted. Let her know i sent you, thanks!: http://yarnfamily.com/blog1/2008/03/02/anne-congratulations-and-a-contest/

This is my pattern blog post:http://babycocktails.blogspot.com/2008/01/sorry-bcbg.html I have not yet started but am planning to soon!

Quiet, i know

Ok, know i have been a little quiet, my mom had called me friday afternoon while i was at work (she is 3 hours later than i am). It seemed like an odd time for a call from her and i was in the middle of doing a set of eyelash extensions on someone. I commented later to a person at work as i sat getting ready to check my messages. She asked what was up, i had said i was almost afraid to check my messages as i had a bad feeling that my grandmother had died. She was ill but we had just had the doctors give her a 4-6 month prognosis. Nothing out of the ordinary on the message though so.... next morning my phne rang as i was getting ready for work and hubby answered. After he came in i had told him how the day before i had been afraid to check my messages. He just gave me a hug and said that was my mom just on the phone and that gram had died the evening before. I know she lived a full life and having been so ill for so long that she is in a better place and with grandad now, i don't know if it is guilt that we have not been in close touch lately (i even had a card on the counter ready to mail to her with a pic of my daughter), that due to long distances i had not seen her in a long time....yeah, i guess guilt. I know my gram was not a perfect lady, especially to my mom when she was growing up. Gram i do have to say always stuck by me as i was growing up. I feel badly now though. It seems so many family members have been passing away over the last few years. lol, i guess we are all just getting older, sucks though, smile. So i may be a bit quiet here and there for a few days more. She was my last grandparent (as my dads mom and i have no relationship, sadly that side of the family disappeared years ago) So leapyear had an additional memory now. That's all....

Post in Progress ...with links!

Fun contest: check it out!! http://nhknittingmama.blogspot.com/

Also for fun go visit this bloggers post contest: http://uplatedesigns.blogspot.com/2008/03/so-here-i-am-at-100-mark.html

Fun contest, i have to help promote this one! A st paddy's day yarn o rama! Go check it out if you love yarn or roving! http://spinknitup.blogspot.com/ Let her know "murphy" sent you!

Busy Big Post! Cause I've Been Lazy!!

K, talk about dumb. The other night i spent so much time on the computer loking for a knitting abbreviation. PO ... Purl over? No, that would be SKO or PSSO . Hmmm, could not find it anywhere! Of course it was the new Eyelet cardi pattern i was starting and i had just drank a super yummy drink concoction hubby had just made me (which had a total of 5 measley shots). Finally hubby comes over to look over my shoulder and says, "Hon, that would be a 0 not a O".....zero. For size medium, Purl ZERO! Dense, dumb dumb dumb. Then last night i did another, lets not entirely decipher what we read and ripped another 5 rows out this morning. I think so far i am about even on the knit and the rip ratio.

But, i have lots of fun pics for you! Catching up on mailings i have received over the past few weeks.

Received from my wonderful dishcloth swapbot pal:


Received from When Angels Fall's contest. Can you say cute! I am excited to try a pair of toe up socks! Hmmm, where did that choc go? OOps, where is my daughter!






This was from my wonderful Hot Cocoa Doldrums Swapper! So wonderful! I have not decided for sure what i want to make yet but am loving the other goodies, and what a cute buddy! The kitten has not been named yet, but then the stray who adopted us is simply named 'stalker kitty".


Kitty on the v-day tulips from the spa owner!

Off to go see about another drink and to pick up my knitting again!

DUH......this is my brain after taxes! + contest links

K, short and sweet. I have taken pics but after 6 hours of getting all paperwork ready yesterday (personal, home, business , etc) and now this evening coming home from work, going to work out for 30 minutes, then helping hubby finish dinner...the yummy drink hubby bribed me with to do taxes, lol, and doing taxes .... i am braindead! Will post pics of some wonderful packages i got the other day from swaps and secret cocoa pal!( Loving them by the way) Oh, i said that already didn't i ?? I was so dense i even took an earlier ferry than necessary this morning! 2 days left of the week for me, then skiing sunday again, yeah! Good news: now that taxes are filed i will have fun money for vegas next month!! {big smile} Later all! May try and knit a bit, could be dangerous though!

Links:
http://knitinggal.blogspot.com/ check it out knitters!

Skiing and Dishcloth Q #5

The Q: If money were no object, and the day was just perfect - not to hot, not too cold, sun shining, slight breeze - how would you spend a perfect day out that had been given to you in the middle of a cold and blustery winter?

The answer: see skiing below. Fit into all the above question categories and would gladly repeat anytime.

Well, after 20 years (literally) hubby and i outfitted up and hit the slopes. Dear daughter went snowboarding. This mtn snow was the most snow she has ever seen and she loved it! Aside from sore knees and muscles she didn't know existed she had a blast. Hubby and i were so happy to be back on a mtn. We both did so much skiing growing up, i was threatened to be kept back from school each year for missing so much to go skiing. This was such a blast, reminded me a bit of our diving adventures. Was such a nice physical day! Here are a few pics!









Just a view of the mtn trail, this one was fun to ski!