The sweetest gift

I came home from a tiring Christmas spent in Alabama with the in-laws to a package from my secret pal. I'm not able to post pictures from my camera on this computer, but inside was the cutest snowman mug, chocolates, cocoa and tea. I see some relaxing afternoons with a hot mug of something yummy in my future for the rest of my time off of work. The thing in my box that made me jump up and down was the Knit 2 Together book by Tracey Ullman and Mel Clark. I've been wanting this book ever since I hear Tracey talking about it on NPR. It is truly brilliant! Thank you, Secret Pal!

No cheer here.

This weekend it was over 70 degrees in Middle TN. How am I supposed to feel the Christmas Spirit when I break a sweat just getting groceries in from the car? Its made me too cranky to want to knit much. Here's hoping for a frosty January!

Where have I been?

It has been just ages since I posted. Other than getting sick upon returning from Thanksgiving, I've mostly just been lazy. I've been working on the most boring project, 16.5 inches of st st, the start of a plain v-neck sweater for Hubba Bubba. The best thing by far that has happened to me lately is the loverly package I got in the mail from my Secret Pal... thanks for the cute patterns, the ornaments and good smelling spray, but especially the yarn.... I can start the knee socks I've been ranting about. The sweater is too big and bulky to carry around, so I am officially swatching for the socks. Yeah!

Happy December 1st!

Its cold here today, but not this cold!


Thanks to Berroco for making my day.

This means Hubba Bubba and Random Jennifer haven't completely converted me to a Southern accent!

What American accent do you have? Your Result: The Inland North You may think you speak "Standard English straight out of the dictionary" but when you step away from the Great Lakes you get asked annoying questions like "Are you from Wisconsin?" or "Are you from Chicago?" Chances are you call carbonated drinks "pop."
The Midland
The Northeast
Philadelphia
The South
North Central
The West
Boston
What American accent do you have? Take More Quizzes

The Blahs

In a fit of knitting frenzy, I finished the projects I last posted about. Now I'm just going through the motions with a baby sweater I'm knitting for an expectant work friend and a ballband dishcloth that has been my carrying around project. I ordered the Fall/Winter Rowan solely for this sexy knee high pattern, thinking I'd have enough yarn in my stash to do them up. I don't. So that will require another yarn purchase. I'm also awaiting delivery on yarn for sweater for Hubba Bubba. That might be my at home project for the duration of the winter months! But what should I start for a carrying around project? This is very important. I knit on the way to and from work, and whatever times in between..... so I need a good something something to keep with me. Any suggestions? Scarves need not apply!

project updates

This sweater vest illustrates why I don't have any bright speckly clothes in my wardrobe. Can we say "thick through the middle?" Oh well. Its a pattern I made up as I went along, so I'm proud of that!

This purse, well... I just love it. I've decided that non-felted knitted purses all need a lining to give them good body. This purse just stretched out all over the place before I put a lining to it. And the button? I know, it is sublime.

Branching Out

I've had three balls of Debbie Bliss Cotton DK in my stash for almost a year now. I bought it back when I had no idea how much yarn you really needed to make things. Now I know about how much yarn a sweater takes vs. a scarf. I already have way too many scarves from the days when that was about all I knew how to make... but I decided to do the Branching Out scarf from Knitty. I figure I'll stash it away for a last minute Christmas gift. It was one of those projects that wasn't really my style, so it was hard to get excited about making it. I've been trying to take in patterns and not yarn lately, in hopes of finding fun projects to match up to the yarns in my stash. Fellow knitters, how do you handle it when you come across that yarn you just can't resist, whether because of the yarn, the price or both? Do you take the plunge and figure the perfect project will come along? Or do you furiously try to think of a project to justify the purchase?

Fiber Festival

This Saturday Hubba Bubba and I went to the Harvest and Fiber Festival at Cannonsburgh Village . We saw sheep being shorn, fibers being spun, cloggers, lye soap making and quite possibly the best part was the homemade fried pies. I limited myself to 3 skeins of sock yarn... HB was quite impressed with my restraint. Check out the pictures here.

Hmmm.... Mohair

What kind of yarn are you?

You are Mohair.You are a warm and fuzzy type who works well with others, doing your share without being too weighty. You can be stubborn and absolutely refuse to change your position once it is set, but that's okay since you are good at covering up your mistakes.
Take this quiz!








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Prayer Request Update

Jennifer came through surgery with flying colors, and is home recuperating. Visit her blog and send her hugs and kisses!

P.S. Did you know they have special hospital gowns that work similarly to the old bonnet-style hairdryers? You stick in a hose and warm air flows over your cold arse! I need that to beat the chill this winter...

Prayer Request

Dear Lord,
Tomorrow morning my best friend will be having a pretty big surgery. I know you've been hearing alot about it, so I'll be brief. Please keep her hiney covered, her feet warm, and oh yes, let this surgery be a blessing.

Amen

check this out!

HowManyOfMe.com

There are: 84 people with my name in the U.S.A. How many have your name?

oooo... pick me! pick me!

I just love a contest. My SP 9 hostess is having a contest... no idea the prize, but I just like to play. I have to answer the following questions... so here goes:
1. Where is your favorite knitting spot? I wouldn't say its my favorite, but I do most knitting in the car while Hubba Bubba drives us to work.
2. If you suddenly could never knit again (shudder) - what would you do instead? Thats easy, I'd finally clean my house, keep it clean and sew cute curtains and pillows like I always say I am going do one of these days.
3. If you could travel anywhere in the world - where would you go and why? New Orleans, circa 2003, when we went there on our honeymoon. I just don't think it will feel the same ever again.
4. When you were little - What did you want to do "when you grew up?" Are you doing it? I always said I would be a librarian... and that is not what I do now.
5. What is your favorite flavor of ice cream? Pistachio

Biscuits!

If you're in the vicinity of Nashville on Saturday, make plans to swing by the "Biscuits and Bluegrass" festival at the legendary Loveless Cafe. It should be a great day for a drive in the country... and every day is a great day for biscuits!

oh yeah... I'm still knitting

I feel like I haven't posted much about my knitting projects lately... I posted about the baby sweater a while back, but here's an update on some recent FOs and almost FOs. I started a pair of socks for Hubba Bubba back in March. Sock 1 flew off the needles, but sock 2 ended up getting frogged about midway through. I thought I was somewhere close to the correct starting place in the color variegation... but it was looking like a very different sock than number 1. I finally finished sock 2 and started in on the Brea purse in the most gorgeous Frog Tree yarn. I am now knitting this pattern for myself is this intriguing yarn I found at Michael's.

Autumn in Nashville

I just took a short walk outside at work. The sky is the most amazing clear blue, a shade that no picture can do justice. Fall in Middle TN is a nostalgic time for me, as I fell in love and got married this time of year. I grew up in Michigan, which is know for dazzling diplays of fall color. The fall time here is less about sights and more about a feeling. It brings a sense of relief that the blazing heat and humidity have moved on for the year. The haze of summer lifts off the land and off your shoulders. We know that it still stays relatively warm, but your mind still turns to hot chocolate, pumpkin patches, football games and that comforting soft layer of a friendly old sweater.

Secret Pal 9 questionnaire

I had a wonderful time with Secret Pal 8... so I'm back for more!

1. What is/are your favorite yarn/s to knit with? What fibers do you absolutely *not* like?
I'm a big fan of the soft wools... Anything you just want to snuggle up with. I'm not crazy about eyelash yarns.
2. What do you use to store your needles/hooks in? I recently moved from one needle case to two.
3. How long have you been knitting & how did you learn? Would you consider your skill level to be beginner, intermediate or advanced? I've been knitting for 1 year, 9 mos. I'd say I'm intermediate.
4. Do you have an Amazon or other online wish list? Yes, check out my Amazon list here and my Sephora list here
5. What's your favorite scent? (for candles, bath products, etc.) Fig, vanilla, ginger, apple
6. Do you have a sweet tooth? Favorite candy? I try to steer clear, but when I do indulge it's dark chocolate all the way
7. What other crafts or Do-It-Yourself things do you like to do? Do you spin? I recently was gifted a hand spindle, but by no means do I call myself a spinner
8. What kind of music do you like? Can your computer/stereo play MP3s? (if your buddy wants to make you a CD) I work every day to promote the idea that music is property, so please don't go burning a cd on my behalf!
9. What's your favorite color(s)? Any colors you just can't stand? Green, red, blue, black, orange. I'm pretty open to anything.
10. What is your family situation? Do you have any pets? I live in the almost country with my hubba bubba and our old lady Labrador Retriever, Sadie.
11. Do you wear scarves, hats, mittens or ponchos? Yes, yes, yes, no.
12. What is/are your favorite item/s to knit? Purses!
13. What are you knitting right now? See #12
14. Do you like to receive handmade gifts? Very much so
15. Do you prefer straight or circular needles? Bamboo, aluminum, plastic? Anything works for me, as long as its not the 14" straight needles.
16. Do you own a yarn winder and/or swift? Yes to both
17. How old is your oldest UFO? Almost 4 hours ( I really got caught up this weekend)
18. What is your favorite holiday? Jesus' b-day
19. Is there anything that you collect? Vintage fabrics, YARN
20. Any books, yarns, needles or patterns out there you are dying to get your hands on? What knitting magazine subscriptions do you have? No magazine subscriptions currently. I'm interested in the Mel Clark/Tracey Ullman knitting book
21. Are there any new techniques you'd like to learn? Hmmm. Knitting sweaters that fit.
22. Are you a sock knitter? What are your foot measurements? Yes... I've knit two pairs in a row and have two more planned.
23. When is your birthday? 02/22

NPR knitting

One of the perks of working with Hubba Bubba is that we have the same schedule. Since he likes to be in the driver seat, that leaves me riding shot gun for our 40 minute commute. About a year or so ago we fell in the habit of listening to NPR. It mellows out the stress of maneuvering traffic, and we've heard some really interesting stories that have stuck with us. Being the knitting feind that I am, I'm usually knitting during this time. This morning, while knitting sock two of a pair of socks for Hubba Bubba, we're suddenly in the middle of an interview with Tracy Ullman. About her new knitting book. It was so exciting! Please check out the NPR interview. There's even a free pattern!

Rolling on the River

This past Monday the company Hubba Bubba and I work for sent the whole Nashville office for a lunch cruise on the General Jackson. We work for BMI, the leading performing rights organization in the U.S. Its a pretty unique company to work for. We represent 300,000 songwriters, composers and publishers, specifically licensing businesses for the public performance of the 6.5 million songs in our catalog. One of our songwriters happens to be none other than Isaac Hayes (!), who greeted us in our lobby along with David Porter and Richie McDonald of the band Lonestar. We were then bussed to the riverfront in downtown Nashville and enjoyed probably the nicest weather we've had this year, along with a lunch time performance by new country cutie Jake Owen, also a BMI songwriter. It was a spectacular display of appreciation on behalf of management. Hope it becomes a tradition!

first sweater

Just last night I finished my first knitted garment. Its a sweet little sweater for a friend who is expecting. I feel so confident about knitting something for myself now! The pattern is "Baby's First Tattoo" from Debbie Stoller's Stitch and Bitch Nation. I used Lion brand Wool-Ease. Its heavier than the yarn called for in the pattern, but the adaptations were pretty easy.

Rollin' my own stash

Hubba bubba has told me time and again that I don't "treat" myself to enough things. Well, I took that to heart and up and bought myself a ball winder and swift. Now he is talking about how I need to make the spare bedroom more "knitter friendly"! I'm just going to get right on board with that idea. I know other knitters have a hard time getting their spouse to understand yarn purchases, but I actually have an advantage. Hubba Bubba has been hard core in racing for several years now, and if anyone can relate to how many different needles a knitter "needs", its a man buying different sized gears "just in case".

We have a winner!

This past Saturday was Hubba Bubba's second kart race, and his first win! He took the stick heavy class with a resounding lead of nearly half a track. He tries to downplay it, since there were only two karts on the track, but I think it's a big deal. He hit a huge rock in the heat race and lost nearly all the oil... most of it on his pant leg, scary since the engine gets really hot. He was so in the moment he didn't feel a thing.

Family reunion time

This past weekend hubba bubba, Sadie and I drove up to my parent's house in Mid-Michigan. My mom hosts a reunion for her side of the family annually the Sunday of Labor Day weekend. Its a long haul for us, but its one of those traditions I hate to miss. My mom is one of nine kids so you can imagine my extended family is huge! My cousin Kammi plans activities for the kids every year, with a different theme. This year the theme was "harvest party" complete with costumes. I think the adults had more fun dressing up than the kids! Check out the pictures of the festivities here.

My Cup Runneth Over

I received the most amazing package from my Secret Pal . She doubled my stash with a variety of fibers and
even a hand spindle ! I'll be the envy of my knitting circle. Also included was a felted beret, a vanilla candle, peppermint foot lotion and SILLY PUTTY! And the best part, I finally get to "meet" this lady that has been spoiling me! Say hello to Kim. Wonder how we got matched up... notice picks are of knitting, gardening and vacationing.... hmmm, sounds a little like what I've posted here! Of course, my knitting pics aren't quite of the same caliber of Miss Kim. Thanks for making my first SP a great one!

go speed racer!

Hubba Bubba hit the track for his latest adventure a few weekends back. We've been in racing for a quite a while now as fans and race car owners. He's decided its time to get out on the track himself. I thought "whew, at least its just a go-kart". Then I found out they go 80 mph! The season is almost over for this year, so he'll probably only be out one or two more times. I'm just so proud of him!

Purse Pattern!

Ball-band Purse Pattern

Body of purse follows the Ball Band dishcloth pattern in Mason-Dixon Knitting: The Curious Knitters' Guide: Stories, Patterns, Advice, Opinions, Questions, Answers, Jokes, and Pictures by Kay Gardner and Ann Meador Shayne (they can’t sue me for this, can they?)





This purse was made with two colors of Lamb’s Pride Bulky and size 13 needles.

The ball band dishcloth pattern can be modified to any width using a multiply of 6, plus 3 for casting on. For instance, I cast on 51 stitches for my bag (6x8, plus 3). For my purse I decided to have the stripes run vertically. Referring to the pattern as printed in MD, I did rows 1-12 three times followed by rows 1-8, and then bind off.

For my purse I decided to have the stripes run vertically. This is how you will sew your purse if you want it to look like mine: Fold your rectangle in half with the cast on and bound off edges touching and the right and left sides at the top. Mattress stitch the co/bo edges from what will be the bottom of the bag up toward where the handles will be, on both sides. I left about and inch and half free at the top, so there is more room in the top opening.

If you are doing a fabric lining, you will need about a half and inch seam allowance all the way around. Thing before you sew your lining that you want to have the pretty side of the fabric showing inside the purse. I know this sounds elementary, but I’m not a big sewer… its something I could very easily mess up. I left a matching inch and a half open along the top sides of the lining to match the part I left open on the sides of the purse.

When the lining is sewn up, stitch the outside bottom corners of the lining to the inside bottom corners of the purse. This will hold your lining in place. Then stitch the top of the lining to the top edges of the purse, on each side. I used clear thread that looks like fishing line, because the stitches are visible and my hand sewing isn’t neat and pretty. You should attach your lining about ¾ inches from the top, leaving space to attach the handles.

About the handles: I crocheted them on, and it’s just too hard for me to think about how to write out instructions. If you crochet, I think you’ll figure something out. If not, just use a strand of your yarn and a needle to wrap yarn around the handle and through the top of the purse, where you left that ¾ inch without lining at the top of the purse. I’m sure you could also somehow leave the lining long and use that to go over and around your handles.

Hope you enjoy your purse, and thanks to Ann and Kay for writing the book that inspired it!

Let it Rain!

Dear 8lb, 7oz Baby Jesus in your golden fleece diaper (love that Talladega Nights!)....
thank you for sending us a rainy day. We promise to be nicer people and resume waiving everyone and their mama through the four way stop ahead of us. Amen.

August Garden update

August is always hard for me in the garden. It just gets so stinking hot, who wants to be rubbing up against prickly leaves and stems? I've managed to keep most everything alive and kicking, in the case of the morning glories, perhaps too alive. The greens are going crazy, but not a flower in sight. My mom says I over-fertilized them, so they've been cut off in hopes of a bloom or two. The butterflies and chickadees just adore the Zinnias... they were probably the biggest bang for the buck in the garden this year.

UPDATE: August 4, 2006... 2 blooms spotted in the morning glories!

Here we go

Now this is more like it. Thank you blogger for cooperating! Sadie is modeling the very lovely stitch markers my SP8 SuperPal made for me, along with an awesome sock book and amazing alpaca yarn. Its black and so sexy, if yarn gets to be sexy. I had just started Hubba Bubba's socks when I got the book, and with a few little tips I picked up, his socks are going to be about 400% nicer than my first pair. His Trekking XXL is amazing to work with, and I'm about ready turn the heel on the second sock. I think I'm hooked on this sock thing!

why does blogger hate me?

I want to write about the great package I got from my Secret Pal complete with Sadie modeling a stitch marker necklace. For some reason I am unable to upload pics. ARGGHHHHH!

I'm still here!

Here we are past the middle of July and I've not posted in ages! First week of July was vacation in Asheville, NC and then lounging around the house for the rest of the week. We had a blast touring the Biltmore, etc. I also finished my socks... and bought new sock yarn for the socks Hubba Bubba has been bugging me about ever since he saw my mom knitting socks. Last week was a whirlwind of trying to get caught up at work and getting ready for Hubba Bubba's business trip to Minneapolis this week. Its about nine degrees cooler than H*** in middle TN this week. I'll be spending my spare time encouraging my still green tomatoes to stay juicy and knitting under all the breeze my 20 year old A/C unit and ceiling fan can muster.

A dog's life.

Sadie has it made. There are people who probably don't believe us when we talk about her having her own bed. Well, she does. Don't tell my mom that she puts her dog hiney on the quilt she made for me.

One sock down!

Yep.. I finished my first sock Monday evening. I rocked it completely. Now I just need to finish the other one. I've cast on for it, but knitting time has been scarce this week. We've got vacation coming up and I think I'll definately have time for some quality knitting.

My weekend

My weekend consisted of helping Jennifer pack up a U-Haul Saturday morning, then spending the rest of the weekend avoiding the oppressive heat. Avoiding the heat meant plenty of time to work on my first sock. I'm pretty impressed with my progress to date. And by to date, I mean 3 minutes ago. I have found that if you turn off the flash on a digital camera, you can snap just about anything in your cubicle. I also found that the tweedy fabric my cubicle walls are made out of are like a giant pin cushion.

So long, #9

I'll miss you, Steve.

Sock it to me

The sock knitting has begun! I've been working on ways to keep the bunnies out of my vegetable garden and this has eaten into my knitting time lately. Well, gardening in general. Its the time of year here in Middle TN where the weeds are trying to grow to beat the real plants. I've got Zinnias, Rudbekia, Southern Charm and Prunella in bloom. Not to mention 3 inch baby squash and itty-bitty green beans. Spring has sprung. Now I just need a rainy day so I can do those socks justice!

Thoughts for Friday

Enjoy the little things, for one day you may look back and realize they were the big things.- Robert Brault

We struggle with the complexities and avoid the simplicities.- Norman Vincent Peale

That man is richest whose pleasures are the cheapest.- Henry David Thoreau

It is the sweet, simple things of life which are the real ones after all.- Laura IngallsWilder

Murphy's Law of Home Ownership...

If your 20 year old A/C unit is going to act up, it will do it on a holiday weekend.


We arrived home about midnight Saturday to a deafening sound coming from the area of the air conditioner. Whatever was going on was making the house vibrate and was so loud we obviously could not sleep with the A/C on. So we made do with the ceiling fan until Sunday morning. Keep in mind this is the first weekend forecasted for upper-80's here in Middle-TN. The bedroom warmed enough to get me out of bed by 6:30. I read the Sunday paper on the front porch with thoughts of what a new 2.5 ton A/C unit could possibly cost. I talked to God and let him know I understood that these things weren't meant to last 20 years to begin with, and to please help there at least be someone that could come look at it before Tuesday.
HB woke up about an hour after me with his own plan of action. "I need to find that Poteete guy's phone number, Ricky's brother... he does heating and cooling. He told me if I ever needed anything to call him." Now, in guy world, when someone tells you to call if you need something, that does include the Sunday of a holiday weekend. We found the listing for Poteete Heating and Cooling on the internet and Greg called and talked with Johnny's wife. Long story short, they were both at our house by 9:30. Turns out the fan inside our until had broke in two. Johnny did some fabrication to replace the fan, cleaned our unit, checked the freon level, pet our dog and admired my JBL Creature speakers all within about and hour and a half. All for $80. This is the ultimate homeowner high. We were floating on air for the rest of the day, thinking about what we had braced ourselves for. Thank you, Lord, for hearing my prayers and wow, what a way to answer them.

Got those happy feet?

There is nothing like coming home from work on a Monday and finding a package. Especially one from your secret pal! Oh, and what a fun package it is. A sock kit!

Its the prettiest denim-y striped Opal yarn with needles and stitch markers. These are my first fancy beaded stitch markers. I have arrived!


Thank you SP!

P.S. My package had to go through Customs!