catching up!

i got a cute new pink vaio for xmas! yeah!! my poor recently saved pc was sooooo old, ancient in pc years (almost 4!) Luv the new lil pink, just adjusting to windows 7!!! Hubby just got my printer installed and transferred favorites for me from the old to the new, and recipe files! all other goods are saved on my external now. i am so not a geek!! (but trying) knit a cute shawl from whimsical lil knits this weekend, blocked and drying. Starting a new one, a test knit for someone on ravelry, picked a fun bright sock yarn, 3 skeins!! (hope i have enough yarn) 30 per cent sale at the lys, alltogether under 30 bucks so happy! The enchanted stole KAL starts in just over a week, so waiting!! Don't know why i luv knitting lace shawls so much! Still luv socks too but been on a hat and cowl kick. Will have to get some pics for you all. Stay warm!! Weigh in tomorrow , will see how good i was truly, xmas and spiced rum/eggnog!!

Happy Yule All!!

i know, i have been so MIA! First my computer caught a virus, came in through all security and attached itself to everything, did i say everything cause it did! Took my hubby/geek almost 36 hours but he did it, saved almost everything!! Now so far though i have yet to reload my photos, so this will be pictureless. He did get me a new camera though! So been playing with it, so new compared to my ancient 6-7 year old digital (am thinking of seeing if the teen girl across the street would like it though as it still was a good camera, and would be free!
My mom came out to visit for 2 weeks, was so fun! We got numerous crafts done as well as a bit of shopping, hit some fun craft shows, even did a little walking. Of course the day after she got here our temps dropped into the teens and stayed there till the day she left, when it started raining! Oh well, we had fun!
Still in washington though that is still in the air. We will either stay here or move to vancouver island, it could be a few months till we know for sure. I have been good and been dropping some of those stress pounds i had gained when working, lol, sad i know! but it is nice to feel clothing getting obnoxiously baggy for a change!

Enjoy your holiday everyone! I will be posting more regular again with the new year!

check it out! and rememberance day

First off, a thank you to all current and former vets and military folk. There are a lot of people who dedicate at least a portion of their lives to keep our freedom, both freedom of our person(s) and freedom of expression. Many of these folks are behind the ones in uniform as well, thank you to them all! I have to spoil my vet a bit later, let him sleep in to start.

peek here fabric junkies!!

http://www.hawthornethreads.com/home

needlecrafters looking for something fresh and new: http://www.siblingcraftery.com/2009/11/one-year-blogversary-giveaway/

and all you into self sufficiency peek at:

http://coldantlerfarm.blogspot.com/ (plus it is just an enjoyable blog to read!)

new pimp

http://darcyknottyknitter.blogspot.com/ cute company! recycled and yarn together!

i'm going nuts ... help!

Have you ever got an email and set it aside? Then saw you did need it, only to discover somehow all the trash of your email box deleted itself!!

my dilema: received an email a few days back that had a pattern for a scarf. This scarf was two colors and knit from side to side long way, mainly one color with a small checkerboard of an accent color. A great college color scarf! I think it was even called the collegiate scarf and i believe they knit it with patons yarn, but i may be wrong as i cannot locate this pattern anywhere!!! and i have spent the last 2 hours searching. I bought the yarns to knit 2 of these for holiday gifts and now.... no pattern! (i am not feeling smart enough right now to do this without a pattern) so.... anyone know or see what i saw? do you know the link? thanks folks!!!

adorable pimp!! edited tues the 27th!

added: http://darcyknottyknitter.blogspot.com/ new contest!!



do you love the holidays, or even just snowmen?? peek at this contest:

http://bittersweetfixinsnprimitives.blogspot.com/2009/10/its-giveaway-time.html

love the look of their blog as well...festive!

18 years ago today

hubby and i married. It was a quick, decided that very morning, small wedding and was very nice. My mom sent flowers, my maid of honor who was a baker baked a 3 layer tiered cake complete with fresh daisies, hubbys best friends wife and i got food together that day, our landlord brought wine, crystal, took the photos... i wore my maid of honors dress and hubby wore his navy uniform. I don't think i even wore shoes! We stood in front of the fireplace mantle which held fall leaves and pumpkins and had the justice of the peace preform the service. Hubby says i did say "to obey" but i don't remember that part! Later that evening we played Risk to the wee hours with the best man and his wife ... it was small, sweet, and very personal. Couldn't have asked for anything more! (i think we spent less than 200$, including the JP's fee)

a fav holiday pic (or two)....

camping with friends playing on their grandparents transportation (one of the few pics of hubby andi together!)
the fun lights of vegas!
One of our favorite backpacking spots!
Cait and her best friend working on a fire.

What Inspires me.....

Nature and my Family! (how about you?)

willpower! i was a good girl!

well, my daughter and boyfriend go back to school on monday. Our big fair started on the 11th and we had not made it there yet. Hubby grew up down the road from this fair so he can take it or leave it. My poor mother in law has such bad allergies to so many things now that she did not want to go, so i went along with the kids on our own. (it was dizzy bracelet day so cheaper for them with the rides) Usually i have someone with me who knows the fairgrounds so well, not me, i kept walking out of barns, etc and having no clue which direction i was traveling...unless i could catch site of the roller coaster! I was bummed as this year they are rotating animals, so the sheep and llamas and alpacas will arrive on the 22nd, the rabbits tomorrow. I did see the chickens and goats along with 10 baby pigs born last night and the cows. I was kind of bummed though!
I eventually found the artists room where local artisans sell their goods. There is everything there! I got 2 pieces of pottery and spoke with the artist. ( a new spoon rest and a french butter pot) then also picked up about ten buttons made from elk and caribu antlers (4 toggle style). That was it for me! I did not purchase any fiber or yarn this year (gasp, i know!) And i was good otherwise as well, one scone hot from the oven and a taste of the vanilla walnut fudge. Thats it! (honestly i could not find the salmon /cream cheese pieroshky stand or i would have got one to take home and i was not up to sweets when the kids ate the elephant ear) A good day though! Stopped on the way home for a gallon of raw milk so i could make yogurt tonight. Somehow i still managed to spend a good amount of money though! (you know fairs...parking, tickets, ride bracelet...... oh well, it happens once a year!)

moving?? maybe... and a bit o pimping!

Look what i found at the goodwill for 4.00. I also got a rug hooking kit, the kind with the wool strips, a couple of tools, etc of an apple tree. It was new, unopened with an original tag of 75.00, for 7!! will be a fun project!

Hubby came home last night and said, "so what do you think of canada?" Well, seeing we make it up there an average of 8 times a year (at least) for his work, now they and he are thinking of relocating there for 3 years. For his career it would be a good move. But, the "eh's" of this are that it would be in the next 4-5 months! yeah! This will be daughters senior year at the high school and her sophomore year at the local college so... she cannot move. Meaning we would have to find a friend for her to "rent " at those few months before she heads to idaho for summer 2010 to start her last 3 years of college at boise state. She is newly 17 and i, her mom, am not sure if i am ready for her to not be under my roof yet . i am not ready for her to go next summer let alone sooner! We would sell this home vs renting it out, etc etc... the list goes on. So in a nut shell, not really sure what's happening, smile! Will keep you informed. (this would so work better next summer but i guess someone is retiring and hubby would be taking his place)

pimps: check it out!!

http://bea-blacksheep.blogspot.com/2009/09/playing-in-shop-abigail-and-augustus.html

Want to be a Shephardess???

Here's how you can get started with your own flock. Major big giveaway! So wish i could enter but at this time our property would not hold a full flock *le sigh* . But if this is your dream as well go visit Susan and the gang at MVFF!!!

http://www.fiberfarm.com/2009/09/a-mighty-big-giveaway

At last!

Yup feels good to be home. As nice as it is to get away it always feels good to get back home and crawl under familiar sheets! Almost back to normal, smile... both house and me!

Got the plums and apples in the crock pot for a plum butter, 8 loaves of zucchini bread baking, and off to farmer georges farm stand for about 40 pounds of tomatoes, ten of peaches and a few apples. (and to see if the calves have been weaned so i can get some raw milk for yogurt) Still working on huby about a bunny... no go yet! Le sigh.
A quick pic of the kids and i in california adventure. We hit 4 theme parks while down there along with the winchester mystery house and a bit of san fran.


Vacation was good Did get stuck in one fire on the way down. At one point we saw the temp outside go up to 109, and that was not near a fire!





more later, off to stir the plums and check the bread. enjoy your holiday weekend everyone!

home

le sigh...will update with pics later!! (two days driving, 29 hours in the car coming home.....) later! smile

pimps updated aug 27 !

gorgeous mitten kit up for giveaway!
http://darcyknottyknitter.blogspot.com/2009/08/sandrasinghcom-isabella-mittens-kit.html

help needed on a shawl pattern suggestion using beads for a wedding: http://keepingknitsimple.blogspot.com/2009/08/grrrrrr-and-contest.html


want to see the most adorable felted pin cushion? or view the other creations? better yet want a chance to win it?? http://mimikirchner.com/blog/archives/2009/08/tiny-world-pin-cushion-giveaway/#comment-6385

Shuffling off to ... Idaho

Off in the morning for a few days to visit college campus' with dear daughter. She will be starting her sophomore year in a few weeks but next will will have to transfer from home to finish her degree. So this shall be interesting! Plus this will be the longest car trip we have made in , well ever as a family! (island life you can't drive too far, smile) so 8 - 9 hours each way....got some knitting, lol! SO will check in from the hotel but may be kind of quiet! Hopefully the garden will survive the 90+ temps for a couple of days of neglect. The cat i know will eat well at the neighbors and i set up a sleeping spot for her in the small greenhouse, which she already loves.

On another note gram may not make it through the weekend. She has been slowly getting worse since her accident in may. Now she cannot swallow at all, even water. She is on hospice and she wants to move on. But gramps is not taking it well. To be expected after 75 years of being together. Keep him in your thoughts please, we hope nothing happens before we can get back.

Enjoy the burst of summer again!

cilantro basil margarita recipe

I used half the sugar (organic) and ended up using Cointreau, delicious! Hubby said it had a big wang to it and you'd never have known it had all that alcohol in it. The next day i made another and even diluted it with some soda water, still yummy! (i did note hubby kept having more sips whenever i wasn't looking! smile)


Yield: 1 cocktail, plus enough syrup for more drinks if desired

Ingredients:
1/2 cup fresh cilantro leaves
1/4 cup basil leaves
2 tablespoon fresh mint leaves
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup water
Kosher salt or cocktail salt for rim of glass
2 ounces top-shelf tequila (recommended: Cuervo Gold or anejo tequila)
2 ounces lime juice, or more, to taste
1 1/2 ounces orange-flavored liqueur (recommended: Grand Marnier or Cointreau)
1 1/2 cups ice cubes
Finely grated lime zest
Lime slice or wedge

Method:
In a small saucepan combine the sugar and water and bring just to a boil, stirring to dissolve the sugar. Add the cilantro, basil, and mint; stir to combine and then set aside until cool, allowing the herbs to steep in the syrup.

When the syrup has cooled, strain through a fine-mesh sieve, pressing on solids. Discard solids and transfer herb syrup to a small airtight container. Chill thoroughly. May be made up to 1 week in advance and refrigerated until ready to use.

When ready to make a cocktail, place a small amount of the salt in a shallow dish and wet the rim of a glass. Dip the wet rim in the salt to coat the rim and set aside.

In a cocktail shaker combine the tequila, lime juice, orange-flavored liqueur, 1 ounce of the chilled herb syrup, and ice cubes and shake well to chill. Strain into the prepared glass, garnish with grated lime zest and a lime slice or wedge and serve immediately.

(This recipe was featured on the Herb Helper Episode of Emeril Green on Planet Green)

links

just a quickie! catching up on things and getting ready to make an herbal marinade for some shrimp....remind me to tell you about the fantastic basil/cilantro margarita i made last night....yum!!

contest link: http://www.larksongknits.com/2009/08/07/first-giveaway/


and another!! http://darcyknottyknitter.blogspot.com/

and a sweet quilt one: http://sipiweskequilts.blogspot.com/

AARRRGH!! (off my chest)

Yes, kind of shouting here. Ifyou remember we have had trouble with our internet/cable company. Unfortunately they have the corner on the market here on the peninsula, so customer service falls to the side, is dragged from their service van bumpers, flushed.....ok, i know, lol!

Spent the morning going in to stand and speak with someone who tells you the same thing over the phone, one supervisor only is able to do anything to fix our problem (as he created it on our bill) and he has not responded to any emails, calls even from people within their own company in regards to this. In the meantime i pay my bill to them but have to deal with having them still shut the cable off, then admit they goofed and fix it, after an hour on the cell phone! Today was the last straw. I contacted our local news station that is always looking for local "they're screwing me" stories, especially in this recession. We'll see if they want to help.

Other than that been keeping busy. Reading, gardening, knitting. Canada was a good trip although it took 12 hours to get home, twice as long. The blue angels were practicing in our area and roads were closed causing traffic jams, the canadian holiday weekend's start caused longer lines at the border, even in the Nexus lines.... but it was all good.

Today is the first day the sun is not currently killer, although it is burning off! Thank goodness the 104 degree temps are gone, we're not designed for that in this area, smile! Off to be productive!

Just Canning

...been canning and freezing but figured i had better get some more of the zucchini up before this serious heat wave strikes! They are calling for the next 5+ days to be 93 and above (looking at 100 for two of them). We do not have a/c. Yesterday was a mellow day and it was still 83 in the house at 9pm last night. The downstairs is much cooler but in a split level not much downstairs happening (lol, that is where we moved my craft room out of a few months back cause it is freezing come winter. oh well) So the ginger zucchini marmalade sits cooling. Never tried it before but it looked so interesting i had to give it a go. It smelled fabulous cooking! And guess what's for dinner tonight? Zucchini casserole! still cool enough today, tomorrow? Anything we eat will be grilled! Enjoy everyone!

I finished my Girasole blanket last week thursday and finally got some pics of it blocking.

PS, the cat now thinks the fishbowl is her personal "flavored" water dish.

Kitty made new friends

i found her the other evening sitting on the counter investigating these new creatures in the house. Was so cute! (although now i hope she doesn't get any other ideas!)

The Sun is Back!

Been trying to add a few things on Etsy but either our internet (more than likely) or the site is acting a bit wonky! Here are a few pics though, recent even!!






The garden is doing well this year. Been canning, freezing, dehydrating etc...and the neighbor traded me yesterday for fresh salmon he caught for some veggies. (we actually pass things off to eachother all the time, not really trades!)

recapping a conversation between hubby and i

The other day hubby came home and asked if i had heard of twitter. Yes, i said i had. The group of them at work were discussing it and their consensus was "dumb, have people not got anything better to do with their time?". Now do i twit? No... i might be a twit but do not practice the art of twitting. I honestly have to admit i do not get it either. I enjoy facebook and ravelry, i only use my cell phone for schedules, calls, texts, and contact info's. Maybe i am behind the times but... lol, i have enought to do during the day without adding some new distraction! (smile) What are your views on Twitter? Do you twit? Am i missing something? Help a girl understand.

With that note i have been harvesting some huge zucchini and squash from the garden, time to make relish, marmalade, pickles and grate and freeze some. Already made baby carrot pickles, pickled beets, brambleberry jam (marionberry, strawberry and raspberry). The rest of the garden is catching up as well! Been freezing and dehydrating herbs, they smell so good when fresh-dryed vs buying them!

I finally have all i have completed so far posted on etsy! (yeah, 53 items!) as well as being good and listing my pilates machine on craigslist. I'm cleaning house! Will be good and try and get some new pics of projects posted tomorrow! Now i have to go chase one of the baby raccoons out of the blueberry patch!

a quickie wish for a safe holiday season!

Well, she's growing up. My daughter left last night for the holiday weekend with her boyfriend and his family. They are headed off to idaho to the grandparents property to play. A nice sized farm, 4 wheelers, etc, so more exciting than staying home and blowing a few things up! They have brought back the boat parade though on our lake so tomorrow i will have to drag my mother in law down to the dock to watch, always fun! (they didn't have it last year due to the costs of fuel)

I did get my Etsy store started up today though! Still numerous things to add still but it's a start. I was on the pc today while hubby was being domestic with the bbq preps! Gotta luv him!

Have a safe 4th everyone!

long overdue i know! (and a pimp)

Been busy, been sick, and still so much on the to do list! Just this morning i have canned baby pickled carrots, beets and have numerous herbs drying in the dehydrator now. The dinner is in the crock pot as well as a huge bowl of garden lettuce waiting for dinner too. I finally took apart the old earring rack i had and attached to screen into the cool revamped frame i picked up at the goodwill for a whopping 1.29 and hung it. Like i said, lots still on the to do list though. (painting, getting etsy re set up, knitting, sewing, dying, practicing the dulcimer as well as learning the new songs on our song list)

Did i tell you we played a party last tuesday? Went very well and lots of business card requests. So we may be very busy this summer. Was very enjoyable set up on the lake, we were treated as guests and had not charged as it was a good friend of the drummers graduation party for their son. But their daughter had set up a tip jar and we earned 300. in an hour and a half of just goofing/ a practice with an audience. It is always so weird because i do not believe you can really hear yourself when you sing. I mean i feel i can carry a tune but always get a bit self conscious when approached with praise after a gig. (we just aquired a second guitar player who kind of checked us out that day. He has played professionally for years in numerous bands but with a family now builds frets for many very famous guitar players. He gave me a huge compliment and now wants to join us. So fun!!) We do this for fun, everyone has to have a day job as we do not want to be famous, do not want to play out too many times a month as we all have families, etc. Call it stress management if you will.

More later and maybe a few pics!

Pimp: http://darcyknottyknitter.blogspot.com/ Tell darcy Turtle sent you!

My Happy Place

Growing up it was on the old tree branch that lay partly across the river, or atop Welch Mtn. My mom worked at the base of this mtn so i could easily hike up, and did so numerous times a week. Blueberry season was always wonderful as you could just graze, relax, etc.

Now one of my fav places is this lake, lower Lena Lake. It is about an hour from our home but hubby and i go backpack up often and camp out there, peaceful, quiet, he fishes, i knit by the water. Camping by the water has been something we have enjoyed together since we first married and went camping in northern WA in december. His dad was so made at him for taking his new wife (and preggers wife) camping in december, he didn't really know me yet back then. Now he wouldn't even question it. When he asked why i needed a 4 wheel drive i responded, "well, you just never know when you'll feel like driving across that cow field" Now i just amuse him, in a good way!

PIMP: http://darcyknottyknitter.blogspot.com/ fun and unique goodies!

pimps!

check it out!! anniversary blog contest: http://knittingarden.blogspot.com/2009/06/blogiversary-give-away.html

Heatwave.....

Need i really say more? Not really complaining, melting maybe, but the garden loves it, i am getting a great tan by melting intot he hammock each afternoon for about 40 minutes and reading (animal, vegetable, mineral...great book!) but we are breaking our own records here and the house is still about 84 at 8 pm. Yikes! lol, i am getting my water in though and not hungry, so a great diet tactic!!

PIMP check it out fiber nuts!!! : http://phatfiber.blogspot.com/2009/06/seven-yaks-super-giveaway.html

Seventeen years

ago my baby was born, wow where did the time go??!! Happy Birthday Cait!

updated end of may!! quick pimps, while i unpack and clean!

pimp!! A blogiversary! http://littleruffledfeathers.blogspot.com/2009/05/my-300th-post.html

and look< last spot being given away!: http://darcyknottyknitter.blogspot.com/

and peek at some cute stuff here: http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5383257

and also peek, a scavenger hunt: http://www.danido.com/

and just added today, sunday! : http://knitwithkt.blogspot.com/2009/05/two-years-of-skirtsicle-contest.html

canada

enjoying it! right on the beach. Found tons of sanddollars this morning, but not a speck of sea glass...interesting! I love that the roads, etc are so much cleaner up here...and hubby keeps picking on me as more folks seem to be conscious of their natural good foods and my kind of food is plentiful and tastes better....but expensive! Found a great little yarn store yesterday within walking distance of our hotel, will have to go back though, she didn't take plastic, and i did not have enough cash or my check book. A new brand of organic cotton i was not familiar with and a great pattern book as well. Starts with an S but cant remember it!
Hubby is at work right now but we have the next 3 days off to venture out and play tourist. Watching tons of kites flying as well as a flock of canadian geese that have just landed below our lanai. Knitting pedi socks but not crazy about the yarn i grabbed from my stash, weird pooling (and usually pooling does not really bother me much, this is!) Enjoy your holiday weekend!!!

Monday Pimping

first, a cool knit book: http://knittingasfastasican.blogspot.com/2009/05/ive-decided-to-have-contest.html

mini sock blocker key kit? : http://pattscreationsmadness.blogspot.com/2009/05/sock-blocker-keychain_17.html

Huge, big, anniversary contest!: http://www.divaknitting.com/blog/2009/05/15/


and check out this cool one! http://darcyknottyknitter.blogspot.com/

psssst!!

It's sunny! feels like summer, almost! (i'm whispering in case it disappears!)

a short note....

hey everyone. Still here just been very busy! Of course work gets super busy as soon as i am down to the end of my time. I have 4 days left! (yeah!!) Not sure how i feel about the fact that they are actually trying to get me to "train" the two girls who will replace me. I was contracted not employed so...... i kind of feel they should figure out their own groove as things got changed and the set up is not really pedi-friendly for the person giving the services. (just ask my neck and back!) But these assumptions are a few reasons for making my decision to leave so easy.

When we are not working or cleaning or doing yardwork around the rain we have been traveling south a bit to help with family situations. Hubby's 87 year young grandmother fell the other day and broke both her hip and collarbone. Not doing well. They have decided to operate this afternoon, total hip replacement, but cannot do anything for the shoulder. Of course dad is beside himself and feels completely at fault (as if) being the son. Grandad is convinced she will not pull through and already seems so lonely. Sadly she will not be able to return to the assisted living home so after 75 years together they are going to be separated. This breaks all our hearts. The grandparents are fabulous folks, strong and full of life. They only stopped camping 3 years back, driving 3 years back (grandad is 93), they play music, compose, etc. I have always thought hubby and my relationship kind of resembles them, both relationship to eachother and our personalities. So keep Bessie in your thoughts today for skilled surgeons hands, low to no pain and healing! (and to grandad who's missing his better half)

Enjoy these summer like rains and weather!

Like I needed another hobby! (and a pimp)

Yup, I had fun exploring the antique shops in town. I have fallen in love with old milk glass, love the polka dot ones. Some lil tea lights inside at night have a soft warm, fresh clean glow... even hubby commented on them. I also love old linens. Found this wonderful irish linen tablecloth (for a whole $4) and promptly took it home and embroidered shamrocks in each corner, we are a murphy household after all!

PIMP

http://toknitandwrite.blogspot.com/2009/04/contest.html check it out, her 200th post

happy earth day!!

(and it's my birthday!) Smile!!!

Hmmmm....

I just emailed my resignation to the spa! (giving them 4 weeks notice) We'll see how they react as i know this will be coming out of left field for them, completely unexpected. Hubby has announced he wants me home, maybe do a few hobby and spa type services on my time, maybe go to an assisted living home one or two days a week to help folks with trimming, etc or a spare set of lash extensions at some of the local spa's by contract (as no one else in town offers them), concentrate on maybe my etsy, soaps, etc.... so happy! i will be able to travel with him now on his business trips from time to time and be home weekends! I do just need to behave and not shop and get the business credit card paid off...i can do that!! Wow, one of my dreams coming true and just days before my 39th birthday.!!!

In Memorium : Ocean Myst

sadly, we awoke this morning to find our golden had just suffered a stroke. She did not seem to be in pain but was not herself, could not walk, head could not move to one side (as all sensation seemed to be gone on that one side) and her eyes kept twitching back and forth. We sat with her until it was closer to the hour the vet opened (as the closest emergency vet was a long ways away, and it would have taken the same amount of time as just waiting) The vet agreed with us about the stroke and we held her till she left this earth. She would have been 14 this june and had a full good life. Just hard. This is the first real pet/friend my daughter has lost. She was my best friend, my shadow and supported me every time my hubby had to leave for sea. She was very much loved by all who knew her and will be missed.

quickie links

Earth day is just a month away (and my birthday as well!) Want to get inspired? Check out this link! http://suzysunshine-suzy.blogspot.com/ Hip Mountain Mama has a good link as well!

and phat fiber- If you haven't checked them out yet, your missing out!!! contests all week! http://phatfiber.blogspot.com/

also: http://www.hipmamasplace.com/2009/03/straight-harmony-wood-knitting-needles.html

check it out folks...lots of goodies!

day o green!

Two years ago at Kell's in the post alley, seattle

No, i am not irish...only by marriage! Hubby is pure irish, my leprechaun for sure! This year will be a mellow one but still enjoyable. The pot is on the stove, soda bread getting ready to bake, beer chilling. (i drink my nutty irishmen, like my beer in moderation) Have a safe, rocking holiday folks!!

check this out all fiber nuts!

I could go well into it but Susan put it all out there so well, and if you haven't yet visited Marthas Vineyard / Hudson Valley Fiber Farm yet ... well you are so missing out! Check it out for good info, cuteness of photos and a contest! http://www.fiberfarm.com/blog (you can even purchase a share of sheep fleece, lol, seeing hubby won't let me have a real one.....)

(photo courtesy of MVFF/HVFF website)

Spring??? a quick pimp

Really it's almost spring? We hit snow on and off yesterday getting stuck on the freeway back from the city, talk about slow traveling..but we made it. Was just slow. (oh i already said that!) This morning with bits of snow on the ground, 32 degrees out and two hummingbirds buzzed the kitchen window! So yes, i went and got the feeders cleaned out and filled and hung, hopefully neither birds nor their food freeze!

PIMP very cool....you need to check this giveaway out if you are a fiber freak! Go on....

http://phatfiber.blogspot.com/

Yup, and there was the floor (and pimps)

Yup, I passed out. Who knows why really, but it was embarassing! Right smack in the middle of my reflexology class today! I'm watching a demo on a particular massage move and next thing i know i'm being asked if i'm all right or if i hit my head. I did manage to fal to my knees and not completely fall flat, but still....embarassing! Lets leave it at "women things" and midol not agreeing with my system i guess. Other than that little misshap the day was a good one. Lunch at a nice lil irish pub, drive through a short blast of white out snow conditions, my wonderful hubby chauferring myself and friend to and from class.....

Remember tonight before bed to re-set your clocks "Spring Ahead"

Off in search of my "Ripped" glass and my shotglass of the retro woman which says"because cramps don't go away by themselves"....come to mama!


Pimps: If on Ravelry go check out the Klub Knit Witch for B's contest, please let her know Turtle sent you! You'll love her goodies, all fibery and hand fired goods!

quick link!

our internet has been acting up, nothing new as we have been disputing this with the company for 3+ years now and they are finally starting to actually try and fix it. It falls upline from our home and others have complained as well. I am usually lucky to get a 2-4 mg connection, we are paying for a 10-12. yeah, talk about throwing the laptop like a frisbee out of frustration. Hubby gets booted off xbox live all the time cause it drags.

Quick link: cool fibery goodness!

http://knitpurlgurl.blogspot.com/2009/02/wonderful-webs-giveway.html

will try and get a pic up later, hope to not get called in today, daughter home ill, my stomach is not being nice either so.... plus it is pouring out! stay home weather for sure!

No work monday.....

well unless you are like me and always have mondays off (my sunday as far as a weekend goes).
Relaxed last night with a drink and a flexoral waiting for the tense of my neck to diminish. Job hazard which just multiplies that i come home and knit or craft in the same position.
Band guys come over this afternoon for practice. Not really in the mood but....we do have fun. I keep getting sucked back in, i do it for my husband truly. I have no desire to play out or anything. No need for the limelight here, lol, have never desired to be famous or anything!
It's hard to believe that it is already half through feb! The year is already slipping away! Off to be a little productive!

and it continues to fall....

well, they said it would snow. We didn't really believe them as they always tell us and then....wait....nothing. At 6 this morning i let the cat in, dry out. By 645 when daughter went to start her car everything was covered! (lol, she's getting her snow driving practice in!) By 11 the snow was very light and the ground clear again. By 1230 when i left to catch the ferry everything was covered and snowing so hard visibility was less than 1/4 mile. It stayed that way until, well...i caught the 415 ferry back and it was still snowing, about 3-4 inches by that time. (i should have worn the boots!) The salt water on the sound was actually freezing, ice chunks all over as we crossed, talk about getting a boat load of folks all looking out the windows at once! (not something we see too often!) So, who knows what will happen by tomorrow morning as they say it should stop, but be 31 degrees tonight. I may be driving daughter in to classes if it is ice and college does not cancel. Sorry no pic!

i'm here

just snuggled under a thick blanket feeling brain dead and drained. Like my head is half underwater and the line across my head where the water runs is all stuffed and full of pressure. maybe tomorrow!

Quiet.... but spring fever!

Quiet....but it's sunny and very cold! I have spring fever....been looking at gardening books (was time to switch the winter books out for the summer garden books on the coffee table) and planning to try for a better garden this year! Hopefully we will have a real summer.
Things have been on/off at work. Last week i was fairly busy all week. As of this morning i have no clients booked whatsoever for the entire week so far. Not freaking as my industry tends to be a short noticed apt based business, so usually within 24 hours apts will be booked. So i sit on call right now. Kind of sucks though as we are waiting for hubbys work to give him his claim number to get his knee surgery booked. (he slipped on the ice just days after xmas at work and tore something in his knee) So he has not had much overtime and has not been able to travel, etc for any extra moolah! We are fine but hard to get ahead, i know we are so not alone and actually lucky that we are so comfortable still with the economy as it is. (so surely not complaining) Just makes planning hard! *smile*
In the meantime i need to go get busy and pack up the now dry xmas lights and decorations away (all outdoor decorations), maybe trim a few tree branches that are brushing the rain gutter, and a few other items needing attention before i get to do something i truly want to do, like dye, make soap, knit or something such!
Enjoy your tuesday all!!!

A quickie superbowl project! (and uses up scrap stash)

Hey, do you dislike the cold bottles or cans of your fav beverage? I figured these would also be perfect mindless knitting projects to make while waiting for the commercials between plays (as i so do not care for either team playing this year... good if you are a fan!)and using up bits of scrap stash! Check out the wonderful links here:

http://tipnut.com/42-kitchen-goodies-cozies-yarn-stash-busters/

Why Men Are Happy ..... and a pimp!

Sent to me by my aunt:
(alot of it seems kind of true)


Men Are Just Happier People--



Your last name stays put.

The garage is all yours.

Wedding plans take care of themselves.

Chocolate is just another snack.

You can never be pregnant.

Car mechanics tell you the truth.

The world is your urinal.

You never have to drive to another gas station restroom because this one is just too icky.

You don't have to stop and think of which way to turn a nut on a bolt.

Same work, more pay.

Wrinkles add character.

People never stare at your chest when you're talking to them.

New shoes don't cut, blister, or mangle your feet.

One mood all the time.



Phone conversations are over in 30 seconds flat.

You know stuff about tanks and engines.



A five-day vacation requires only one suitcase.

You can open all your own jars.

You get extra credit for the slightest act of thoughtfulness.



Your underwear is $8.95 for a three-pack.

Three pairs of shoes are more than enough.

You never have strap problems in public.

You are unable to see wrinkles in your clothes.

Everything on your face stays its original color.

The same hairstyle lasts for years, maybe decades.

You only have to shave your face and neck.



You can play with toys all your life.

One wallet and one pair of shoes -- one color for all seasons.

You can wear shorts no matter how your legs look.

You can 'do' your nails with a pocket knife.

You have freedom of choice concerning growing a moustache.



You can do Christmas shopping for 25 relatives on December 24 in 25 minutes.



No wonder men are happier.

PIMP: If you knit, trust me, just go check it out!!!!! http://suzysunshine-suzy.blogspot.com/

A Lopi reunion! (and some pimping)

Guess what my mom found in her attic! The first thing I ever started knitting, that Lopi sweater! It must have been the winter of 87-88 and my roommate was teaching me to knit, step by step. Of course i ended up moving and never got to finish the sweater , then had no idea what happened to it! I remember splurging and spending a good 70-ish dollars back then in our small Plymouth yarn shop for the yarn. I think the pattern and needle were my roommates mom's. I knit a lot more of it then i remembered.... and it looks pretty good! I am going to finish it but not sure if it will fit, i was only a size 2 back then...pre kid! But i am so excited~ Now i wonder if she came across my old prep school hoodie...that i know WOULD still fit!

and that cabled sweater wrap: (still needs blocking)



and fresh blueberry muffins! (this was not a mix girls!) berries from the garden picked by my own little fingers! (recipe from Table Talk)


Pimps:

Like jewelry that is unique and cool? Like clean soaps and candles in fresh new scents? Check out this blog for 2 different contests!

http://www.rundpinne.blogspot.com/

Is it just me??

and hubby? I just have to get this off my chest and hope to not get flamed! But...


I am happy we have had a historical event this week, i hope our new president does wonders for things that are falling apart with our country/world right now, i am very optomistic! But a couple things bugged the heck out of me this week.

Mainly, well, one was when one of the morning talk shows kept showing footage of the small village in Africa where Obama's dad was born. It showed the villagers dancing and partying. I was happy they were celebrating but it made me wonder why we were glorifying his dad this way. Didn't his dad take off and abandon him as a child? Did I miss them showing info on his mother or grandmother? ( i did have to work that day so i may have) I am glad times have changed and that hopefully the racial barriers have melted or even blended and that this is proof of it but.... people keep raving about Obama being black,and while he is , he is also half white. These are just a few of the thoughts i kept having go through my head as i watched the festivities.

We lived for 13 years just down the road from where Obama grew up in Hawaii and are very acustomed to varieties in ethnicities (and miss that where we live now). We were usually the lone haole's at the majority of the events we went to, and grew used to being the minority. Maybe this is why i get confused and have these thoughts as maybe i don't see the huge deal really and just see a qualified person for the job.

So please no flames, these were just a few thoughts that have been running through my head and i felt maybe they would leave once i wrote them down.

PIMPS:

http://whiletangerinedreams.typepad.com/while_tangerine_dreams/2009/01/nacho-poncho.html Very cool, check it out!! (and a contest)

hump day again and a pimp!

yeah, hump day! I only worked a half day but it was the latter half, so.... i did get the back to my retro sweater finished. goofed a small spot by not sticking stiches on a holder but they are just 9 stitches so...i can fix it easy enough! got ahead of myself and did not read fully on the directions! I still did not make it home till almost 8 by the time i finished at the gym, quickly ran into joannes for iron on velcro tabs, and the dollar tree for weird items (soy milk, cooking spray, alum foil, green m n m's, felt scarf, spring silk flower for daughters vase holder in her car) ...weird i know but needed!

is it the weekend yet?


pimp: really cute, knitters check it out! http://knithappens24.blogspot.com/

Pimping and there was a penis in my mailbox!

Just a quickie,

not much but knitting and work going on for me...aside from the domestic hoopla, same o same o stuff! Starting to get spring fever already, sadly have not even skiied once yet!

i have to take a pic of the wonderful chapstick/keyfob cozy i received in the mail today. it is hand knit and shaped like a penis, yup...that's right. I love it! It is a riot!! will try and post in the next few days, i work late tomorrow.


pimps:

very cool spinners:, don't miss it!: http://chezplum.com/blog/2009/01/20/fiber-talk-and-january-fiber-giveaway/

it's hump day! and a pimp!

Have you ever just not felt ready to tackle your day? (pic of daughters best friend at daughters paintball party)


i have sunday/mondays off which is great. I get sundays with family and mondays to get crap done. sunday means no alarm clock (seeing we have not been skiing lately with hubbys knee surgery coming up) but monday i am still up by 445 am. This monday i had no energy though. not sure if i am fighting a bug or what but.... i fell asleep in the chair after everyone left, fell asleep again that afternoon before the gym, did knit a bit but really got nothing accomplished. I can't stand days like this as i feel it was a waste. Tuesday made up for it though! (i was on call but it was quiet) I got so much finished, cleaned, etc...love those days! Today so far i have just 2 clients back to back (yeah) no lags in the schedule. SO we'll see what comes up otherwise...need to get my hair done as well! Hmmmm...... How is your week going?

pimp: http://jane4girls800dollarannualbudget.blogspot.com/2009/01/hot-giveaway-from-hotsacks.html

a quickie pimp ...

tis all i have time for now. (except to bitch a moment that i ordered 6 more skeins to finish off a project and now it looks like i only needed 1. Bummer!

Pimp 1:

Readers and knitters peek here: http://timeforelevenses.blogspot.com/2009/01/competition.html

Pimp 2: rockers and knitters must see: http://www.danido.com/articles/2009/01/12/rock-my-socks-off-contest/

Pimp 3: gotta check this one out as well!! http://timeforelevenses.blogspot.com/2009/01/competition.html

And the rain fell down, down, down....and some pimp!

Well no spa treatments today. Played "move the car" and got a few things done on the side...boring, responsible things nothing exciting!

Aside from the heavy rains , which by the way i became drenched by, the waves were pretty cool to contend with crossing on the foot ferry. At least i didn't have to dock it, lol! But from snow to rain....twenty something degrees to 50 something in a week???? go figure! Off to catch the late newscast and see if anything changes (as the wind howls across the chimney) well, sleep will be nice with it hitting the windows! smile Peace and nighty night!

Pimps: in a word, gorgeous! check it out! http://phatfiber.blogspot.com/2009/01/natchwoolie-and-giveaway.html

also: i hate to link you as this is so funny i hope i win! but here you go: (all's fair!) http://onlyifblissslept.blogspot.com/2008/12/100th-post-get-your-contest-on.html