NaturallyKnitty

Day 1: Tour de Fleece

2011-07-02T20:59:00.003-05:00

YAY!

I'm involved in....

the annual Tour de Fleece spin-along during the Tour de France. The concept is simple, They spin, we spin. A real spinning themed spin-along.

Guidelines (NOT RULES):

Spin every day the Tour rides, if possible. Saturday July 2nd through Sunday July 24th. Days of rest: Monday July 11th, Monday July 18st. (Just like the actual tour)
Spin something challenging Friday July 22nd. (The Tour’s toughest mountain stage over the Col du Galibier for the second time, and finishing up on Alpe d’Huez.)
Take a button if you want one. Then we can use the button on our blogs in show of solidarity. Take it from here or grab a clean one from the flickr pool. Come join the flickr pool!
Wear yellow on Sunday July 24th to announce victory. Why not wear yellow on any day you feel particularly successful? (Yellow is the color of the race leader in the Tour - but here we are all ‘race leaders’)
Other colors if desired: Green (sprinter - think FAST), Polka-dot (climber - as in uphill), and white (rookie)

I grabbed this info off of the Ravelry group Tour de Fleece.... It's lots of fun so go check it out if you are a spinner!

Today i took the kids to a park and brought along my spindle... We packed a lunch and they played for hours while i spun standing on top of a picnic table. good times :) But it was so dang hot out... the kids were red(not from sunburn, they are just like me and don't take heat well) and sweaty....

When we got home i put Trubie down for a nap and got out the kiddie pool in the back yard. They got cooled off and i brought my wheel out for some more.... spinning. This time i spun on some Corriedale/silk blend that I'm spinning at a laceweight. It will be a 2ply eventually. Well really i hope to finish it by the end of the month. I probably have about 4 more ounces to spin and then ply it all. 8 ounces total. I'm hoping for at least 800 yards... if not more.(This is the correidale a few weeks ago, i'll update with a more recent pic another day)

The kids are in bed and I'm about to start back up but my fingers are itching to pull out some other roving and try it out.... maybe tomorrow. I need to get this laceweight done...
This is the majority of my haul that i got at the Midwest Fiber and Folk Art festival.... The top left is particularly calling to me.... I've never spun a gradient dyed roving before. I have plans to make a pretty shawlette out of it...

Maybe I'll have pictures of it as singles tomorrow.... but for now i must go and SPIN!

2011-07-01T19:41:00.004-05:00

I am a bad bad blogger.... it's been forever since i've done this. I am almost at a loss as to what to do, what to write... But fear not I have pictures! We went to the beach the other day.... The kids love it and so dose the dog....

Draco, remember the tiny puppy?! Well he's a big 97lb dog now....

here are some of the crafty things i've been up to.... knitting, spinning.... and recently i've gotten into sewing! I also have an etys shop now.... it's slow going but fun.

Socks!

And here is of my handspun sock yarn.

This is a shawlette that i test crocheted for a friend....

here i am spinning at the beach!

my drop spindle.... it's my new go to project at the parks this summer.... so easy to pull this out and just spin the day away.

My handspun socks.... and some handspun that i sent to a friend.....

These are some box bags that i have up in my etys shop! http://www.etsy.com/shop/naturallyknitty

And this little guy is crocheted! I'm getting a bit better at crochet :D

::sneaks in and looks around::

2010-02-26T16:52:00.007-06:00

Umm... hi?! Anyone still out there? Has it really been 7 months since i've blogged. wow. sorry.

So lets see, my name is Jessica and i have 4 kids and a puppy..... here is a picture of the latest two... Truban is almost 8 months, Draco is 4 months.

Life with 4 kids has been kinda crazy... and i'm loving it. Adding a puppy to the mix was just the next step, right?! Who can let their kids grow up without a dog... That is the line that convinced Joe to go and meet the puppy... once we saw him we were hooked ;D

He is a good boy... I only find myself taking things out of his mouth every 15 mins. lol. But we love him and are glad we got him. I just can't wait till the weather is a little nicer and we can all be outside for longer periods of time.

I'm on Ravelry way too much... Mainly the HPKCHC group.... it's like my second home. And to tell you the truth that is probably why i don't blog. oops.

I've been working on a wallaby sweater for Joe and some stranded mittens for me! I'm loving the mittens... I'm getting use to holding yarn in both hands, barely.

I've done tons of other things but i'm not going to bombard the blog with all those pics... you can go to my project page and check it out if you really want to.

I'm hoping to be back soon.... If not i'll see you in a few months!

wool wool wool

2009-07-28T21:08:00.014-05:00

Back so soon?!

Why yes, i am!

I finished spinning a sheep's worth of wool! YEA!
I did this for my OWL in the HPKCHC... I'm so glad i decided to do it too!

I decided I wanted to dye it with Wilton cake dye. I did a test dye of three different colors. Juniper, Leaf Green and Brown. I came to the conclusion that i would use Juniper with a dash of leaf green to liven it up a bit.

Juniper

Leaf Green

Brown

Last night i just couldn't wait and and so started my dying experience.... Now i have 16 skeins of this yarn (2,065 yards) and wanted to have it all the same. So what does one do... puts it all into one dye bath. Right?!!

EEEEHHH Wrong!

I shoved it all in to a 22 qt pot and couldn't even stir it around at all. Bad idea. Well it was all in and i just went with it hoping that it would work out.

It didn't:

Today i decided that I would dye it again in smaller batches. So I did and it helped... but i think i might dye it again. I'm not sure.

I keep going from I love it to i hate it. Very strong feelings i know, but maybe i just need to get use to it. I guess I'll see how i feel about it in the morning.

There are a few skeins of yarn that have a really dark spot or two on them...(you can see it in the picture below)I do have a few extra yards(about 500) so hopefully i won't have to use them. Or maybe it will just add to the oh-so-cool hand dyed look... one can hope:)

Oh have i mentioned that I'm going to knit the Central P ark Hoodie out of this yarn?! Well i am!

Here is some pics of Truban, cause i know you all want to see little baby cuteness:)

He was laying on me and i snapped a few pictures so i can remember how cute and tiny he is... I know they grow all to fast. I love the little scowl on his face...

Truban Alexander

2009-07-24T19:18:00.006-05:00

Here he is, Truban Alexander!

He was born on July 6th at 8:18am. Weighing in at 7lb 10oz, and 21" long.

We came up with his name from our grandpas. Truban was after my grandpa it was his last name and Alexander was Joe's grandpa.

He is a sweetie and we are all smitten with him! All 3 kids love him to pieces and want to hold him all the time. Gabe loves having a little brother and can't wait until he is bigger to do boy things with him ;)

I've been around, mostly on Ravelry... and if you want to see what I've been knitting lately check out my project page! The main thing I've been doing lately is spinning (the fiber i cleaned last summer) yarn to make a sweater out of. I'm almost done spinning it then I'll dye it. I'm excited about it!

I would say that I'll be back in a few days to post some more but the truth is that i'll be back when I'm back. Life is crazy and as much as I want to blog, really i do, i can't, right now be as consistent as i would like to be.... Maybe someday... Until then i hope your happy with me the way i am:)

Lion Pacifier Clip

2009-05-13T09:17:00.004-05:00

Lion
Pacifier Clip

By Jessica Gutoski
www.naturallyknitty.blogspot.com

ravelryID NaturallyKnitty

CO 6sts, Join to knit in the round
K1 rnd
* K1 M1 * (12 sts)
K1 rnd
* K2 M1 * (18sts)
K1 rnd
* K3 M1 * (24 sts)
K6 rnds
* K2 K2tog * (18sts)
K1 rnd
* K1 K2tog * (12 sts)
K1 rnd
* K2 M1 * (18sts)
K16 rnds

At this point you need to take a break in knitting. Use
a piece of yarn to weave through the sts at the neck,
go around twice and tighten
slightly, to form the head
from the body.
Weave in any ends. Stuff
head and body with fiber fill.

* K1 K2tog * (12 sts)
K1 rnd
* K2tog * (6 sts)
K1 rnd
* K2tog * (3 sts)

Put all the sts on one needle and work an I-cord for 5 inches.

Kf&b of each sts (6 sts)
K 3 rows (garter stitch)
K2tog, K2, K2tog (4 sts)
K6 rows
BO all sts

Break yarn leaving a 10 inch. Put the garter
stitch tab through hole in the pacifier holder
and sew down. Make
sure to secure it firmly

Cut 4 pieces of yarn about 24 inches long. Fold in half. Using a darning needle pull
each one half way through at the 4 points where the legs will go.
Cut the loop end and braid each leg. Tie a knot, on each leg, making sure it is tight,
about 1 ½ inch away from the body. Take the two front legs and pull through the
clip tying them each in a knot. Trim excess yarn from legs.

Cut up 24 pieces of yarn for the mane. About 10 inches long. Using a needle or a
crochet hook pull though a st and tie in a knot. Go all the way around the head.
Trim it to a nice length.

Add some of the mane color to the tail end. Add a face
and there you have it!

I "heart" blocking!

2009-03-27T13:04:00.010-05:00

Blocking is wonderful... i just love it!

Don't know what blocking is... You can find a cool article here from knitty.com! Basically you get a piece of fabric wet (or steam it, or spritz it with water) and pin it out to the shape you want it to be, then wait for it to dry.

It turned this wonky piece of fabric into a blanket!

I'm really happy with how it turned out. Though the blanket itself is bigger than i expected it to be. I think the pattern said the small version would be a 38inch square mine turned out to be about a 42 inch square.

Only one complaint about the pattern, the yarn requirement was way off... It called for 4 balls of each color. To be safe i bought 5 of each and ended up going back and getting an extra ball in each color and i still ran out of the cream, i think i was 3 rounds short, but you can't really tell. So 12 balls total... that's a lot of yarn.

You can see more of my details here on Ravelry...

Project stats:

Start Date: March 5th
End Date: March 25th
Yarn:Dale of Norway/Dalegarn Falk
Pattern: OpArt
Needles:US #7s... (4 circulars)
Recipient: the baby in my belly

Today was somewhat nice out and we went out to play for a bit. Chloe loves swinging and went for the better part of a half an hour.

Leah was running around and just having fun.

Gabe and Joe were playing baseball. I can't wait for spring to really be here. When we can wear not a coat but a t-shirt or I'll even go for wearing only sweatshirts... I can feel it, spring is coming i just need to have a little patients and endure the cold for a bit longer.

organized or insane

2009-03-25T20:58:00.009-05:00

It all started out because i was looking for my US#8 needles. "Where could they be" I thought to my self... I didn't have any WIP's that i knew of that they would be on.... and so the search began.

I started by going upstairs to my more organized yarn stash... i went through every basket, bag and bin, but they were no where. I did however locate my US#10 1/2's that are on a project I hadn't seen in over a year... I wrote that down and put it in my new knitpicks needle case so i wouldn't have this same problem with them... (I just got the needle case, and love that each needle has a zippered home!)

Any who, That led to the search downstairs... my "corner". Well really there is an over sized chair and all around it is bags upon bags of yarn and projects waiting to be knit. Or leftovers from projects that had already been knit. I tend to just throw the yarn over there rather than put it away upstairs and forget about it. Its not pretty. Oh and my wheel lives under it all too.

Well i pulled everything out and noticed that it took up a good part of my living room. I decided that i needed to organize this mass of fiber... So i got to work. We had a shelf that had no use because it was recently replaced with our storage system from IKEA.

Note the new and improved toy/computer room! Thanks IKEA I love you! I still have a few things to do, like sew up some curtains for the closet, because we took the door off for easy access but i still want it to look nice, but all in all its a lot better. Everything has a place!

This is what I came up with. Not too bad. That big pile of stuff on the floor fit on the shelf. I re-packaged some things so i can see things clearly. I should have taken a before pic of my corner... but believe me it was atrocious. I don't think it looks too cluttered, and i worked with what i had. I'm happy. A job well done. On a side note my day was spent in my pj's because i didn't want to loose my focus by showering and getting dressed. I get sidetracked easily.

OK so i did all that and went through all of my knitting bags, all of my yarn to find my #8's... and did I!? NO They are gone, just gone and I'm mad. I need them because I'm going to start a new project in a day or two and i just can't find them. I don't think i lent them to anyone, and the last time i used them was in September when i made Chloe her Weasley sweater (thanks ravelry for helping me locate the last time i used them). I think I'm going to bite the bullet and buy some new ones. Just wait... with my luck i will buy them and a week later they will show up, somewhere ridiculous.

Ultimate Blog Party 09!

2009-03-21T19:06:00.005-05:00

It is here and I want to party too! (you can too just click on the button)

For those of you who don't know me I'm Jessica.

(This picture was taken by Gabe... Don't mind my weird face. I thought a belly shot was in need here on the blog (24wks). Plus the mom 's zip-up hoody that i knit in action... I love this sweater, I wear it a lot!)

I have 3 kids and one on the way, due in July. I love to knit and that is what you will find me doing when the kids are in bed. I also spin a bit and i love all crafty things.

(Here is my crew, checking out the new growth... finally the snow has melted!)

I have met some good friends through my blog, and have found some wonderful ones that i keep on bloglines. I could use some new additions, some new friends to add onto the old. So look around and leave me a comment!

Ok so I'm suposed to say what prizes i'd like if i win.... Prizes are always a good thing!

# 58 – Kitchen Aid Artisan Stand Mixer

# USC 58 — Handmade Retro Apron of your choice!

# 45 – Ultra Chic Diaper Bag with matching Diaper Pocket!

# 106 — Melissa & Doug Role Play Dress Up Costume (prize value $50)

# 19 — $50 gift certificate to Target Stores

# 21 — $50 gift certificate to Target Stores

go and check out the prizes you could win... on the party prize page!

Socks!

2009-03-12T12:32:00.005-05:00

I finished my socks for March. These served three purposes, 1~ march SAM KAL socks, 2~ DADA homework for HPKCHC and 3~ practice pattern and gauge for SockWars!

I love them, they fit extremely well and i love the color! Allena dyed them using Wilton's cake dyes(i think) and gifted it to me a while ago! I'm glad i finally used it.

Project Stats:
(see more on my page on Ravelry too)

Start Date: March 5th
End Date: March 10th
Pattern: Flying Arrows Socks
Needles: US#1 Addi Turbo
Method: 2 socks at a time on 2 circulars, top down
Yarn: Wool from Allena
Recipient: Me!

There was a bit of pooling that i didn't care for but it happens to the best of them;)

The actual color of the socks aren't quite captured in any of these pictures. The purple is a bit darker, it is so hard to get the true color on film, or should i say digital.

All in all a good knit and great socks in the end! I think these pulled me out of my non-sock knitting mood i was in after Christmas. YEA!!!

a few things

2009-03-06T20:12:00.011-06:00

Is it really March?! Wow. I've been putting this off and off for so long now that I just need to blog already. I feel like i never have enough time to blog what I rally want to blog about. Or at least not enough time to go into depth. So I'm not going into depth, just listing off what I've accomplished in the past few weeks.

1. I can sew! hehe I pulled out my sewing machine (that my GMIL gave me) and sewed a fitted cloth diaper. Its called Rita's Rump Pocket or RRP. It was pretty easy to sew, but was my first experience with sewing elastic... I think for my first attempt it turned out well. Too bad Chloe wants nothing to do with cloth diapers... well she let me take some pictures.... but that is it.

2. Our taxes came in and we have spent some money....

~ paid off our 2nd mortgage

~ bought a grill

~ bought some luggage

~ invested in shelving from IKEA!!! (pictures to come)
our office/toy room thanks us for that;)

~ purchased some math curriculum (math-u-see)

~ I'm sure there is more but that is just a few of the things we were able to do, it feels good to be able to spend some money on things we've needed/wanted for a while now. I love tax season!

3. Chloe turned 2, on Feb 5th!

4. We are semi-potty training her

5. I finished my little bro's Christmas present (late not early)

6. I've knit some wool soakers

~the pink and purple one is the WHW plain wrap.

~the maroon and pink one is longies from ButtKnits.

7. I'm going (if i am approved, need to get on that) to get licenced from ButtKnits so i can sell these...

8. We had our 20wk ultra sound, everything looked good. We are not finding out the gender. Oh and I'm feeling the baby move... Love that feeling!

9. I am participating in the fun over at Harry Potter Knitting and Crochet House Cup other wise known as HPKCHC.

10. I made these hats for HPKCHC herbology class.

as always you can see more info on my projects on my Ravelry page!

My mommy snug!

2009-02-16T12:37:00.001-06:00

I finished this last week on the 7th ok more like a week and a half ago:) The weather has been crappy so when it was sunny out i had Joe take some pictures so i could finally blog about it. My gauge was off a bit in the length but after washing it, it fits just perfect!

Project Stats:

Start Date: November 24th
End Date: February 7th
Pattern: Mommy Snug
Yarn: Cascade Yarns Sierra
Needles: US#6 Addi Turbo
Recipient: ME!

You can also check it out on my ravelry page :)

I don't know about any of you but when I'm pregnant I am always warm/hot. So when picking a yarn I wanted it mostly cotton with a bit of wool for some warmth and give. So I thought that this cascade sierra would do the trick, 80% cotton 20% wool.

I Started this back in November and knit about 6 inches. Then I had a few Christmas presents to whip out and once I finished those i got my first trimester loss of craftiness. I was just so tried that when i was sitting down I just wanted to sit, nothing else, just sit. It lasted a little under a month. Around mid January I picked this back up and went to town!

I still am tired but I expect that with 3 kids running around all day;)

I love the little cabling detail around the bottom, cuffs and neck, just enough detail but not a whole sweater of cables.

One thing I hate doing is seaming up, especially fitting the arms into the sides. Not fun. But I managed and I think it turned out well!

I decided to knit the arms in the round and eliminate the button plackets. To me the buttons on the cuffs made no sense except for fashion, and I could do with 0ut that. I had a bit of math to do and figure out how to increase so it looked good, but it went really well! I did them both at the same time on 2 circulars. I love knitting anything that needs to be the same length that way.

There still arent buttons on the sweater, but I like the way the sides split open. I most likely won't use the buttons but I plan on sewing them on anyways, who knows, maybe I will use them;) Either way I'm in search for the perfect buttons to use... one of these days!

Hope you are all doing well!

tuna obsession

2009-01-28T12:35:00.007-06:00

Yep that's what i have. I have been craving tuna for the past couple of weeks. The hard thing about this craving is that i can only have 6oz of it a week. Something about safe mercury levels... ahhh whatever... But really its hard because that means i can only eat it once maybe twice a week. Grrr. Anyways I made (and ate) the most wonderful salad involving tuna today! We (or I guess I should say they because I'm not working there anymore) make it at work. Its called the grecca salad.

The picture really doesn't do it justice, its so yummy!

Just in case you want to know whats all in it and try is one of these days:

Tuna
Feta
Red Onion
Tomato
Cucumber
Bell Pepper (preferably red... but i only had green)

Combine about equal parts of everything, except for the feta, a bit less of that.

*Season with EVOO, s&p, red wine vinegar and oregano. Serve over a bed of greens.

On a side note the other day my mom brought over her latest find:

Some maternity shirts from Wal*Mart. I guess the store had gotten in a shipment of clothing that was way to large for their sore and had to get rid of some clothes. Everything was only $1!!!

She only paid $4 for these shirts for me! How cool is that?! I like them a lot, and think they are super cute! The black and red one are the same style and the pink and white one are the same style. Its nice to get new clothes but most days i can't justify paying for it when i already have some. So this was a nice surprise:O)

And just for fun I took these a few weeks ago... but they make me smile! These kids dress up almost daily.

say hello to my mojo

2009-01-27T08:53:00.011-06:00

Its back! Yeah.... It was gone for a while. From about Christmas to mid January. Some of my friends were shocked... and some knew the drill. It was my lack of craftiness in that first trimester. I've been so tired its not even funny. I just wanted to sit, sit and not use my hands for crafty goodness. But that is gone now. I'm still tired but i have my knitting mojo bake! PTL!

I should also state i have been computerless for about a month and a half. Crazy I know! I had a friend's husband look at it and he fixed it for us! Thank you Russ! It was hard being without internet access, and not fun at all. I will say this first week back on line has been hard, and a bit consuming;O) But I'm glad to be back!

I haven't been working on much just my Mommy Snug. I have the front and about 6 inches of the back done. I think its smooth sailing from here. The shaping in the front is what held me up a bit. Concentrating while prego isn't the best of matches. But i need to finish this sometime soon, it being a maternity sweater and all. For more details check out my ravelry page.

*Gabe took this picture so i think it makes me look bigger than what i really am. Although i do think that I'm finally looking prego and not just fat and chubby. Actually with this pregnancy i have felt like the moment i found out my body changed. Like it said "been there, done that" and morphed into pregnancy status. I've been wearing maternity pants for quite a while now.... and I'm only 16wks.

I have other exciting fiber news... I got my wool back from being processed into roving! I think that was early December. I haven't spun any yet... but once my mommy snug is done you bet I'll be hitting my wheel hard! It looks good and Carol the wonderful owner of Hidden Valley Farm and Woollen Mill said that I had cleaned it really well! I was nervous because that was my first time cleaning wool. I just can't wait to spin it, but I'm forcing myself to hold off until that sweater is complete...

So much has gone on in the past two months i have forgotten half of it. Isn't that sad?!

Lets see early December i was kitchen coordinator of my churches annual Ladies Christmas Brunch, feeding 410 women.

That was quite the challenge. With the help of my husband, family and many friends I rose to it! The menu consisted of quiche, a winter vegetable hash, my grandma's cranberry salad and a pumpkin cranberry muffin(not pictured).

I think we made somewhere around 35 quiches, here are just a few of the smaller ones:

I knit a white-ish elephant for my LYS's Christmas party, we did a white elephant gift exchange! It think he/she turned out cute:O)

I finished some socks for my nieces for Christmas... then the knitting block came. I just didn't want to knit. Even when I went to a knitting night at my LYS, I didn't touch my projects. Somehow I was ok with it though. I knew my love of knitting couldn't be lost forever, and it hasn't

I had a few doctor appointment and the baby is doing fine, i even had a ultrasound at my first one "just for fun" as the nurse called it. Because i was a little under 12wks they could do it themselves and didn't need an ultrasound tech. So i got to see my newest peanut, he/she even showed off a bit and was moving around and flipped over in there!

At my next appointment i had to talk to my Dr about traveling late in my pregnancy. My sister is getting married... on June 28th in CO. (I'm due on July 12th) That's about 18 hrs away from WI. But to my surprise he didn't forbid me from going. I can't go on a plane because i will be past the 36wk point that airlines allow, so we will be traveling by train! I am really excited about going, seeing CO, watching my sister get married, visiting with tons of family, I can't wait! Well i guess i can because that means that the baby would be here two weeks after. The end of June and beginning of July are going to be quite exciting!

My goodness look at me go... I'll be back soon, hope you all have been well and had a wonderful Christmas, and the start of a happy new year! Thanks for staying with me throughout my sporadicness!

busy as a bee

2008-11-26T10:37:00.000-06:00

I haven't been around lately... but i have been busy... and a bit nauseous but that hasn't stopped me from being crafty!

I've knit a few things...

First of all Dawn...(my sister) If your reading this STOP.......... don't spoil your(and Chris's) Christmas presents...

I knit some socks for my sister and her fiance. He is a bronco's fan and thought these would be appropriate! Cascade 220 on size 4's, nice slipper socks!

Then i made some sleeping socks for Gabe! He loves them

I also made Leah a piggy tail hat out of my handspun! I'm not to happy with the holes, they are kind of tight to get her hair through... but I should go and rip out the little hair turtlenecks... like that's going to happen.... maybe if i really dwell on it for a bit....

then i made a hat for Chloe, but a friend at church has a newer baby that just needed a hat, and since i don't swatch it was sort of tight on Chloe so i gave it to the cute little baby.

Felted mittens, I guesstimated the pattern, then ended up hand felting them so they would shrink to my liking, Leah loves them! After felting them i picked up sts and knit a ribbed cuff in a superwash wool.

Then i made myself some mittens out of some Malabrigo chunky. This is by far the softest merino wool I've ever felt, seriously. LOVE IT! I have two more skeins and want to make a hat and scarf....

You can go to my ravelry page for more details on all these projects....

I am now knitting on a mommy snug. From interweave knits (2006 i think) I'm using Cascade Sierra because i am always hot when I'm prego... so its a cotton/wool blend(80/20). I had about 3 to 4 inches done and realized that i forgot the button holes... so i ripped it and this is where i stand.

So I'll be back with more later, also i should really be picking up Gabe's weasley sweater and finishing it and making one for Leah too.... I wanted to have a Christmas pic of them in it for Christmas cards..... we'll see. Maybe they will end up being Christmas gifts instead....

6 years of marriage!

2008-11-08T23:59:00.000-06:00

Its been 6 years since we said our "I do's". Sometimes it seems like forever ago. Its taken a long time to get where we are, and other times it seems like the time has flown by. Where has it gone?! Hmmm I think the kids took up some of the time =)

Gabe....

Leah...

Chloe....

I'm so thankful for Joe and the life we have together. The commitment we made before God to each other is awesome. To love.... in good and bad, sickness and in health, for richer or poorer...(I don't ever think we'll be richer)... I don't think most people in the world today take those words seriously. It saddens me to see all the broken families. But on the other hand it gives me an extra bounce to my step to know that we will NEVER be one of those broken families. We took our vows seriously, and look to God when things get tough(and even when their not). We know that the D word is NOT and option. We have faced some problems and have gotten through them. Marriage isn't easy, and it shouldn't be. You have to work hard at it to keep it strong. I'm looking forward to working at our marriage for another 6, 12, 18, 24, 30, 36..... you get the point.... years!

Joe thanks for loving me and helping this marriage work!

My sweet husband made dinner reservations at a restaurant... as a surprise to me. I was blown away when we pulled up to The Melting Pot.

It was great! We went all out and got the full 4 course "big night out" meal. Silly me forgot to ask someone to take out picture together... oops!

Cheese fondue(we had the spinach and artichoke version, there were quite a few options to choose from). Our waitress added all the ingredients right at out table, very cool to watch! Dippings included, a variety of breads, chips, carrots, cauliflower,celery and granny smith apples.

A salad(forgot to take a pic, bad bad blogger) Joe had a portabella mushroom salad and i had the California salad(tomatoes walnuts and gorgonzola, with a raspberry vinaigrette).

The Main course: a wide selection of meets, veggies and some ravioli, cooked in a Coq au Vin(red wine, broth and yummy seasonings)

See the ceramic stove... right in the middle of the table, too cool!

And the best part... the chocolate fondue!!! we picked the turtle, chocolate, carmel and pecans. Dippings included strawberries, brownies, cheesecake, marshmallows, rice crispy bars, bananas and pound cake. MMMMMM soooo goood!!!!

Oh and our waitress lit out chocolate on fire!!! I felt silly braking out the camera while she was right there, but hey, flaming chocolate! Not the greatest pic i know.... i was under a time crunch!

So that was our night, lovely and wonderful! Thank you Joe! I Love you!

one WIP

2008-11-05T12:41:00.005-06:00

I just found out that i have a wonderful WIP in the works...

I'm Pregnant!

We are super excited about this and I'm looking forward to a new addition to the family, the kids are excited too!

On Monday we went out to the yarn shop and i "cashed in" some of my hours. Because i work out there i sometimes just let the hours add up and then go shopping with "free" money. Joe thinks I'm crazy, and that its not free. But i don't feel like working out there is really work, i love it. So to me its free money, free yarn that i don't have to use our bill money on. Your know what i mean right?!

Any who I got some cascade 220 for some Christmas presents, 3 balls of Regia for some "sleeping socks" for the kids, US#4 addi turbos, and a sock mending kit. I have two pair of socks that have holes on the bottom and all you have to do is needle felt them and they are as good as new! I'm looking forward to fixing them and wearing them. Its getting chilly out! Yea for hand knit socks!

The kids picked out this yarn, Regia Softy Color, Chloe, Gabe and Leah... in respective order. It is going to make their feet super happy!

Socktober....

2008-11-01T11:46:00.013-05:00

October + socks = Socktober....

Well it really wasn't full of socks... but i did manage to finish my Socks last night and get my "O"!

I was test knitting a pattern for my sister Allena

Starknits(ravelry link)

She rocks my socks off!

What a great pattern!

Diamond Wrap Socks

I love my socks!

Project Specks

Start Date: Sep 5th
End Date:Oct 31st
Pattern: Diamond Wrap Socks
Needles: US#1 addi turbos
Yarn: Cherry Tree Hill (Supersock Potluck, color~ Water)
Method: toe up, heel flap, EZ's sewn cast off!
Recipient: ME :O)

This was my first time using Elizabeth Zimmerman's sewn cast off... LOVE IT! it is really stretchy! Wonderful for toe up socks! And when i googled stretchy bind offs i found this site (Stretchy Bind Offs), what a wonderful resource! I bookmarked it! you should too!

Pumpkin Pecan Rock Cakes

2008-10-28T22:43:00.003-05:00

These are so yummy, and perfect for this harvest season! I thought I'd share the recipe with you!

Now let me explain a bit. they are called rock cakes for 2 reasons. one they look like rocks, and two they are the consistency of a cake. Light, moist and pumpkinie! Some might call them cookies but to me they are far from cookie in texture, maybe in size but that is it:O)

all right here you go.

Pumpkin Pecan Rock Cakes

Preheat your oven to 350*

Cream:
1 1/2 cups butter
1 1/2 cups sugar

Add:
2 eggs
1 1/2 cups of pumpkin
1 tsp. vanilla

Mix and Add:
3 cups flour
1 1/2 tsp cinnamon
2 1/4 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp ginger
1/2 tsp cloves
3/8 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt

Add:
1 1/2 cups pecans (or walnuts)

drop on a cookie sheet using a spoon or a cookie scoop and bake for 15-20 min. depending on the size. (when toothpick comes out clean) Let cool and then mix the frosting.

Melt together:
3/4 stick of butter (6Tbsp)
1 cup brown sugar

Add and Mix:
1 1/4 cup powdered sugar.

*add some water to thin, if you need to. Should be creamy and golden, not runny.

Spoon or brush over rock cakes & Enjoy!

Just for the cuteness factor..... the kids on a Wednesday night a few weeks ago ready to go to Awana at our church! I can't believe Leah is a Cubbie and Gabe is in Sparks now. My how they grow!

out of touch

2008-10-27T15:41:00.017-05:00

I feel like i lost a good friend... my blog.

I use to blog somewhat regularly, like on a weekly basis, if not bi-weekly. Now its what~ a monthly thing... and just to post about my socks of the month?! Not good. I don't like it, i miss it. I will be blogging regularly again. And I'm starting now! (also i found out that i have far away readers, "Hi Jane, Hi Brenda")

This past weekend i went to LLBC for a Crafters Retreat. What fun! I love going there, such a wonderful place. Once you see the sign and start up the hill going into the cabin area a deep sigh comes over you. Its time to relax. Time to re-connect with good friends. Meet new ones. Time to connect with God without little people budding in every 5 minutes asking for something....

Here are just a few pics from our crafting room....

Jane! knitting her grand kids some "cousin socks" all the same colors, but mixed up depending on the kid, really cute!

Paulette! (and her knitting area, right next to me, comfy on the couch!)

in the Forest center: (our crafting area)

And the purpose of this retreat was to craft... in my case to spin and knit! This was my view most of the time. and this was my "spot" with all my knitting and spinning goodness thrown about!

Well i didn't finish everything i brought up there but i did accomplish a good amount. I spun two bobbins of merino roving that i intend to make hat and mittens for the girls. I didn't finish spinning all of the roving but i think i did enough to make the hats. (two yummy skeins) I love pink so it was a joy to sit and spin it. Also i just love how soft merino wool is. MMmmmm! I do need to work on making it more even, but all in all i think it turned out well!

I also knit on my hot lava cardigan. I finished it up last night after the kids were in bed! I finally found a home for my handspun... It was knit quite a number of times. a hat, a shrug, a different sweater(mr greenjeans) and it didn't work out in all of those so 0n Wednesday i riped it all out and started on hot lava (ravelry link).

There wasn't enough yarn to fully complete the sweater, but the cool thing is that it looks ok with how much i did have. I would have liked to make the whole thing like the pattern but i'm ok with how it is. Actually i really like it! I'm such a warm body that if it was any bigger i might not be able to wear it. I just get so hot so easily. Its merino.... aka super warm! anywho...

project specks:

Start Date: Oct 23rd
End Date: Oct 26th
Needles: US# 11s
Pattern: Hot Lava
Yarn: My handspun
Recipient: me!

I did not however work on my socks.... but i have 4 more days to finish them... i think i can! See my progress?! This is the diamond wrap socks, written by none other than my sister Allena aka starknits!

I love it such a beautiful pattern! I am past the heels so all i have to do is finish the legs.

Well i plan on writing up a post on how i cleaned my raw fleece.... so i'll save that for another day. Come back soon..... I'll be here!

I got my "S"

2008-10-01T10:08:00.006-05:00

Yep i finished my September socks! but not the "normal" sized ones that are for me. I realized that i wasn't going to be able to finish them on time so yesterday i CO for a little pink pair for Chloe! They turned out cute! I like them and so does she!

Project Stats:

Start Date: September 30th
End Date: September 30th
Yarn: Cascade 220 superwash
Pattern: Basic Stst, heel flap, 2x2 rib cuff.
Method: 2 at a time on 2 circulars, toe up, (toe u p heel flap formula!)
Needles: us#3
Recipient:Chloe

I am still cleaning my wool... thought it is getting cold out now and i really want to finish it soon... and get it sent out so i can spin it... and then knit with it!

On a non fiberous note:
Joe and I are going to go and see the movie Fireproof tonight. It sounds really good... can't wait to see it for myself. I've been told to bring tissues...

has it been a month already?!

2008-09-26T22:02:00.015-05:00

Seriously i don't know how i let it happen. I love blogs, reading others, seeing what everyone is up to and updating mine. But some how i just don't get around to it. I think some of it has to do with Ravelry, some with Facebook, and some with the fact that i am so busy lately.

If your not on ravelry then you haven't seen some of my recently finished objects....

But before that let me tease you with a picture of cheesecake! I made it for my church. They had an auction to raise money for the youth group! Oh i found the recipe here! I love it, the only additional thing is that when it is done i turn off the oven and open the door, for about an hour, then i let it cool at room temp on a rack then i put it in the fridge.

ok so i made....

a swiffer cover:

my own design... if you can call it that...

I just CO 25sts and knit for 62 garter stitch ridges. then bound off and seamed up the sides.

a hat for the yarn shop:

a sample for a class i'm going to teach.

a sweater for Chloe:

The Weasly Sweater from Charmed Knits

a baby for Chloe:

Basic Doll, from Toys to Knit

Leah is now mad because "I want the dolly with yewllow haor, and not bown, i don't yike bown"

I've come to the conclusion that i can't please everyone.

a sweater for a friend who just had a baby along with a hat that i forgot to take a pic of:

It is an Elizabeth Zimmerman pattern, Modular Tomten Jacket. This was my first EZ pattern and I LOVE it.... need to make more for my kids! So cute and easy!!! I have the pattern in The Opinionated Knitter

Chloe modeling it... i know she is almost 2... but i wanted Stephanie to be able to have him wear it in a few months... it being big on him now with the cuffs turned up and then being able to wear it next year too!

a soaker for another friend who had a baby(both friends had them on the same day)

Pattern found on Ravelry...

the curly purly soaker

*OH which by the way... If i ever have another baby i want to cloth diaper... because these are too stinkin' cute! and i got it done in one day!

and i have been having raw stinky fun cleaning some Romney fleece! See all the yellowish lanolin?! This fiber is really white! I have 2 fleece down and 2 to go! Thanks to my friend Paulette, she came over the other day and helped a bunch!

oh and i'm knitting some socks.... yes for SAM KAL.... I am test knitting a pattern for my sister! I am loving it and hoping that i'll have it finished by 12 o-clock on the 30th! I have more accomplished than whats pictured.... but not too much more.

Oh so homeschooling is going well.... We are using Five in a Row, and Reading Made Easy.... more on that subject for another day...

knit happy!

SPSSII

2008-08-28T13:51:00.003-05:00

I can't believe myself... I finished a pair of socks well before midnight of the deadline. A few days actually! whoo hooo!!! finished them on 8/27/08!!!

I wanted to keep them a suprise for my SPSSII pal....

Here are my August socks for the Sock-a-Month KAL

Start Date: June?
End Date: August 27th
Pattern: Froot Loop
Yarn: Ruby Sapphire Yarns
Recipient: My sock swap partner!
Needles: US #1's addi turbo's
Method: top down, 2 at a time, on 2 circulars

These socks took a back seat for a couple of months... I was on sock burn-out from Sock Wars.... but since picking them back up last week I loved working on them!

Now I want to start my next pair! Thanks to SAM KAL and my ocd as to n0t miss a month I am once again addicted to sock knitting!

What to knit for my next pair?!!!!

I also sent along to my pal some stitch markers that i made! (also some chocolate and a little book, thanks to my sister suggestion)

About a week ago I was presented with this blog award from
Nikki. I was suprised when i found this little bit of happiness waiting for me in my inbox, so thanks for recognizing me(even though my posts lateley are few and far between....) It made me smile!

The rules for the "I Love Your Blog" award are:
1. Link back to the person who gave you the award. (check)
2. Include the award on your blog.(check)
3. Pass it on to 7 worthy bloggers with links to their blogs on yours. (check)
4. Notify your recipients(tomorrow....)

I would like to pass on this award to some blogs that i do love... even thought i haven't had the time to read lately.... i will be back soon, promise! here we go: Karen, Becca, Allena, Faith, Amanda, Lynds and Emily!

Leah's Wallaby!

2008-08-22T14:17:00.009-05:00

I think i let this be a UFO for too long and decided to pick it back up again. Once i did it flew off the needles in a week!

I love it and so does Leah!

Start Date: 2007
End Date: August 22nd 2008
Pattern: Wonderful Wallaby
Needles: US #8 (and #6 for cuffs)
Yarn: Lion brand, Cotton-Ease
Recipient: Leah!

check it out on my ravelry page!

I am

going a

little

picture happy!

take care!

Where have i been?!

2008-08-06T19:40:00.014-05:00

I don't even know where to start. July just flew by. I've been busy and not all at the same time.

I just had my last day of work today! I can now officially be a SAHM!!!! I'm so excited. I can't wait to be able to have a normal sleeping schedule. I don't even know what that's like. For the past 6 years I've either been pregnant, had a newborn, been working, or any of those in some sort of combination. I am super excited about sleeping. Silly I know.

So i know i can't catch you all up on my complete happenings over the past month.... but for today I'll start with my knitting. I had a few friends that had a baby or are pregnant currently, so baby knits are the theme.

here we go. Oh if you want more details go and check out my ravelry page.

Ok so first up is a baby blanket i made for a friend who had her first baby, a little girl!
I lined it with satin.... my first experience with sewing a lining on something!

Also for her I made a pacifier clip.

I made another one for a different friend too.

And some of the best bibs in the world.

her sister in-law had a baby boy a week after so i wiped up another pacifier clip, and some bibs(yes the best in the whole world)

I also managed to finish my last minute socks for SAM2008. Gabe has been wanting green socks and I had some cascade 220 superwash laying around.

I'm also working on my first ever Elizabeth Zimmerman pattern. A tomten for a soon to be baby, the gender is going to be a surprise so I'm knitting it in an oatmeal color and going to edge it with either a teal or a pink, depending on weather its a boy or a girl.

I think that's it for knitting.... I'm sure I'll have more to talk about in the days to come. Hopefully I'll feel like blogging more now that i don't feel stressed from working.

oh yeah, i chopped off my hair last week! About 13inches, gone! i love it!

here is a (bad) before picture just for comparison.

Not this month....

2008-06-30T22:15:00.003-05:00

I just couldn't do it... I was going to let June pass by with no socks complete. But then around 4 in the afternoon I just couldn't live with myself if I let June slip by. I've been participating in the Sock a Month KAL for 10 months and June will make it 11. I've made a pair each month... and last month did 2 pair. I just couldn't let this month go. I want to make it to a year and beyond, I love socks!

So anyways I CO for these baby socks because I knew I wouldn't be able to finish the adult ones that I've been working on. (I'm doing the Froot loop pattern from knitty.com)

So here are the project stats:

Start Date:June 30th (4pm)
End date: June 30th (9:30pm)
Yarn: Cascade 220
Pattern:Basic sock: 2x2 rib cuff, Sl st heel flap, Stst foot
Needles: Addi turbo US#3, 2 circulars

All in all I think they took only a couple of hours here and there to knit....! I'm happy with them and I'll post pics of them on Chloe's feet in the morning. For now this will have to do.

*Edit*
here they are on her feet... a bit tight....oops! maybe they will be a gift for someone else... who has or will be having a baby boy?!

Oh for those of you on Ravelry.... go check out my latest FO!!! I'm super excited about it. For those of you who are not on Ravelry I'll be posting about it here in a week or so after I gift it to a friend... you just have to be patient!

last friday...

2008-06-26T10:11:00.009-05:00

Alright so where did i leave off?!....

Oh yeah, going to see Stephanie Pearl-McPhee, aka The Yarn Harlot! We left town around 2 in the afternoon. Meaning plenty of sunlight for car ride knitting:O) (Thanks to Amy who drove) I worked on a present for a friend. (i think she reads this blog, from time to time, so I'll leave it a secret for now. but you can go and see it on ravelry....) here is a picture of me in the back seat!

We did get into some traffic, some stop and go for a little bit. Amy decided it was OK to grab her kitting and knit a bit while we were stopped:O) Paulette didn't like that so much, so it didn't last that long;O)

We made it to Chicago in time to check out the knitting shop that was sponsoring the harlot happenings and went out to eat at a fun little deli called Potbelly. I liked the name quite a bit! then we went to the hotel and got good seats (about 5 rows back).

We met lots of other knitters and saw lots of beautiful knits! This picture is from the back of the room before it filled up... I think it was almost full to the brim when it actually started.

I worked on my SPSS socks and got a good inch or two done on them throughout the whole event.

Now the part we were all waiting on.... Stephanie! and she took pictures of us, like she always dose, and I took one of her, bad lighting though, sorry about that.

She was great to hear speak, I had lots of laughs, and she was encouraging too! It was nice to put a voice to her blog and books, and to get a real sense of her personality, not just on paper.

Then there was the book signing. I think we waited about an hour and a half, but it was a good time where we talked and knitted with others. So it didn't seem like that long. We actually met a knitter who came from Canada ( her husband on a business trip) and she came to see the yarn harlot. What a sweet person she was! She( Mary Jane) was pictured on The Yarn Harlot's blog! Here we are and I'm holding her sock!

After it was all over we hit a Starbucks and headed for home. I'm glad it wasn't me who was driving because I hit the seat and passed out for the last two hours.... (thanks again Amy for driving!) We made it home around 1am. Fun times!

UFO~ no more!

2008-06-20T09:23:00.012-05:00

It is done! yippee! *me doing the happy its finished dance*

Project stats

Start date: 2006
End date: June 18th 2008
Yarn: Rowan All Season Cotton
Pattern: Mom's zip-up hoody
Needles: US #7 and #8
Recipient: ME!!!

check it out on my ravelry page

Now let me tell you about getting a zipper. Not installing it, buying it. The pattern calls for a dual separating 22" zipper.... Well you can't find those anywhere. I went to any and every craft type of store in the area and couldn't find one. They had lots of them at 26" and up and some around 9" and under... but no 22". Oi. I was bummin. But the only reason it calls for the dual separating zipper is for pregnancy purposes, so you can unzip it to fit a large belly under there. So I gave up after looking on line at about 20 different places. I could custom order one but I didn't want to pay an arm and a leg.

I basted the normal zipper in place and called my friend Paulette to bring over her sewing machine. Before she came over my friend Katie stopped by... she had a bag full of close that she didn't wear and wanted to know if I wanted any of them. As I'm going through the pile of close I pull out an old jean jacket, i don't think much of it. Then i notice its zipper..... a 22" dual separating zipper! No way! Right then and there I thanked God for it. there was no other possible way it could have happened. It was a little gift form God to show he cares about me and the things I care about. How awesome He is!

So I ripped off the other zipper and took out the zipper i needed form the jacket and basted that one to my sweater! Paulette showed up in the middle of all the zipper happenings, and we were all amazed at God's goodness.

Then I got to work. I sewed slowly and cautiously and installed my very first zipper! It turned out pretty well (for my first one anyways)!

I hand sewed in the other side of the zipper, so it will lay nice and flat!

I love my sweater... so much!

Oh... today Amy, Paulette and I are going to see the Yarn Harlot!!!

Give me a Z

2008-06-17T13:15:00.001-05:00

give me a I
give me a P
give me a P
give me a E
give me a R

What does that spell? ZIPPER!

That is all that is in my way of this 3 year old UFO!!!!

I finished weaving in the ends on Sunday, and seamed it together on Monday... I love it and can't wait until its completely finished!

Hmmm now to master the art of zipper installation.... Hopefully I'll update you all soon with a FO report!

P.S.
my house is super clean(and officially for sale)! Lets just hope I can keep it that way:O) For those who want to know, we have just out grown out house... all of the kids are in one bedroom, which is fine for a few more years but soon Gabe will need to be on his own. So we thought we'd give selling it a try...

rain

2008-06-08T20:22:00.004-05:00

rain rain go away come again another day... like in the middle of summer when we will need it...

look at my poor garden....

and my poor backyard......

and my feet... about 2 inches of standing water. oi!

Its been raining for about a week and it is going to rain all next week too.

long time gone

2008-06-06T19:03:00.015-05:00

edit* sorry for all of you who already read this post... I forgot to do all the links... they are here now....

Where do I start.... well, yesterdays and today I made this:

Project Stats:
Start date: June 5th
End date: June 6th
Yarn: cotton classic
Pattern: Flower Pacifier Clip
(from the itty-bitty nursery book/this was a free pattern)
Needles: US #3
Recipient: a friend's new baby girl!

super cute, i love it. Chloe modeling it for you all:O)

I went to visit her in the hospital earlier today, that baby is one cute little peanut!

Lets see... I don't even know where to start.

1~ I got 4 garbage bags full of wool, fleece in the raw, meaning I need to pick through it (the vegetable matter and poop) then wash it and decide weater or not I want to card it myself or send it out. With the help of some friends have done a little bit so far...

this picture on the left,and right too, is only one bag... I have a lot of work ahead of me!

2~ I spun up some mohair and wool blended roving. It was so easy to spin, it just slipped though my fingers effortlessly. It practically spun itself. love it. I now have about 573 yards of this yarn.

3~ I'm still alive in Sock Wars... but haven't gotten my SIP's yet... i don't really care anymore and wish my socks would just come and kill me. I'm sick of the waiting.

4~ Joe and I decided that I no longer have to work, once summer is over I'll be a full SAHM!

5~ We have also decided to homeschool this coming year, I'm a bit anxious about that.

6~ I joined a swap, yes another one:O) This one is through ravelry's christian knitter and crocheter's group. Its a Secret Prayer Sock Swap II, I'm excited about it!

7~ I didn't have any yarn that I thought my pal would truly love so I ordered some... (from ruby sapphire yarns i got a discount for being in the swap!) and some for me;O) really I couldn't decide which one she would like so I ordered all 3 and picked one for her when they came to my door. All lovely.

8~ this is the one I picked for her.

9~ I'm still weaving in ends on my sweater... but the good news is that I only have one arm's worth of ends to go!!! I'm almost done!

10~ We've decided to put our house up for sale... the Realtor came over to day to get all the specks of the house and hopefully by early next week we'll be good to go!

11~ I'm now realizing that I'm going to have to keep my house super clean and DE-CLUTTERED... please pray for me ;O) With 3 little ones its going to be chalanging.

12~ We got a new stove last week! it has a convection fan in it! and a glass top, easy cleaning.

13~ We planted most of our garden, everything except the tomatoes that we started from seed we saved from last year

14~ My baby is growing up... and that makes me sad.

15~ We also got a new vacuum, a Dyson. It works really well!

16~ I had lots of fun at my LYS sheering days/open house. I convinced them to give one of the llama's a mohawk:O)

17~ I think that's it... or at least that is all I can think of.

2nd pair done!

2008-05-22T00:24:00.005-05:00

Yep that's right. I finished the second pair one hour after the post office closed... I was bummed, i really wanted to get it in the mail but it will have to go out on Thursday morning.

I had fun knitting with this yarn, so colorful and cheery!

I am going to buy some for myself.

I love it now!

I think my knitting was a bit tighter than Wendy, the original assassin, my target, but I think it was the best i could do. If i went up a needle size it would have been off gauge. Either way I think they look great! I hope the target likes them... she doesn't have a blog or ravelry name listed so I'm unable to link to her.

I sent her a few other goodies like these stitch markers I made and some knitting note cards. Of course some chocolate... Dove, its my favorite! Mmmm chocolate... Also I remembered to send along the rest of the yarn...

which I forgot to do with my first target, oops, sorry Wendy! At least they fit and she doesn't need to alter them.

I hope my next SIP comes in a timely fashion so I could maybe get 3 pair under my belt?!! My fingers are crossed and I'm living in fear of my mail man, er-uh- mail woman......

Still Alive...

2008-05-19T12:38:00.005-05:00

Yep I'm alive, but it has been a bumpy ride (in Sock WarsI II) so far.

I did receive my socks (of death) but the gauge happened to be off (they were beautiful, but too big to wear) and I was able to send them back to my assassin to be re-knit. She was so wonderful and willing to re-do them so I would be a happy camper! I was just thankful that she wasn't disqualified for it(thanks to the Supreme Commander aka Julie). Actually I just got word form her that she has gotten her socks, aka sock bomb, and she posted her death on the official warrior directory. Yippee, I'll live for a few more days... lets just hope the mail takes its time!

So I sent my socks to Wendy (my target) and she received them and said they fit perfectly! Now I'm anxiously awaiting my SIP's (Socks In Progress). I have conformation that they arrived at the USPS here in town early this morning.... So when the mail comes (usually around 4ish) its back to knitting like a billi-o! So don't mind if you don't here form me for a while!

EDIT*
Me stalking the mail carrier?!... never!... *grin* look close infront of the green house.... she''s got my SIP's!!!!! I can feel it!

Also this weekend (Thursday22nd -Saturday24th) is my LYS's Open House. So if your in the area come and check out our Sheering Days! (watch the llamas get hair cuts, and other demonstrations)

EDIT*
My new weapon:

LOVE IT!

Me knitting like a billi-o!

One down...

2008-05-12T10:06:00.005-05:00

Well almost. I finished my Sock Wars socks last night and sent the package out this morning after I got done with work! I didn't reach my goal of getting them in the mail on Saturday but there were technical difficulties with the whole dossier/ getting the pattern and target. So instead of starting at 6am on Friday I started at 11am... I think I could have made it, but I'm happy with sending them out today! I can't wait to get my next socks, I'd like to have two targets under my belt.

Here is a close up of the detonator stitch pattern:

It's called the detonator, here is the ravelry link.

It wasn't that bad or hard but some people had trouble with it... A few times I forgot which row I was on, but nothing too major!

Project Stats:

Start Date:May 9th
End Date: May 11th
Yarn: Knit Picks, sock garden, morning glory
Pattern:detonator
Needles: US#1s (2 socks, on 2 circulars)
Recipient: Wendy (gwendy ravelry link)

Normally I would apologize for my obsessive need to finish these in record time, (killing Wendy) but this is WAR!!! Now I can't wait to receive her socks and get another kill under my knitting belt! They weren't kidding when they called it the bloodiest knitting tournament ever! I'm just hoping whoever has me is too busy to crank out my socks... but if they happen to be checking me out, my favorite color is pink...but I know this is war and not a swap, so I'll take what I can get!

Oh a bonus... these will be my May socks for SAM5!!! The first time i've finished a pair befor the last day of the month, er last hours of the month!

early gift!

2008-05-09T08:11:00.002-05:00

Joe decided since I'm going to be knitting like a billy-o today and into the night, he would give me my mothers day girt early!

What a sweetie! and Ott-Lite! What a perfect gift!

I'm still waiting for my e-mail.... with the dossier... The suspense is killing me!

More baking!

2008-05-08T22:41:00.005-05:00

Day 129 (May 8th)

Today my mom called me up and made a request for me to make some cookies.(for my younger brother and some friends of his that were getting together to finish up some work on a project) They are competing in Rockets for Schools (http://www.rockets4schools.org/) and the past two years they have took first place!

Anyways she wanted to bring them some cookies(for all their hard work) and knows that I love to bake... so we baked today! Tonight was also knitting so I made a bunch to take there too~!

OK so to get to the point.... Leah is my little baker, she just loves helping me make anything and everything! I love to bake too, can you tell?! We made the oatmeal chip cookies that are linked on my sidebar. Love these cookies, they are soooo good!

Tomorrow is the beginning of Sock Wars... I'm super pumped! I think I'll be getting an e-mail (the dossier) with all the info on my target and the never before seen pattern around 6am... I'm going to knit my little heart out! This is going to be super challenging, I'm really excited to see if I can reach my goal. I'd like to get this pair of socks knit by early on Saturday so that I can send it in the mail before the weekend is over... I plan on pulling an all nighter, or at least as late as I can go.... maybe I'll post a progress picture, if I think I can spare the precious time;O) I might just ask Joe to take a picture, upload it and post it for me... we will see.

I am hoping to at least get one target down before i die... I'd like to get farther, but I don't want to be unrealistic about the whole thing. I do have 3 kids and I'm hoping that we can just watch movies and play outside in the fenced in back yard, and let the run a muck. I'll also let them graze on food, and feed them ready to eat foods, like chicken nuggets, or hot dogs, spaghettios, dry cereal and crackers and things like that. A few days on a diet like that wont hurt, will it?! I mean, this is war. *grin*

I did make sure to catch up on laundry today and I even washed the kitchen floor! In my house it doesn't happen all that often. My theory, I have 3 kids, its just going to get messy again. Don't get me wrong I like to have a clean house but the kitchen floor is a different subject. I'm a messy cook/baker and add 3 kids to the mix, I just can't be obsessive about a floor. Actually about 2 or so hours after I washed it, a bowl of pasta was flipped upside down on to it. It never fails, I clean something and it gets messy. I think its just this phase in life. I need to accept it.

Yesterday Chloe thought it would be fun to sit in the flower bed and pick the flowers. She climbed right over the rocks and plopped herself down right there. I thought it was cute so I snapped away!

OK so enough ramblings, I need to get my sleep! Wish me luck!

Knit or die!

B-day, baking, socks and WAR!

2008-05-06T09:09:00.012-05:00

This past Friday was Gabe's birthday, he is now 5... FIVE years old. wow. Six years ago I would have never thought I'd be a mother to a 5 year old, boy how things change(for the better... of course). I wouldn't give it up (good days or bad) for anything! This past year Gabe has grown, into a little boy, not a toddler but a kid. Questioning everything and learning everyday.

On Thursday Gabe and I had a conversation that went something like this:

Gabe "Mom, tomorrow morning I'm going to sleep in real late"
Me "OK..."
Gabe "then you are gonna get up real early and go down stairs real quietly and decorate"
Me "Oh..."
Gabe "Yeah and then when I wake up and come down the stairs you are all gonna say Happy Birthday to me!"

So needless to say on Thursday night after knitting I went all out and decorated for him! Then in the morning he snuck down the stairs to peek, then came into our room and said we could sleep in, as he crawled into our bed ;O)

Thursday, the day before his birthday I spent all day baking...

1~bread for us to eat(remember I voued never to buy store bread again?!).

2~ 30 chocolate(zucchini muffins) cupcakes for Gabe's class snack(I had to make the snack some what healthy).

3~ 2, 9in round cakes (one for Gabe and one for two good friends of mine, Amy was one of those friends) I took the cake on Thursday night to knitting to celebrate their birthdays! I love baking for friends!

Ok so let me back track a bit... April ended and I did finish my socks. At the last minute, like normal i finished them. I think I need to take out the BO and do a sewn BO (I knit them toe up), so the will be more stretchy.

Start Date: April 3rd
End Date: April 30th
Yarn: Faery Fiber, Superwash merino
Colourway: Pixie
Pattern: Hedera
Needles: US#1's (2 socks on 2 circulars, toe up)
Recipient: ME

One thing about this pattern is that the lace doesn't hug my leg the way I'd like... but that is why I was able to leave them short, otherwise they wouldn't have stayed up and would always be slouchy.

It has finally been nice out that last few days... and the kids have been playing like crazy! I love being outside!

This one of Gabe and Leah I just love!

Day 126(May 5th)
I really like that this isn't a posed picture... but just a brother and sister being just that.

Today they had fun catching bugs, mostly rollie pollies, not quite sure what the real name of them are, but that is what we call them. They kind of look like armadillos and roll into balls... pill bugs I think.

So yesterday I got a small (yet important) package in the mail... it was the ever so cool SOCK WARS (un-official)weapon bag my sister (Allena) made! I LOVE it!!! So cool.

She is in the process of making lots more, some with and without the sock wars (un-official) badge, so go and check out her etsy site (later on this week)!!!! Ok actually she is having a contest, on her blog to win the other bag she made!!! Go and check out her blog!

Need more details on the bag?!
There's pockets inside for your neeldes, scissors or anything else you'd like to carry. The bag also has a drawstring to close with a push button stopper to hold it closed, so you don't loose your socks!

Now I'm all set, I got gauge with some yarn (knit picks sock garden, morning glory) that has been in my stash forever... and my good old US#1 addi turbos, I'm really hoping they help me knit faster;O) I seriously can not wait until Friday! Let the war begin!

Wedding things!

2008-04-21T14:00:00.008-05:00

I wasn't able to show you these until now...

Actually I didn't have them finished until the night before the wedding.

Nothing like a little procrastination!

I had an old friend (I met her in 7th grade) of mine wedding to go to on Saturday. I made her some Christmas ornaments as part of her gift. I hope that every year at Christmas she thinks of her wedding day with fond memories! ( She and the wedding were beautiful)

I also knit her a little something... I found it on ravelry and couldn't help myself!

Here is the front view

And here is the back view:

Its the Frecklegirl Thong! She and her Maid of Honor(another friend of mine) loved it!

It was super easy, only 2 nights of knitting!

Her wedding colors were pink and green....

like these tulips!

Day 111(April 20th)
We went over on Sunday for a brunch at her parents house, sadly I missed seeing her and the groom(I had to teach Sunday school for the 2s & 3s department at church) but her mom sent me home with these, aren't they beautiful?!

SOCK WARS

2008-04-18T21:16:00.002-05:00

I copied this from the sock wars site, its part of the official rules! It is comming up and I'm super excited for it. MAY 9th is when the war begins!

---------------------------------------------------------------------
SOCK WARS III : THE RULES (last updated 14.2.08)
---------------------------------------------------------------------
>> WHAT IS SOCK WARS?<<
Sock Wars is the original and bloodiest extreme knitting tournament.
If you are brave enough sign up to do battle you will be emailed a
top secret assassination dossier on 9th May 2008. This file contains
the details of your target and an exclusive, never-been-publishedbefore
knitting pattern with which to assassinate them.
To kill your target you must knit them the pair of socks in the
pattern (your weapon) and mail it to them. Once your target receives
your parcel they are dead and must post their death on the “fallen
comrades” section of the sockwars site.
They must also immediately send you details of their intended target
(who becomes your next person to assassinate) along with their
unfinished knitting (which becomes your new weapon).
All the while this is going on, someone has been assigned you as
their target…
Prepare to live in fear… Kill or be killed!
---------------------------------------------------------------------
>> SIGNUPS <<
Signups are done via the membership application on the website. You
are now a blood hungry warrior.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
>> THE RULES OF SOCK WARS <<
1. The first rule of Sock Wars is: You must talk about Sock Wars.
2. The second rule of Sock Wars is: You MUST talk about Sock Wars.
3. Two socks to a fight.
4. One fight at a time.
5. No shirts, no shoes, just socks
6. Fights will go on as long as they have to.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
>> SOCK WARS: AT-A-GLANCE SUMMARY <<
1. Get dossier
2. Knit like billy-o
3. Mail socks to your target – live in fear of your mailman
4. Receive socks? Bang, you’re dead!
5. Post your death on Sock Wars site
6. Mail socks-in-progress back to your killer
7. Your killer knits to kill your original target
…and on and on until only one supreme warrior remains
---------------------------------------------------------------------

Sounds like fun?!

Come and join!

http://sockwarsiii.memberlodge.org/

Lookie Lookie!

2008-04-17T17:48:00.000-05:00

It came!!!!!! My Vera Bradley tote came!

Now I know I was told it was going to be sent to me, but when it would come was a whole different ball game! So today when I herd something at the door, I thought it was Joe coming home from work. Then he didn't come in. So I went to investigate! I found this!

Ok so I really didn't take the picture then, I went back and staged it after I opened it!(shh don't tell)

I L-O-V-E it! isn't it pretty?!

its actually a lot bigger than I imagined...!

And look what came with it... Some YARN, sock yarn to be exact! My favorite kind of yarn :O)
Love the colorway too! Its Vesper Sock Yarn a 100% superwash merino, in the Venus In Furs colourway, 387yds.

I feel so special when opening yarny goodness gifts. Thank you so much Nachaele! the Top 10 stash project KAL was fun and kept me on track! I've never won anything here in blogland so this was extra special! Oh and a big thanks to Leanne who donated yarn to all the winners of the KAL!

So guess what I just packed up my knitting in?!

The Vera Bradley tote bag, its Thursday and that equals knitting night! Yea!!! I love going knitting and now I have a beautiful bag to tote all my stuff in!

Today was spent doing laundry(washing, folding and putting away the 5 baskets of folded laundry from earlier this week), picking up around the house and making bread.

I've decided that I am no longer going to pay for a loaf of bread from the store, just to come home and eat preservative filled food. I make it at work and I have no excuse to not make it here at home. So we had a baking lesson, the kids helped a bit, but I did the majority of it. I am a bit of a perfectionist.... But as they learn I'm sure I'll let them help out more!

I am using the recipe that we use at work, but with some variations. I put more whole wheat flour in it and I added some ground flax seed. When I get to the store I'm going to buy some cracked wheat and put that into the next batch. I want to make it healthy and good! I'm not sure if its good yet, it is still proofing....

Well since blogger took so long to be able to upload pictures, the bread is baked and out of the oven... Its hot so I'm not sure if it tastes good... but if it tastes anything like it smells, its going to be yummy!

Mmm mmm good I'll leave you with that!

argh!

2008-04-17T16:52:00.001-05:00

I have this big long post all written up but blogger won't upload any pictures.... I'll be back soon with a very fun and cool post!

survey & contest in 1

2008-04-15T13:21:00.002-05:00

Please go HERE and help a homeschooling mom teach her kids (graphs and percentages)!

Which do you prefer:

to spin
to knit
to crochet
to weave
or other

?

Go and enter!

some nest totes

2008-04-13T14:26:00.006-05:00

Elisa's nest tote... I started this one on friday morning and I couldn't help myself. I just kept knitting... and it was done last night! I love this one, mainly because it is pinkish. I'm going to use it as my purse/bag this spring and summer! Love it! I just clip my keys on by the top (can you see the blue part?!) and throw the rest of my things inside!

I knit this one in the round, by using Judy's magic cast on and then knitting it form the bottom up. I think I co 83 sts and placed a marker at the beginning of my round. Seriously, it went super fast that way, and no seaming!!! I also only wanted one handle(with double the strength) so I twisted the second one around the first before I kitchenered it. I really like this bag and I'm happy it turned out!

I used Omega Sinfonia, a mercerized cotton. I like how it has a bit of a sheen to it too! US# 8, for the body and US#5 for the handles.

I also made one (last week) with a flat bottom.I posted more about this one on the KAL. so go check it out if you want... Its not too late to join!!!

How about a picture a day update?!

Day 103(April 12th)
Its been quite a while since I've had a food picture... What we have here is some mostly homemade tomato sauce.

Brown some venison sausage, add lots of garlic, let that brown, add two cans of plain old diced tomatoes(mostly blended, we like a few chunks in our sauce). Let that simmer until thick and add your choice of pasta, tonight was spaghetti!

Day 102 (April 11th)

I finished my tote for the KAL this morning! I love it! I did a flat bottomed version of the bag, and had about 20 extra sts than the pattern called for, making it quite big! Lots of cereal fit inside and I'm sure I could have put more in.

Day 101 (April 10th)

This morning Leah and Chloe were rocking together, so I quick grabbed my camera and took a few. This is the best one.

I think I might have to save this one and show it to them when they are teenagers and can't stand each other (just because one wants to wear the same shoes, or clothes...and the other wants nothing to do with her younger sister, then 10 years down the line they will be the best of friends again just like in this picture).

New wall hanging

2008-04-10T16:58:00.008-05:00

Do you remember this picture?! It was my Day 17(January 17th)...

Well I remember it, Diane AKA Studio D liked it so much and because it has a special meaning to me she offered to print up a B&W version on canvas for me. I, personally am to lazy, I have way too much going on to even think of doing that(or rather getting around to it). But I'm so glad she did! She had it sent out to me and I had it with in a weeks time. So in all reality I've had it for at least 2 months... I told you I'm lazy...

About a month ago I took it in to Michael's and wanted to know how much it would cost me to have it stretched over a frame... with a discount it would have been $80... Yeah right. So I just bought a plain canvas that was already stretched on a wooden frame and laid the picture right over it and stapled it on. It tool me all of 7 minutes. Now ask me, why did it take me 2 months to do this?! Oh well the point is that its finished now and on my wall!

So the lighting is horrible today, its been raining on and off and dreary all day long. That equals not so great of a picture of a picture hanging on my wall. But I'm so happy I finally did it that I'm blogging about it anyways! So here is another view... see it wraps around the frame, I just love it! I think i want to get some pictures of the kids and stretch them like this to hang up. I've lived in this house for almost 4 years and barely have anything on the walls... I just haven't gotten around to it. Like I said before,I'm lazy, and I'd rather be knitting.

In fiberious news I went out to Brigitte's (my friend/LYS's owner/fiber enabler) and she helped me dye some merino roving to match the the color of my handspun Mr Greenjeans! I just love dying yarn... If that was a good way to make money I'd quit my job and do that for a living. Its so much fun! Maybe someday when the kids are older... who knows anything is possible!

So anyways, it came out pretty close to the color I need it to be... I think in the end I'll have to knit the sleeves and dye the whole sweater so it all matches... But I'm keeping my fingers crossed!

I then had to let the roving dry for a day or two. I put it on an old baby gate (that I use after I wash all of my handknit socks) its the perfect hand knits drying rack and I thought it would be perfect for the roving, and it was! Yes, I wear all of my socks a good amount of times and then when I can't possibly wear them all one more time I wash them (all) and strategically place them on the baby gate to dry. It's my system, and it works for me!

I was able to start spinning it a bit... a few nights ago, but haven't had the time to work on it since. my progress:

It felt really good to get my wheel out again! Its been quite a while since I'v last spun, I think it was last October. Bad, bad spinner, how dare you neglect you wheel for that long. I will never ever do that again. I will make it a habit of bringing it out at least once a month, I promise!

I have a few things on my plate this month, so who knows If I'll have time to spin it all.

*april socks~ SAM5KAL
*tote~ ENTKAL
*a few little items~ for a gift
*start a baby blanket~for a gift

the first 3 items need to be finished in April, and I'm sure I'm missing something, its late and my brain is fried at this time of night.

With that I'll leave you all, have a wonderful weekend!

Day 97-100

2008-04-09T16:53:00.004-05:00

Day 100 (April 9th)

I think its finally coming...

The kids and I were outside playing for a bit today. It still isn't too warm, but hey, there is no snow to speak of!

Do you see Gabe's rocket ship?!

Day 99 (April 8th)
Just a shot from work, some sheet pans. My Monday through Wednesday morning routine.

Day 98 (April 7th)

Today was a bit warm so we seized the day and took a walk. We ended up walking along the riverfront, on the boardwalk! Don't those clouds almost look fake?!

Day97 (April 6th)

Some of out flowers are starting to bloom! I love these grape hyacinths. They aren't in full bloom yet but it is so nice to see some color around the flower bed!

a contest

2008-04-05T20:45:00.003-05:00

I just entered a contest to try my luck again! For a $25 gift certificate to the loopy ewe~! Who wouldn't want to win that?!

Go check it out! HERE(Modest purls)!

then come back for more naturally knitty goodness!

April goodness

2008-04-02T13:46:00.006-05:00

Ok so I've been a bit absent lately... I have just been so busy with nothing and everything all at the same time. I haven't been knitting much, but I did manage to finish my socks on the 31st!

So here they are the Project Stats:

Start Date: March 1st
End Date: March 31st
Yarn: Cider Moon, peas and carrots
Pattern: Aquaphobia Socks (ravelry link)
Needles: US#2, (2 socks on 2 circulars)
Recipient: Me!

Now that that's out of the way I can tell you about a prize I won!!! Do you remember me knitting on things for the Top 10 stash project KAL?! Well it was over at the end of March and I was picked to win a Vera Bradley Tote Bag!!!!! I even get to pick which pattern I want! I'm so excited, I've never won anything in blogland before, this is so cool! I'm so thankful that Nachaele started that KAL. It was a big help in knitting from my stash, and finishing up some UFO's. I almost finished everything on my list (its on my sidebar) The only things I didn't finish were, Mr greenjeans(I need to buy and dye more roving), a wallaby, and weave in the ends to my mom's zip-up hoody. Not too shabby!

Also to start off April I picked out some yarn from my stash to knit the tote bag for the KAL. If you haven't yet, you should go and check it out, and sign up!

I'm hosting a KAL!

2008-03-26T15:38:00.005-05:00

Join us in April as we knit a elisa’s nest tote together!

In the month of April knit this re-usable tote and have a chance to win a prize! Post pictures, ask questions, and share your knitting experience!

Who wouldn't want a chance to win yarn, a flicker Pro Account, or Moo Cards or a Blog Re-design!!!

Come and check out the Elisa’s Nest Tote KAL, join up and have fun! Its a great item to knit while getting ready for all the nice weather that is to come! Just think of all the things you could carry in it; yarn, fruit, veggies, books, yarn, snacks, bottles of water, yarn, or anything else you can think of…. Enjoy this tote time and time again, its earth friendly!

e-mail: guotski4(at)yahoo(dot)com
or
message me on ravelry: naturallyknitty
with the following info:

in the subject please put- Join Tote KAL
your name- as you would like on the side bar
your blog address- to be linked to on the side bar
your e-mail address- so I can send you an invite!

Fun Fun Fun! I can't wait to start!

When there is no knitting content...

2008-03-22T15:10:00.004-05:00

Blog about your kids. That is my fall back plan.

Day 82 (March 22nd)

Leah decided to dress herself while she should have been
sleeping.... she came down the stairs looking like this!

It reminded me of that friends episode where Joey put on all of Chandlers clothes.

Please don't look at the mess behind her... called my life;O) Actually its not really that bad, I've been keeping up with things.

I need to go through the kids toys, but I don't even know where to start. They have so many, and I want to weed them out. Toys are always all over the place and sometimes I don't even think they play with them. They just dump and dump and play with one or two things. They do clean up with some encouragement but I'm just sick of the mass of it all. Anyone have any tips on how to get started?! We'd like to put our house up for sale and upgrade a bit(all 3 are in the same room), so I'd like to clear out now, rather than when it is for sale. I'm always a last minute type of person, as you can tell with my SAM5 kal, but I'd like to at least try and change.

Its been a while...

2008-03-21T18:58:00.004-05:00

Two weeks to be exact. I'm in a blogging funk i guess you could say. I just don't have much to blog about.

I could tell you all about the sickness that has been lumming around me and my family for what seems like months... The flu, colds, strep throat, sinus infections.... I and most of my family have had all of these, within the last month or so. ugh!

Where are you spring?!

that's my question. I'm sick of being sick and being couped up in the house, and so are the kids.

Actually yesterday we got outside and played with some chalk! It was sunny and wonderful.

then today.... more snow.

yes that is snow covering our lovely chalk drawings. That's it, I draw the line there.

I'm just plain done.

As for knitting I'm working on some socks for my M for march in the sam5 kal. Also I have thousands of ends calling to me to be woven in but I just don't want to. I have no motivation. There is also a surprise project that I can't speak of on this blog... All I can say is that is is for a long time friend who is a fan of this blog.... you people that are on ravelry can go and check it out...

I'll try to have more to say soon... Hopefully I'll be in the mood when I'm healthy.... if that ever happens.

Oh if your interested in the picture a day... go check them out on Flickr.

Day 67 & a FO

2008-03-07T13:04:00.006-06:00

Day 67 (March 7th)

This is my new tea pot! I paid under $7 for it. I'm starting a new diet and you are to drink lots of different teas. I've never really drank much tea before so I never had a tea pot... So here it is, in all its cheapness ;o) I figure if i really like tea that much I can buy a nicer one, if i happen to cross that road.

While on my trip two weeks ago I completed a project.

Project stats:

Start Date: February
End Date: February 17th
Yarn: Lion Brand Lion Cotton Print
Needles: US 8, (straits) US 5 (double points)
Pattern: Elisa Nest tote

I made this for my LYS as a sample, it went rather quickly. Hurray for car knitting!

Days 48-66

2008-03-06T10:36:00.020-06:00

Wow I was quite behind schedule....

Day 66 (march 6th) The start of my March socks... I need to get going on them!

Day 65 (march 5th) Gabe grabbed a few items to dress up his"kitty". I thought it was really cute!

Day 64 (march 4th) I've finished knitting a sweater I've had in my UFO pile for 2 years... but now I need to "sew in any yarn ends." HA! ANY....there are thousands of them!!! Its going to take me forever....

Day 63 (march 3rd) Today was pajama day at school, he loved it! Afterwards he wanted me to take his picture... this is his cool face. I really don't know where he got it.

Day 62 (march 2nd) This is the inside of the sleeve I knit, I just thought it was interesting, don't mind all those ends, gerrr.

Day 61 (march 1st) I did it! I finished my socks around 10ish pm!

Day 60 (Feb 29th) This is my view for the day.... finishing my socks for the SAM5 KAL. I'm really not sure if I can finish them but I'm going to try! I'm currently decreasing for the gussets and just have to finish the foot and toe..... I think I can, I think I can, I think I can... There is a venison stew in the crock pot for dinner and the kids are eating lunch.... here I go, wish me luck... I'm going to need it!

Day 59 (Feb 28th) I took this fabric home from my grandmas. She already had some squares cut out. I (some day) want to make a quilt with it... I think that is what she had planned with it. Not that it is the prettiest but I like it, and will always think of my grandma when I see it!

Day 58 (Feb 27th) This is the Noro silk garden that I purchased from my sister's LYS(day 55, I think). I plan on making the famous "noro scarf" The two balls on the left are #87, the top right is #8 and the bottom right is #211. I had the hardest time picking colors and hope they go well together in the end.

Day 57 (Feb 26th) This is actually a cool plastic basket that I scored from my grandma, well one of two. After doing mountains of laundry the socks ended up in it.... and so did Chloe. Who needs toys?!

Day 56 (Feb 25th) Just an hour after arriving home on sunday I started to feel sick... I got the flu, just like the rest of the family did. Monday night I realized that I hadn't taken a picture, so this is what I got. My kids feet, while they were curled up next to me on the couch. Shortly afterwards I did some nail trimming :O)

Day 55(Feb 24th) On the way back home... I was able to knit on a few things, one of them being my February Charade socks!

Day 54(Feb 24th) Coffee! These are the coffee mugs I drank out of the second half of the week, my sister got them from Poland.

Day 53(Feb 24th) This was taken after going kitting at my sister (starknits) LYS. Such a cute little shop! Lots of yummy yarn, I came home with some noro, silk garden!

Day 52(Feb 24th) I started the sleeves for my hoody... My goal is to finish this UFO in the next few weeks. I started this over 2 years ago... Its about time I finished it!

Day 51(Feb 24th) My grandma's house, where we stayed for the first half of our trip. This was right before we left on Wednesday

Day 50(Feb 24th) Joe loves old war stuff, so when we saw this he pulled over and went to sit on it. I just had to take a few pictures and told him that I would use it as my picture of the day.

Day 49(Feb 24th) Chloe hit the jack pot at grandma's house. She had fun playing with these and banging them around. What more could a little girl ask for?!

Day 48(Feb 24th) We drove about half way on Saturday and ended up in Ohio in a hotel, the kids thought it was the coolest thing! Gabe kept jumping back and fourth on the beds. I let him go to town because I knew we'd be in the van for another 8 hours that day... It really is the simple things that put a smile on a kids face:O)

the proper post

2008-03-01T11:10:00.005-06:00

I finished my socks with a few hours to spare! Love em!

Start Date: Feb~first week or so
End Date: Feb 29th
Yarn: Knit Picks dye-your-own (kool aid)
Pattern: Charade (Ravelry link)
Needles: Addi Turbo US#1 (2 circulars, 2 socks at a time)
Recipient: ME!

Day 61(March 1st)

They are done!

2008-02-29T22:03:00.001-06:00

I post for real tomorrow.... when I can get some good pics!

Yes, its the end of the month again...

2008-02-29T11:56:00.003-06:00

Day 60(Feb 29th)

This is my veiw for the day.... finishing my socks for the SAM5 KAL. I'm really not sure if I can finish them but I'm going to try! I'm curently decreasing for the guessets and just have to finish the foot and toe..... I think I can, I think I can, I think I can...

There is a venison stew in the crock pot for dinner and the kids are eating lunch.... here I go, wish me luck... I'm going to need it!

I'll update you all on my trip and all the knitting I did tomorrow or the next day.... I'm off to knit like the wind!

Leaving Early!

2008-02-16T14:39:00.000-06:00

Yes we are heading out tonight to try and beat the storm!

Day 47 (feb16th) We are leaving to visit my grandma in MD and my sister in PA!!! We decided to leave early because of a storm coming in the morning.... So you might not see me for a week!

Day 46 (feb15th)

tools of the trade! Addi Turbo's mmmm love em!

To button or Not to button

2008-02-14T12:39:00.008-06:00

that is the question. Also if To button, how many?! 1, 3.... please share your input! If i do decide to put buttons I will have to go and buy some... how big? hmmm to many options. I am the most indecive person ever! seriously, I am. I do know that if when I do button the cardigan I will only put them near the top, for I have made it a little to narrow for her little round tummy.

Ok anyways I give project stats, because as far as i'm concerned its a FO! Also one checked of my top 10stash project kal!!!! Woo Hoo! *me doing a little dance!*

Start Date: August 2007
End Date: February 12th 2008
yarn: Bernat Cottontots
Pattern: my own, inspired from the anthropologie-inspired capelet. top down shaping...
Needles: US #7's (#8 on arms, I knit tighter in the round)
Recipient: Leah, boy she has gotten a lot of handknits lately...

Anyways, I think it turned out really cute and as for the stripes... I didn't have enough purple in my stash so I decided to do stripes, I wasn't so sure about the at first but now I adore them!

Now on to the picture a day...

Day 44 (Feb 13th)
So I didn't find this "heart" but they were sent to me, a gift from God! The little loves of my life!

Wishing all of you a Happy Valentine's Day !

Day 45 (feb 14th)
More snow.... I think we have enough. And thats coming from a girl who likes snow.

Days 39-43

2008-02-12T16:09:00.000-06:00

Day 39 (Feb 8th) This is the start of my February socks, for SAM5. I'm making myself start now so I don't have to cram it into the last week of the month. I dyed it using kool aid and thought the colors would go well this month with v-day comming up and all. Oh the pattern is Charade... its linked on my ravelry page.

Day 40 (Feb 9th) So I had a craving today and took it as a perfect oppertuinity to do a theme shot! Salsa... mmmm I love it! Its not from scratch but from a packet, all you need is tomatoes, a little red onion and some tortilla chips! So good! Are you drooling yet?! ;o)

Day 41 (Feb 10th) Some frost formed on the inside of my van... when I scraped it away I had little bits of snow inside of my van. It has been in the negative digits here, burr!

Day 42 (Feb11th)
Have you ever seen the insidedes of a bean bag chair?!

Well I have. Leah had snuck upstairs and unzipped it, srtipped down to her birthday suit (why I'm not sure) and was covered in these tiny little foam balls, head to toe, some were even inside her nose. The static in them makes a big hard mess to clean up. They stick to everything and anything. The vaccume... it melts them and makes a hard mass out of them inside of it. We spent the better part of the night trying to clean them up and fixing our vaccume.

Day 43 (Feb 12th)

No fun story, just some good old baby blocks, I like the shapes and color....

More FO's!!!

2008-02-07T23:24:00.001-06:00

I made Leah a calorimetry(rav elry link)... so cute and a scarf(ravelry link) to match!

One more thing of my top 10 stash projects list. Now all that is left are the "bigger projects" I have a list on my side bar if your interested... ;O)

These both knit up super quick! She loves them, most days, until she hears Gabe saying that his hat it itchy... gerr older brothers.... then hers is too.

So it was my baby girls birthday on the 5th... I can't believe she is one year old, seriously I feel like I just had her, this year went by too fast!

I opted to make cupcakes rather than one big one. Leah picked out the color of frosting, which isn't at all suprising that she picked purple, she just loves it! Chloe did too!

And speaking of loving things, my dad told me he loved his socks! and they fit! I was a bit worried because I had hubby try them on for my photo shoot for el blogo and they actually fit him, maybe a bit snugly but still they fit him. He has a shoe size 12 and I think my dad is a 10 or 11, so I was a bit worried that they would be too big. but they weren't thank goodness! Hubby said that if they didn't fit that he'd keep them and I could just knit my dad another pair, HA! not that i wouldnt love to knit my dad another pair, but I busted my bum to finish them and I'd be a bit upset if they didn't go to thier proper owner. So here they are being enjoyed by thier rightful owner! I made him take his slippers off!

Anyways now that I've rambled on for a good while i'll stop and wish you all a good weekend!

days 31-38

2008-02-07T23:10:00.000-06:00

Ok something wasnt working with blogger last night... here are the pics:

Day 31 (Jan 31st)
A plate of oranges, we went through 4 of these plates after lunch... The kids just love them, even Chloe, I just had to cut off the rind for her. I love the color of them, so vibrant :o)

Day 32 (Feb1st)
I finished these socks on Jan 31st , at 11:30 pm... just in the nick of time to have them count for my January socks for the SAM 5 KAL! Of course finishing that late at night there is no good lighting... hence they are my feb 1st pic of the day.

Day 33 (Feb 2nd)
Gabe and Leah had a birthday party to got to at this really cool place. Gabe was one of the only boys, but he didn't seem to mind;o) I liked this picture because of how some of the kids are a blur... What fun to be a kid!

Day 34 (Feb 3rd)
This is a close up of Leah's Calorimetry... a bulky wool with a bit of glitter thrown in for fun! I really like these colors together too:O(

Day 35 (Feb 4th)
I cast on for a new project, a sample for my LYS.

Day 36 (Feb 5th)
Chloe's 1st birthday! Here she is with her gift... It was either news paper or christmas wrapping paper. I opted for the news paper:O) I really can't believe its been a whole year since having her.... wow, they sure grow fast!

Day 37 (Feb 6th)
It has been snowing since I got up(3:30am I'm a baker) and hasn't stopped. they say when its all said and done tonight that we are suposed to have 20 inches. Yesterday it was all rainy and slushy... now we have this beautiful snowy blanket! I love it! This picture was taken at 6ish pm.

Day 38 (Feb 7th)

I realized I hadnt' taken a picture today, so when Joe pulled out the ibupropen for his soar throat, I snapped a few, using the light from the lamp that I knit under. Plus it didn't help that he had to shovel tons and tons of snow yesterday... poor guy! (I shoveled too, I like to, but that snow was h-e-a-v-y)

FO allert!

2008-02-03T14:05:00.000-06:00

Yes people we have not one but two FO's!

First up we have Hubby's fingerless mittens, with a flap. I fininshed them last night, somewhat early and decided to cast on calorimetry for Leah.

Project Stats:

Start Date: January
End Date: February 2nd
Yarn: Dalegarn Falk
Pattern: men's fingerless gloves(for guesset)
Needles: Addi Turbo's US# 3 (2 circulars, 2 mittens at one time)
Recipient:Hubby

I've had this yarn in mind for a hat and scarf for her but was needing to finish up a few things first. So last night when I finished the mittens I immediatley co for this... and finished it! Well I did sew the buttons on this morning but it was all knit last night. It went really quick. I think I only co 76 sts instead of 120, and did only 12 repeats of row 5...

Project Stats:
Start Date: February 2nd
End Date: February 2nd
Yarn: Moda Dea Cache
Pattern: Calorimetry
Needles: Addi Turbo's US #8
Recipient: Leah

Late but loved!

2008-02-01T17:57:00.000-06:00

We recieved our Christmas gifts form Allena and her family... We both agreed that our gifts were going to be sent late. I think it was more fun for the kids this way. they loved getting gifts again, Christmas#2!

When gabe opened up his he yelled "finger puppets for ME!!!" he was really excited because I've knit some for others and leah got some last year from allena. He loves having his own! This is him yelling "ahhh" the little aliens were getting him:O)

Leah got the cutest little penguin. Actually I've had the privledge of seeing all these hand crafted items, thanks to the internet! She really likes it, and has been carring it and this pink bear around for the past day and a half since opening up the presents.

Speaking of the pink bear, thier cousin(bub) who is in school, has picked out gifts for them the past few years through the school. The kids wrap them there(at school) and get to pick and give thier own gifts out to thier families. Allena always asks what they got, because she never knows. Kinda funny. Bub dose a good job picking out things for the kids, they always seem to suit them! The bear~leah, the DVD~gabe, the sippy cup~chloe.

Last but not least was chloe's gift... the monkey! so cute! She loves loves loves it! you don't have to take my word for it, just look at her face! she loves that thing!

Allena you rock, you know how to pick em! I swear I'll get your package in the mail tomorrow or at the latest, monday! I won't make my sweet little nieces wait any longer ;O)

Allena also got them a bunch of books:

so cool, the kids love books. the ones for leah(along the bottom) all have cd's in them and go along with the books!

Oh I almost forgot, I got presents too! Look! allena knit me this beaded necklace, so pretty. I wore it out last night to dinner, I felt "put together" for once! Normally I'm just a jeans and t-shirt kind of girl but with the necklace I felt just a bit fancy, in a good way!

Also this cool knitting book! Knit Baby Blankets! there are some really cute ones in there! And I know a few people that are just pregers, so i might just have enough time to knit a couple up!

On a side note, I got a new phone! a motorola razor! and the best part is.... its pink! I also treated myself to a new traveling coffee mug. I purchaced it at starbucks... its also pink! Have I said that I love pink?!

As for knitting I'm going to be working on finishing hubby's fingerless mitts with a flap. I only need to knit the thumbs and one more flap. Then I'll be able to work on my bigger ticket items(from my top 10 stash project list). Hope your all having a wonderful week!

Knit happy!

Just in time...

2008-01-31T23:39:00.000-06:00

I finished these bad boys @ 11:30!!! Sorry for the bad pic, crappy lighting. I'll swap out pictures tomorrow, when I can get some with natural lighting. *I swaped them out!* So here they are. I used the magic cast on and did a toe up.... I didn't really follow a pattern just made it up as I went along. I did use Becca's toe up heel flap formula, love it! this was also my frist time knitting socks and using every last bit of yarn for the same pair... Ok well almost, I had a little left over on one sock, but only a yard or two:O) see the tiny little bit?! I was quite proud of myself!

Ok, project stats:

Start Date: Jan 13~ish
End Date: Jan 31st
Yarn: Meilenweit 100 Colortweed
Pattern: basic sock (my own) plus Becca's Toe up heel flap formula
Needles: Addi Turbo's US#1
Recipient: My dad! (this is actually the first hand knit item I've made him...its about time!)

This was my #5 for my top ten stash along... yeah! One more down!

Another update...

2008-01-30T14:49:00.000-06:00

I will have knitting content by the 31st... oh wait that's tomorrow. I better get knitting, I have a pair of socks to finish!

but first picture updates...

Day 25(jan 25)
I painted Leah's toe nails with her very own "po nail poish" and she made me do mine just like hers... She loves purple!

Day 26 (Jan26)
I spent the day at my LYS, where I work. Unfortunately for the owner the weather was horrible and I only had 2 people come in all day. Fortunately for me, after I organized some yarn and did some other busy work I got to sit and knit. If you look closely I was sitting in the rocking chair next to the fire(to the left) Behind me is the LYSs lending library and to the right is a wall of knitting needles. I really like how you can see so much detail in this tea pot.
Here are my sock in progress, since this picture I've knit the heel's and I'm on the way to finishing them... more on that tomorrow! My fingers are crossed!

Day 27 (Jan 27)
After a long hard day without a nap, this is Gabe at 7pm.... It was nice, we came home from grandma and grandpa's and all 3 kids zonked out in the 7 minute drive home. They didn't even wake up when we put their pj's on :O)

Day 28 (Jan 28th)
I got to hold this all day long, a sick and sad little baby. Poor thing. But it was nice having her cuddle all day long, usually she is too busy and is always on the go~

Day 29 (Jan 29)
Minestrone soup. I started out with some red and yellow onions, celery and garlic. Then went in the carrots. Next was the potatoes, then the green beans, zucchini and yellow squash. At the end I topped it with some kale and let that steam for a bit.... don't forget the salt and pepper, stir it up and.... voila dinner in a bowl!

Day 30(Jan 30)
Thanks goodness Chloe is starting to feel better! I was getting scared yesterday when her temp wasn't going down, even after Tylenol.... So I got some ibuprofen and she actually slept through the night! Woo Hoo! Here she is having a good time playing.

Hopefully by tomorrow at 11:59 I'll have finished my dads socks... I always seem to procrastinate with my socks but so far I've been able to finish a pair a month, I hope I can keep it going! If so I'll be back and posting soon:O)