jensknits

book meme

2005-06-29T12:33:00.000-07:00

1. Total number of books I own? I live with a book collector, not by profession, by hobby. I've tried to put a moratorium on the book buying until I have a house with a book room...its not working out so well. If I can include multiple copies of the same book because the covers are different, somewhere in the neighborhood of 800 - 1000. I stopped counting at 500.

2. The last book I bought? The Eyre Affair, Jasper Fford and Meditations for Women Who Knit Too Much. Purchased on the same day. Yes, I'm violating my own moratorium.

3. The last book I read? Its really five books, but the entire Hitchhiker's series. I've never been so ready to be done with a series. Oh, and I'm still trying to finish Anna Karenina....but oh, so depressing

4. Five books that mean a lot to me? This one is really hard. How does one choose only five books!
America, Democracy Inaction, Jon Stewart. I have never laughed so hard at any book EVER.
the Ramona books, Beverly Cleary. I couldn't get enough of the pesty Ramona as a kid.
The Great Gatsby
Mrs. Dalloway
Dracula

- I'm sensing a trend in depressing literature. hmmm....let's trying something lighter
Bridge Jones Diary.

Well....The lace is pretty

2005-06-28T13:11:00.000-07:00

Just refer to page 138 of book...book...book and I won't have to tell the whole story. Although I will say that I SWEAR it was going to be too small for me and now it wouldn't fit a gorilla. AND I was ALMOST right on gauge. I had to go up three needle sizes to even come close. I blame the yarn. Not that I don't love SWTC Oasis, it is soft and wonderful, and the colors are to die for and it stretches, a lot, when wet blocked. Yep, won't be wet blocking it again.

On a good note, the pattern was lovely and Annie is doubly lovely. One silly little question and she emailed me back right away with an answer. It is an easy, easy to follow and really only a moron could mess it up. Yeah, that would be me.

What to do, what to do. I thought about soaking it in hot water to make it shrink, and haven't found any horror stories, I mean reflections on that idea in book...book...book, so it may work. Or, just frogging the thing and using a more appropriate yarn that will get gauge on a more appropriate size needs.

While I ponder the solution to the hugeness of my silky, ribby, mini cabley, lacey corset. I decided to work on the cable and rib socks from spring 05 IK. There's nothing like a sock to make a girl feel right with the world.

mmmm...lorna's laces...mmmmmm.

book meme...saving it for tomorrow. I promise I'll post it.

Don't tempt the knitting gods

2005-06-07T14:19:00.000-07:00

with questions of how or why....just be thankful when this happens.
in less than a week. It is 33x46 and it is done. Completely. I am not going to block it because it is *gasp* acrylic and won't block anyway, so I'm just going to throw it in the washer. I used 4 skeins of (two pastel green and two white)Carreon Simply Soft, and yes it is incredibly soft and for 2.50 a skein, the price can't be beat. Phew, obligitory knitting complete. Although, I think I may do a baby hat or two...but no pressure!

2005-06-02T09:28:00.000-07:00

bagbeckyATyahooDOTcom. Email her!
The president of the college walked into my office for the first time EVER and I was blogging. CRAP, haven't blogged in, let's not mention it, and he walks in TODAY. WTF.

Knitting and wine

2005-06-02T07:58:00.000-07:00

Let's not mention how long its been and just say that I'm officially the world's worst blogger. But I do have proof that I have been knitting. See...I'm a real knitter baby! Excuse the crappy picture, excuse all the crappy pictures in this post. But hey, crappy pictures are better than no pictures right!

Soleil in its final form. It was really fun to knit. I only ripped out the lace edge once, not bad. I knit the smallest size on size 6 needles and used 3 1/2 skeins of Phoenix from SWTC. This yarn blocks really well. It softened and relaxed quite a bit, good thing otherwise it would've been to small! Its light enough and cool enough to wear even when its 110!

Next up. I bought what is quite possibly the most amazing knitting back in the universe...so amazing that it deserves an entry in the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. Yes, I'm currently on a Douglas Adams kick. Can't help it, British humor and sattire is the best. Here are the pictures...

This bag is handcrafted by the ubertalented Becky Williams. It has specially made pockets, long and short, on the inside for long straight needles, dpns and will hold circs. A plastic pouch zippered on the inside holds all your knitting notions securely and there are big pockets for patterns. She knows I like red and yellow and found the perfect material. This bag is worth much more than I paid for it. We all understand the value of handcrafted items and the amount of time and effort that goes into them. If you want one, leave a comment and I will make sure Becky gets your request. Also, I may have her email address posted on the blog. And YES, she totally deserves this shameless plug. Not only is she talented, but she is a very cool chickadee, and its just an extra bonus to buy something from someone so nice.

Speaking of nice. If you are Suz's SP5, spoil her rotten. She totally deserves it. This is a much better picture, stolen right off her blog of the beeeaauuutiful custom dyed wool she sent me as my final surprise. Yesterday was her birthday, so run right over and wish her well. She's a doll.

On to the wine part of this entry. The SnB'ers hung out at Red Kangaroo Wines. It was fabulous. I had to leave early. Damn stupid work. The wine was yummy (yep that's my official description- yummy), the cheese was good and the atmosphere was great and the best part, it was CHEAP. We definitely must go back, good wine at those prices could definitely be dangerous.

Hello out there

2005-05-09T13:42:00.000-07:00

Yes, Its been a month since my last post, I feel like I should go to confessional or something.

First things first. I don't yet know the identity of my super cool secret pal - Lily, but she has been incredibly great and creative and all around wonderful. Look at what she sent me...
This is just one of six skeins - 1200 yards of wool. But not just any wool. Custom dyed, especially for me, wool from Wool Soup. The colorway is called Madame Pele. Of course, I had to google Madame Pele and she is the Volcano Goddess responsible for creating the Hawaiian islands. Cool huh! The picture doesn't come close to doing it justice. Its a beautiful combination of reds and browns and oranges. I love it and can't wait to knit something gorgeous with it. Thank you Lily! Your the best EVER! I can't believe you had somebody create a colorway just for me!

I also finished Elegante, my test knit from SWTC. So adorable. I used Oasis, their ribbony type yarn and LOVED it. The pattern has to be reworked because the numbers were a little off, it came out really, really big. Yes, I swatched and yes I got gauge. But still really big.

For my efforts, I received 5 balls of Oasis in Rose and am using it to knit Soleil. I had no idea this pattern was so popular in blogverse right know, but everywhere I look it see it. Here's my progress.

While I was dropping off Elegante, Jonelle showed my their new yarn, Karaoke. My first impression. MANOS...but better!!! She decided that she wanted a booga bag to show it off, so guess who gets to knit and felt this lovely yarn. Oh, this yarn is so lucious. When I'm done, I see a Sophie bag in my future.

Finally, I had a really good time in San Francisco. The conference went well and there was only one trip to the emergency room, a small outbreak of pink eye and once incident of a topless female in the stairwell. Ahh, to be a crazy college student again. As a student, I certainly did my fair share of partying at this conference and seem to remember a bagel heist, but never, ever, did I run around the hotel topless.

Ok, one last thing. Mike graduates on Friday. YEAH Mike. He's worked really hard the past year, not just on school but on so many other things, and even though he still does things that annoy me, like leave coffee cup rings on the counter, I'm very proud of him.

Knitting....what's that?

2005-04-11T10:29:00.000-07:00

Its been so long I think I may have forgotten how! Oh, and I bought onesies and diapers, new parents can never have too much of either.My life has been consumed with preparing for my annual Model UN conference. Every year I head to San Francisco and help run a Model UN conference that has anywhere between 400 and 500 students in attendance. Prior to going, I have to read policy papers and country profiles written by said students. This year I had score roughly 300 papers, a total of about 700 pages. 300 not so great papers, and any teacher out there will tell you that when you have to grade bad papers it makes you VERY grumpy. Coupled with the fact that the topics this year are a snooze fest. Let me just say that reading 70 pages on Harbor Affluent Waste and Biodiversity Hotpsots is not the most interesting thing in the world to do. I did this in front of the TV, but I couldn't figure out how to grade them and knit. It was horrible.

So, I leave Wed. morning and return Tues. night. In that time, even though I will be in San Francisco, I will never leave the hotel--except to run into downtown Burlingame to buy copy paper.

I managed to watch Sideways and I had no idea that Merlot is an inferior grape. Of course, my favorite is a good Pinot but I am also a big fan of the Merlot. Who knew I had such poor taste in wine! I almost hate to mention it lest Brooke admonish my pallet. Hee hee! In honor of my new found knowledge, I made an excellent Coq A Vin with a good Cab on Sunday. Thanks to Tyler for the yummy recipe.

And the highlight to my weekend. Tiger finally managed to win a Major and the Masters at that AND in extra holes. Yeah! Yes, I'm a golf fan. Its weird, I know. I hate watching basketball, football, baseball, hockey or any other contact sport. But I can watch all four days of a Major and be completely enthralled. I actually covered my eyes as Tiger putted for his win. I'm a geek.

One last thing, Outfoxed, Rupert Murdoch's War on Journalism, has helped to reaffirm my belief that he is the devil, Bill O'Reilly is his instrument of evil and CNN and MSNBC have become following footsoldiers. He's like Al Pacino in The Devil's Advocate. The Daily Show may be the last place to get news.....its as real as anything else and at least its funny!

What do you do

2005-03-28T14:01:00.000-07:00

when much to your surprise you receive an invition to a baby shower on Monday and the shower is on Friday? I suppose if you are Wendy or the Harlot you whip out something absolutely fabulous overnight without breaking a sweat. Let me just mention that this shower is for the bosses secretary and it is being thrown by the event planner in our marketing department. Um, yeah, I work for an academic institution and we have a marketing department and they are planning this shower...

So, do I stress about it and try to make the 5 hour baby sweater or something. Of course, in about a week it will be like a hundred degrees in AZ. Look to Last Minute Gifts and hope there is something in my stash. Or, do I hike it to target and pick up a few onsesies. Damn. How much do I want to impress my coworkers?

My test knit for SWTC is gorgeous. I mean the sketch of what it should look like when finished it gorgeous. I have no idea what it will look like when I am done. It has never been knit, so I have no visual aids to guide me and we all know that I already believe my brain shuts down when reading a pattern. In any case, it is a little baby doll tank done in SWTC's soy silk Phoenix. Wonderful yarn, it knits up so nice and light and soft. I had to learn a new cast on method, the tubular cast on. Very cute and so easy...once I found instructions a normal person could understand. The cast on is for ribbed patterns, so that the edge ends up being in the rib pattern.

I think I should be allowed to take the week off to make sure I get this shower gift done.

Sweet, sweet Friday

2005-03-25T14:13:00.000-07:00

And the best part is, I'm heading to Southwest Trading Company in a few to pick up a test knit. Yeah! Jonelle informs me that its an adorable babydoll tank that has never been knit before. Although, given the results of my broadripple, I'm not sure I'm up for the challege. See for yourself.

adorable isn't it....if you have freakish elf toes, or have worn so many pointy toed shoes in your life your toes have actually become pointy! Ergh Argh. This is what I get for having Barney Rubble toes. Yep, my toes are so freakishly short that they can only be likened to a cartoon character. So, I'll have to ribbit ribbit my poor broadribbit. At least I just have to go back as far as the end of the instep decreases. ho hum.

Happy Friday

Misery

2005-03-22T08:47:00.000-07:00

Self-inflicted misery but misery nonetheless. Why do we (women) do this to ourselves? It hurts to sit down, sit, stand up, walk, lay down, go downstairs. And no amount of Motrin, wine and hot tub soaks (simultaneous) are helping. It hurts to simply exist. Who's bright idea was it to run 4 mi on Sunday (after a roughly 8 month hiatus from running), go to a body sculpting and cycling class (consecutively) on Monday any way. Oh yeah, it was mine, dammit. As if I haven't learned my lesson, I will be heading to spin in about 45 minutes. Actually, I will be hobbling to the yellow bike of doom. Obviously, I am not that bright. 30-50 minutes of cardio 5-6 days a week and 2 days of weight training, 2 days of yoga and 1400 calories a day. If I don't lose 15 pounds by July, I am going to sue the fitness industry for spreading lies. That is only a pound a week. I think for the pain I am suffering, that is not too much to ask.

Last night was fun, there wasn't very many of us. Brooke and I went a little early. Becky, Eva and Jude came, and later on Melanie showed up. Brooke had to leave because Jack was a little grumpy, but it was good to see her and the little guy...he definitely loves attention! It was nice just to sit around and chat and knit. Becky taught me the awesome German Round toe technique...no Kitchner for me! So, hopefully Broadripple 1 will be finished today.

New Recipe Tuesday. It will be my goal to post a new recipe every Tuesday. I don't forsee this going very well

Spicy Eastern/African/Mediterranean style Chicken..with the usual commentary

1 pound chicken (I like to use boneless skinless thights..but use whatever cut you like) cut into bite sized pieces.
2 carrots, sliced
2 ribs of celery sliced
1 onion chopped
(for those that don't know, the aforementioned veggie combo is know in the culinary world as the Holy Trinity)
1 zuchinni - sliced
1 yellow squash - sliced
(or two of either- or none if you are a summer squash hater)
1 28 oz can chopped tomatoes in puree
1-2 cups broth (yummiest, Kitchen Basics or Pacific, if not homemade)
1 can garbanzo beans/chickpeas
half and half - can be omitted if you are a crazy dieter (see above) or lactose intolerant
tomato paste
fresh garlic - a few cloves minced. (or if you're lazy like me, buy it in the squezze bottles)
fresh ginger- a tablespoon or so minced (this also comes in the squeeze bottle)
cumin - a couple teaspoons, to taste
tumeric - teaspoon, to taste
paparika - I like the Hungarian stuff - to taste
cardamom - its strong, you don't need a lot
cayenne - a pinch
oregano - tablespoon or so
juice of 1/2 lemon
(yes I hoard spices the way I hoard needles)

Season chicken with S&P and chicken LIGHTLY in a tablespoon or so of olive oil. Remove from pan.
Add carrots, onion and celery, ginger and garlice. Saute until almost tender.
Return chicken to pan and add spices. Remember spices are to taste. Its easier to add than take away.
Add broth and tomatoes, simmer at least 30 minutes, or longer if you have time.
During last 20 minutes of cooking throw in squash and garbanzo beans, this will prevent mushiness. You may need to adjust seasoning, more garlic if you are a garlic junky, or more cayenne if you like heat. You will probably need more S&P.
If you find its to runny for your taste add a bit of tomto paste to thicken things up
When almost ready to serve, drizzle in a little half and half for a yummy creamy texture and the lemon juice to brighten the flavors.
Serve over basmati rice
YUM - all my leftover are GONE!

So its been more than two weeks since my last post

2005-03-21T09:52:00.000-07:00

Isn't just nice to know I'm ok :-)

In my defense the last two weeks have been NUTS. I don't like be the only person doing a two/three person job at all. The fact that I CAN do it is not the point. It takes away from my blog and surf time. While overtime may be nice, I value my time much more than $. Call me crazy.

I did have three days off last week. Of course, as soon as anybody knows I have time off, I am immediately asked to do things. I had Malora (the niece, aka il monstre) all day Wed and Thursday. Beyond the money I spend on her when she comes for McDonalds, books, bathing suits and ice cream she takes all of my energy! We have to go to the park, then swimming (heated pool), then hiking, then more swimming, then out to dinner, then to the bookstore. No wonder she likes coming over to my house, she gets spoiled rotten! At least we wore her out enough to be out like a light by eight.

Then there are the out of town visitors. Mike's uncle Butch (yes his name is Butch) comes to AZ annually for Spring Training games. He usually doesn't stay with us, but this year we put him up for a night. The catch is that we had to drive to New River on Thursday night to meet Mike's mom for dinner. An hour drive for the worst food I've ever had in my life! I can't complain about Butch staying though, we invade his house in Huntington Beach every summer for over a week! This is why I wasn't at Coffee Rush on Friday, Butch was still there.

As if things weren't crazy enough I spent the rest of Friday at the DMV for the third time in two weeks. Don't ask. It involves titles for a car that I've been driving for three years, emission requirements and the inability of the DMV to have enough offices open on Saturdays, or make thier way into the 21st century with credit/debit card machines. Needless to say, I've been to hell and its the DMV.

Haven't had much knitting time, although if you ask Mike I spend more than enough time knitting. They're so funny, don't they know that there is never enough time to knit. I look at other people's work and am insanely jealous by what other's are able to accomplish when in the past two weeks this is all I've done. Yep, I doing the Broadripple. I love the yarn! KPPM is the BEST. It is unfortunate that these are for my sister, she did buy the yarn.

I did get to do a little shopping courtesy of Lily, who is the most special secret pal in the history of secret pals. I open my email on Thursday morning fully expecting to find work, work and more work (because unlike faculty I don't deserve a Spring Break) and instead find a $20 Elann gift certificate! With the nicest message attached. It speaks to how busy I was that I didn't even pick something out until this morning. Instead of yarn, I indulged my needle habit and bought 5" Brittany Birch double points - for more socks - AND a double point needle case! Thanks Lily! You're the best.

Ok, I think this is long enough now. But before I go, Becky has set up a SNBAZ blog! How cool is that. Check it out here. I'm glad I did, or I wouldn't know about the meetup at Essenza! Walking distance from my job! Phew....I was going through withdrawals. I'll be there early about 5:30 if anybody wants to join.

Loser of the week - Tom Delay, for successfully redirecting focus from his unethical campaign activities to again, successfully, wasting tax payer dollars debating an issue that is entirely none of the government's business. If the government had stepped in when I had to make a decision about my father's life and future I would be furious. It is hard enough. I'm sorry, but the Republican party is completely out of control and its tragic that the Democrats can't pull their heads out of their asses long enough to do something about it.

Movie that will make you angry at US foreign policy priorities and the media. Sometimes In April, currently on HBO. Over a million people died within a six month period in Rwanda in 1994 and nobody cared. This was genocide of the grandest scale. You know what I remember being on the news in Spring of 94. Kurt Cobain's suicide.

Those are my political statements for the next few months.

A good day to spin

2005-03-02T07:35:00.000-07:00

Of course, I don't know how. But what's to stop me from learning when Lilly is the BEST secret pal EVER. Seriously, this blows me away...

She didn't just stop there...

Yeah, I'm speechless. A drop spindle AND 4 oz of red merino that is so incredibly beautiful I'm afraid of screwing it up. She's so thoughtful, she even included instructions. I almost cried and Mike thinks I'm a little crazy. Thankfully, he has no idea that this will most likely turn into a new obsession. Lilly, you have made my entire year and I am so excited to get started, I can't wait! Thank you, thank you thank you!

Um, Becky....help please :-)

There was another package waiting for me! Two in one day, whatever did I do to deserve that?
The very talented Renee sent me this. Have you ever had the carmel kisses? YUM! I include the tre cute notecards that Becca sent me. (BTW, I love nutmeg!)

The little cuties down in the corner are these. I know still a little fuzzy, but they are the cutest little charms.

Now I'm on sensory overload! I should do work, but I think I'll learn to spin instead.

Oh and the show last night was fun. The actors were decent and I think I was the youngest one in the joint! It started at eight, not six...I'm not THAT old.

Yeah, yeah yeah

2005-03-01T15:53:00.000-07:00

So I'm a blog slacker. In my defense, I had a very traumatic weekend. Of course, nothing that a few cranberry flavored vodka tonics and a few more glasses of wine couldn't cure.

Actually, its not so bad. I mean I woke up on Sunday and the world hadn't ended, I woke up on Monday and I still had to come to work, so I guess Oh Blah De, Oh Blah Da, right?

All the birthday wishes were very lovely. Thank you so much everyone! I received a very cute ROAK from Becca, I love the card and the notepads. A 'just because' package from super awesome Lily with some yummy tea and dark Dove chocolates. There was no birthday song on the package, so I have a sneaking suspicion that the crazy girl has more surpises up her sleeve.

I know, I know...no pictures. But just mentally picture 4 skeins of fabulous Lorna's Laces sock yarn, two skeins of super yummy KPPPM and another four skeins of luscious microfiber, that I can't remember the name of at the moment. These things were the result of my shopping spree to Jessica's on Sat. The woman is amazing...she knew my name, the yarn I used for my last project and even that I didn't like the yarn I used for my last project. Thankfully she made no mention of the swift incident.

All out of time here....my grandparents are taking Mike and I to Guys and Dolls and the Broadway Palms Dinner Theater. I've never been to dinner theater, so I'm excited. I just hope I can stay awake through the whole thing, the show doesn't start till six.

Parley...I have another great recipe on the way, just for you!

WWWHHHEEEEEE

2005-02-24T15:15:00.000-07:00

This morning, a lovely coworker of mine (she would definitely not qualify as a jackass) asks me. "What yarn store do you go to?" Always happy to talk about yarn I tell her about fiber factory and how nothing in there is pushing my buttons lately. I tell her that I will not enter the Az Knitting and Needle, because they are not so nice and then I tell her about the one in BFE, aka Jessica's. How much I love it, how neat the owner is and of course, how its a little pricey, but it is in North Scotsdale, Jessica is no dummy. And how I never go because its, well in BFE and well, I'm poor.

She hands me a birthday card this afternoon, I open. A Jessica's gift card WHHEEEEEE. $30 for the 30 year old, she's so sweet. She drove ALL the way up there on her lunch, just to buy it. She must be psychic, because I didn't tell her how desperate I am for something yummy right now.

Convenience drugs

2005-02-24T13:56:00.000-07:00

I still officially suck at crochet. This *&@* hat has gone from too small for tinkerbell to so huge it would only fit Shaq's huge noggin. Too bad it's purple, or I would send it to him. Teehee. Ok, so Mike is probably the only person in the world that would appreciate the Laker humor. In all seriousness, I need a new project! One that is fabulous and exciting and that I can't put down. I think I need to order knitpicks yarn and start the clap.

I am going to scratch my eyeballs out of my head. Why? Because my insurance claims that the eye drops I need to make them stop itching is a convenience drug. As such, it costs $40 per oz. I refuse to give them that much money. So, If scratch them out of their sockets, will my insurance claim that it was a convenient trip to the emergency room. I should bite the bullet and buy it, but its such a racket it pisses me off.

What is this "cooking meat" bit? asks Suz. You may eat it raw if you like. Just don't send me the bills for the convenience drugs they give you to rid your body of e-coli. However, I know that you are vegan, so if my talk of meat offends you, I am sorry, it is not meant to. :-). Please feel free to subsitute tofurkey sausage (um...do they even make such a thing) for chicken. Once, one of my favorite people in the world, almost a surrogate dad after mine passed away, and a middle east genius, once told me that the smell of rosemary is offense in some cultures. This truly makes me sad, because rosemary is my favorite herb, with basil (I am not sure if basil is offensive or not) running a close second. If I ever talk about rosemary and you are from one of those places, please accept my apology in advance. Yes, you all may roll your eyes now. tee hee.

Lilly is a silly, silly girl who believes she is a super loser because in her exitement to mail my next, what I'm sure will be a fabuloso, surpise, she inadvertenly forgot to put in the card. Sweetie, there are many losers in this world and you are not one of them. She wrote a birthday song on the outside. She is so cute and almost, but not quite, makes me excited for the Day of Doom. Ah yes, tomorrow is my last official day of youth. Although, Mike swears that the 30's don't officially start until 31. He claims that like the millenium didn't officially begin until 2001, your 30's don't officially begin until you are 31. I like this story, but then I remembered when I was 20. I was convinced that I was no longer a teenager. I was not so smart back then.

If you have ever just looked at your co-works and shook your head, La's latest installment is an absolute must read. Keep in mind that the knottygirls are not for the easily offended or the faint at heart, they are for those that like to laugh their ass off.

And now for today's real post

2005-02-23T09:57:00.000-07:00

Got a little carried away, and not going to apologize for it.

I have been crocheting like a maniac! I crocheted and frogged the top of a hat 13,654,980 (to be exact) times. I think I finally got it to a point where I like it, now I just have to figure out how to change colors. No pictures because using my camera is a complete pain in the ass.

Lily, you have no idea how much I appreciate you. The cards you send me totally brighten my day and make me feel special. You make me smile.

The incredibly funny Elisa told me about a great chocolate chai tea at Trader Joes, I think I will be checking that out very soon.

Parley has accused me of being an infrequent blogger. Yes, Parley I suppose I have been. But damnit, there is so much pressure to be all entertaining and such! So, since you like food, this is for you.

Baked pasta with cheese and chicken saugsage
1 package of chicken or turkey italian sausage, or regular if you have an aversion to poultry - remove casings if in links
1 onion
1 box of penne pasta
1 15 0z package of ricotta cheese
2 cups mozarella
1/2 cup parmesan
1 28 oz can chopped tomatoes, drained but reserve tomato juice
basil, oregano, red pepper flakes - to taste of course

Cook pasta until almost done - maybe eight minutes. It will finish cooking in the oven so don't cook to al dente.

brown sausage breaking up into bite sized pieces, add onion, when almost done add drained tomatoes to heat. Sprinke with a little salt and pepper, oregano and basil while cooking.

In casserole dish, or whatever baking dish you have, mix together cheeses, meat, herbs and pepper flakes a little more salt and pepper, pasta and reserved tomato juice.

Bake in a 350 degree oven until bubbly and the tops of the pasta are browned.

2005-02-23T08:10:00.000-07:00

I don't get it. Perhaps I am too naive, dumb or insensitive to understand, I suppose this is possible. A few weeks ago, someone said to me that people are defined by thier actions. Bad people do bad things and good people do good things. I cannot believe this. This is too black and white, too cut and dried for me. People are much more complicated than this. We have all done things we are not proud of, and we have all made mistakes, this doesn't make us bad people. Maybe, I am too much of a shades of grey type of gal. This is partly why I didn't go to law school.

This, of course, only has a little to do with what I want to say. When Harvard President Summers commented about women in the sciences, people went berserk. Offensive or not, when Jon Stewart jokes about it, it is still funny. The war, it is not an inherently funny subject. But there is a reason George Stephanopoulos includes a bit called the Sunday Funnies. Having an absolute moron as our president, isn't funny, but it sure does make for some great jokes. Racism, sexism discrimination, stereotyping, profiling and any other ism, or ing....none of these things are funny. Nonetheless, comics make thier livelihoods making us laugh about these very things. There is a reason that we love Richard Pryor, (young) Eddie Murphy, Dave Chappel, the 'Blue Collar' comics that make jokes about hicks, even Andrew Dice Clay still has a following. Some people argue that this perpetuates the state of things...I say LOOSEN UP people. For the love of anything at all....not everything is said with the intent to be offensive.

These are knitting blogs. We bond over our shared love of yarn and needles. Sometimes we talk about our day, sometimes we vent, sometimes we say something because we think it is cute or funny. Yesterday, somebody wrote (now, of course I can't remember who it was) about her frustration with undgrads. She made a comment about how completely idiotic they can be. She was VENTING about her job, not trying to offend her undergraduate readers- and it really was quite funny.

Again, maybe I am too naive, dumb or insensitive to understand. Maybe I have just seen so much in my life that nothing offends me anymore. In any case, the ability to laugh at ourselves is bliss.

What's this....

2005-02-18T14:47:00.000-07:00

The top of a crochet hat, or maybe a coaster. Haven't decided. That's what it is. Am I doing it right? I have no idea. Do I care? Only a little. I figured out how to single crochet, double crochet, half double crochet, slip and join a chain to crochet in the round. (this took a little while). All in one evening. I'm increasing, just don't know if I'm increasing the 'right' way. I may need Pam's help this weekend! Hee Hee.

and what's this....
A not so flattering picture of a package full of valentine's cheer from my super cute secret pal. How did you know that I LOVE Bazooka and that I haven't had them since I was a kid...you can see I've already been in them. The soap smells wonderful, I refrained from opening it until I could take a pic and I am enjoying a very lovely cup of hot chai tea as we speak. Oh, and your poem....CUTE. It made me laugh. THANKS LILY!

Happy Friday and Happy three day weekend!

Right minded

2005-02-17T10:24:00.000-07:00

I've decided that my brain functions differently, certainly not better or worse, just different. I am able to follow a written pattern, but they frustrate the hell out of me. I like charts better. I think this comes from my mom. The women can create anything- except a decent meal (that I get from my dad.) She uses patterns but mostly just for the picture because she NEVER follows them and her work is amazing. She taught herself to sew, quilt, crossstich, embroider, needlepoint, crochet and knit and she does it all ass backwards. But it doesn't matter, it works for her. She could never teach me, because she just does it, it makes sense to her, but not anyone else. From now on I'm going to do things in this unconventional way. Why? Because I've messed up my ribby panels only 3,000 times trying to follow the pattern literally. This does not work for me. I think when it comes to the creative parts of my life I need to let my right brain do its thing, rather than trying to be analytical and logical-which I think tends to be a downfall of mine. I mean I am left handed and my right brain functions pretty well...I should let it.

Hence....tonight I crochet damnit. I am going to make a flower and no left brain antics will stop me. Then, this weekend I am going to take my mom's older sewing maching AND serger because she never uses the $1000 machine and I'm going to make myself a needle roll.

There have been no pictures, because there is nothing to show. Also, I have to go on a yarn diet, because I have to save my pennies for the knitting cruise in Sept. Well...maybe just a few things from knitpicks.....

Happy knitting - do things your way and don't let anybody tell you its wrong!

Happy as a (twisted?) purl

2005-02-14T10:56:00.000-07:00

Yup, twisting your purls is the way to go. The other night at Coffee Plantation we were discussing my stockinette. It, in fact, sucks. My tension is funky and the rows are completely uneven. I showed Brooke and Michelle an example.
Brooke: 'You must purl way different than you knit'
Me: huh...
Brooke: 'Do you move your index finger'
Me: Well, yeah, how else would I purl;
(the three knitters present contintental for those that may be confused at this point)
Brooke: 'There is another way'
Michelle: 'Ooh yeeeaaah! it was in an issue of Interweave, you wrap the yarn different'

The next 15 minutes were spent trying to remember how to purl without moving your index finger. I spent the next week trying to figure out what the hell they were talking about as I continue to struggle with stockinette and cursing my ribbi.

Then I remembered modeknit.com. Hmmm...combined knitting. I wonder if this is what they were talking about. I looked, pulled out my knitting and tried. Purling felt comfy. Turned my work and proceeded to knit. Um, why are all my stitches twisted...this can't be right. So I click 'how to make a knit stitch.' Mind you, at this point I feel like a total moron. But wait....she's knitting into the back of the stitch. Proceeded again, with caution, and knit a few stitches. Hmmm..this looks really good. So, I google combined knitting, just to make sure. What do you know. The purl's are suppoooosed to be twisted and when you ktbl, it untwists them. I did a couple of rows and WOW, the difference is amazing. I don't think it will effect my gauge because I had been purling so tight that I could barely move the sitches up the addis, in an attempt to make my rows more even. But if it does, oh well. I've screwed this sweater up so many times, at this point it doesn't make a difference.

Valentine's Weekend?!?
Mike usually craps out on Valentine's Day and I don't even want to think about last year. Something about it being a trite hallmark holiday, I think many men use some similar excuse. Guess what, women don't care when, who, why or how, we want to be showered with affection.
Not this year. It started on Friday with freshly picked pink roses, chocolates and a hand grater. Hand grater kinda sounds like a wierd gift, but in this case it was so much more the thought. I had mentioned, for no particular reason, that a lemon zester was one of the few tools I don't own. I think this comment came while watching Tyler Florence zest a lemon. Mike, not knowing a lemon zester from a cheese grater, went out to find the right tool AND bought a KitchenAid, which he doesn't know from Sunbeam. This made me smile. He rented the Notebook and displayed it all lovely on the kitchen table. Oh and I walked into an apartment that was clean from top to bottom. Saturday was dinner at my favorite Thai restaurant and Sunday..shopping, he bought me pants.

Finally some knitting

2005-02-09T18:28:00.000-07:00

Sort of. I'm very bored with my current projects. I think I may be succumbing to the clap. (I'd love to see how surprised people searching for vd are when the hit knitting blogs) Now that I've felt knitpicks yarn, I think I may go with it. Still working on Ribby panels. ho hum.

Had a great time with Brooke and Michelle last night. I was so happy to see them both and excited that Michelle could make, she's great and needs a blog. Our little group has gotten so big, its hard to keep up with everyone! Yes, I did hold Jack. He sat happily on my lap and watched the TV, but don't let Brooke fool you. I properly sanitized my hands before picking him up. Although, I do wonder what she slips him to make so happy all the time. I know she says he cries, but I don't think I believe her.

I have the bestest SP in the whole wide world. Monday mornings are crappy. Then you open your email and what is waiting for you. Not work! A gift certificate for Elann.com. Lilly is cool.

My co-worker is gone. Yes, that means double the amount of work for me. Who knows when we'll replace her, I have a state job remember. Things don't happen quickly. So, I apologize in advance if my posts are a little discombobulated.

90 Minute Meals

2005-02-09T14:49:00.002-07:00

The other day I said something about being in the kitchen for an 1 1/2 hours. Mike was teasing me about how I should have a show called 90 Minute Meals. You would think I would have cooked up something spectacularly gourmetish in that amount of time. Alas, it was simply fettucine with creamy primavera sauce and chicken. What took so long was chopping all the veggies, I have the worst knives and the smallest stove known to man There is no actual recipe, but since people are wondering here's what I did.

veggies
a couple brocolli crowns - chopped into bite size pieces
a couple bell pepppers (whatever color you like, I prefer red and yellow) - julienned
a couple carrots - julienned
a couple tomatoes seeded, skinned and chopped
one sweet or red onion- roughly chopped
container sliced mushooms
a couple zuchinni - chopped
OR, you can skip the whole chopping process and buy whatever kind of veggies you like right out of the produce section already chopped up

sauce
1 15 oz container part skim ricotta cheese
1 or two cans evaporated skim milk - you can use regular milk, half and half, heavy cream, whatever you want. I usually go the low fat route and evap skim milk makes things creamier than regular skim milk and it cooks better.
one cup parmesan cheese

a few boneless skinless chicken breasts - cut into chunks or slices
one bottle marinade - whatever you like. You can use wishbone. You can use balsamic vinegar and olive oil with some garlic and basil, salt and peper thrown in. I used 30 Minute Marinade, Herb and Garlic

dried basil and oregano
kosher salt fresh pepper - or just use what you got
I like spice so I put in some crushed red pepper or a few splashes of chili sauce, I think it was Trappey's
Olive oil
package of pasta, whatever you have. Just don't use angel hair, its to thin and won't hold the sauce.

put the chicken breasts in a big ziploc bad and cover them with the marinade. Leave for as long as you can, but at least 30 minutes.

heat oil, a couple tablespoons and saute veggies until tender crisp, throw in tomatoes at the end so they don't cook down all the way.

stir together milk and ricotta until nice and blended. In a small pot bring milk and ricotta to a boil stirring constantly.
Add parmesan basil, oregano, salt and pepper and red pepper. I season to taste and always add more than any recipe calls for, so use your judgement. The trick with dried herbs is to rub them in the palm of your hand...it releases the oils. Stir until thick and bubbly. Set aside.

Cook pasta according to directions

Saute chicken in a little oil until nice and golden brown.

Mix all parts together and wala....

If you have a normal size kitchen, it shouldn't take 90 minutes.

CRAZY

2005-02-08T15:47:00.000-07:00

Yep, that's me today. My co-worker's last day, she gets to go be a stay at home mom, but more about that later. Meeting Brooke at 5:30 at Coffee Plantation on Mill if anyone wants to join!

Tomorrow--its all about soup and maybe knitting.

Sucked in

2005-02-07T10:23:00.000-07:00

Damnit Pam, why?!?

1. What is the total amount of music files on your computer? 805 mb, on my current laptop. Other work computer, probably four time that and on the home Itunes, I have no idea. If I include the shared music on Itunes, there are years and years of music thanks to the IT guys.

2. What was the last CD you bought? Um, I think it was Incubus, Megolomaniac. Right before the election. It seemed appropriate. Generally, I don't buy CDs, just singles from Itunes. So, if you count that it would be Dresden Dolls, Coin-Operated Boy.

3. What was the last song you listened to before reading this message? Ray Charles. Lets Go Get Stoned, currently Unchain My Heart-- courtesy of the aforementioned IT guys.

4. List 5 songs that you often listen to or that mean a lot to you. Crap...I don't have to say why do I? And just for the record, I'm horrible with band names. In no particular order, the ones that mean something.....

Got You Where I Want You - The Flys
Thing Called Love - Queen
Teen Spirit - Nirvana
Brown Eyed Girl - Van Morrison
I Miss You - Blink 182
Some Where Over the Rainbow - and anything else Judy Garland has ever done
A Hard Day's Night - The Beatles
Everybody Needs Somebody - The Blues Brothers (ode to my dad)
Sex and Candy - Marcy Playground
Dream on - Aerosmith
Sound of Music - Sound of Music (another ode to my dad - who used to wake us up in the morning by bellowing...The Hills are Alive....you get the point)
No Woman No Cry - Bob Marley

This list is not complete, I know I'm forgetting some and will remember as soon as I hit publish. Oh well.

5. Which two get tagged next and why?
Brooke because she hasn't made a list in a while
Illana because I'm interested to see what the hip college students listens to

Things that make me happy

2005-02-06T09:47:00.000-07:00

I'm so easy to please its almost sickening.

I got my cute stitchmarkers from Amyville. I watched Tyler Florence yesterday morning, shopped for my SP and then watched the Matrix trilogy yesterday, back to back (exciting, I know, how disapointing is that trilogy). I received an email from Lily, my awesome SP, who lives in 'The City', Parley replies to a comment I left him, I cooked a meal that took me an hour and a half and you'd think I hit the freakin' lottery. When the Harlot replied to a comment I left her I thought I'd died, I mean that women gets a gazillion comments a day! If Mike ever reads my blog, I'll hit the floor. I must be a geek who must live a sad life, because the small silly things really make my day.

Today, I'm joining Jen in the celebration of International Pajama Day. Football is just an excuse for repressed grown men to grope other men's asses. This is fine, I have no problem with men touching other men's asses, but call it what is and don't pay them millions of dollars for it. So today, I stay in pajamas, drink coffee, then wine and knit. This will make me happy.

Oh, and if anybody needs a reason why a Condi nod would be very, very bad in '08, just let me know. I'll be very happy to give you a thousand, very sound ones. Which is tragic because a women in office and an African-American women president at that is one big thing that would make me happy.

Something is in the air

2005-02-04T11:01:00.000-07:00

and I'm calling it the sleepies. Wendy has it too and has decided that it is a sympton of the desire to hybernate. Other knitbloggers have it as well. Its when you just want to sleep, sleep and sleep again. Although, with me its more of the inability to get my arse out of bed in the morning. I'm not sure what that is all about, but all week long I have arrived at work in the nick of time, hair dripping and makeupless. Then by three I'm ready to hit the sack!

In other news...

and although you can't really see it in this picture, this
really peeves me. You can see where I divided for the front and back. The body stitches are so nice and tight. And then bam....its like I went up a needle size. When in reality, I went down a needle size AND switched from addi turbos to bamboo, because it helps me knit tighter. Err Argh. I hate tension.

TGIF!

You are a

2005-02-03T16:15:00.000-07:00

a fair and beautiful maven with eternal youth! And I'm the secret pal so everything I say is true, dammit!

OK, I'm not gonna argue :-)

I finished the back of the chikami and am determined to go home and finish the front. I think it might even fit!!! I'll post a pic tomorrow.

Brooke, I hope you get some sleep. But don't expect Jack to be on a normal schedule anytime soon, so don't beat yourself up for it. Sorry to burst any bubbles, but babies don't know 10 pm from 10 am. Oh and who cares what anybody says about blogging about Jack, how else would I know how he's doing and how cute he's getting!

Ok, here are my thought on the Three Day walk. It makes me grumpy that a charity demands that you raise a certain amount of money to walk and if you don't raise that amount they demand that you pay the rest, or you can't participate. I mean what if I only raise $1000? I can't afford to pay the other $1200. So I would opt not to walk. This means that the beneficiaries are out $1000, or would they take the money that I've raised, say thanks for playing, but now go away. Don't get me wrong, breast cancer research is important...but JEEZ, its charity. I think they turn more people off with this policy than recruit. So, I probably won't do it. I mean seriously, I was grumpy about the $75 they were going to make me pay to run the 1/2 rock n' roll. I pay enough money to torture myself with cycling and yoga.

That being said....
I have more questions to answer.

1. What are your rules/ideas/thoughts on novelty yarn?
Do you hate ladder yarns like Eros? Do you not really dig long eyelashes?
Yarn rules, huh? Are there any. I like novelty yarns. I've just never used them, except eyelash as trim. Not really sure why. I always drool over them in my LYS.

2. Coffee, hot chocolate, or neither? Coffee, coffee and more coffee....I'm an addict. Tea is good too.

3. Let's talk reds. Do you prefer a good, solid red or a nice rich slightly varigated redish thing? (For example, would you prefer the solid red Manos or the red-darker red-slight pink varigated one?) Or is it all the same wonderful color to you? Ooohhh, red....varigated Manos red.....oooohhh. But I love all shades of red. Anything red really, red wine, red food (betacarotene ;-), red is good until it starts looking purpely.

4. Are you a paper journal/decorated notebook kinda gal? Hmmm....I like journals and notebooks. I've never made myself a decorated notebook, but I have journaled. Now that you mention it, I do like the knitting journals that I've seen.

Thanks Lily!

Yeah, tomorrow is Friday!

Was I supposed to knit last night,

2005-02-02T13:37:00.000-07:00

because I managed one, one whole row of a brand new Ribby panel. Although, I did manage to help Kim figure out that her gauge is almost an inch off for the sweater she's working on. I don't swatch, or even check my own gauge...who am I to be telling other people theirs is off! and I wonder why I can't knit a sweater.

Changing Hands, as always was a good time EXCEPT.....where was Shannon, Becky , Brooke and Alison? Ok, Al you're off the hook, you were teaching. but hmmmm...lets see, Brooke couldn't do two knitting meetups in one day, okay I buy that but I NEVER want to hear about driving in the rain again. Shannon and Becky had their own little meeting out in Avondale or somewhere that might as well be California! hmph. That's okay, Pam, Sam and I had a lovely time eating at Wildflower and the food was yummy. So there!

I'm not really sure who all the people were! Seriously where did they all come from? There was a blast from my not so distant past. Eva, who is a long time knitter, and I had a MPA class together! This was back in the day when I was a graduate student, maybe I should think about getting back to that.

Lily, you're the best! I'm dying to know who you are. Without you, I would have completely forgotten about Groundhog's day...which coincidently is also my nieces actual birthday, I should probably call.

no YOU rock!

Just ordered another gift for my pal!

Seriously

2005-01-31T15:28:00.000-07:00

13 vs.30

2005-01-31T14:43:00.000-07:00

I've been brooding over turning 30. Yep, 26 days and counting until the big 3 0 and I'm really not looking forward to it. But I spent sometime with my lil sis this weekend (technically she's 14. I have a 12 year old brother too) and I'm pretty sure my perspective has changed. So as not to invade her privacy I won't go into detail. I will say that all the things we went through are still there, only its multiplied tenfold. Disease being a major factor, because those lovely abstinence only programs are working wonders. Suicide attempts seem to reign supreme as well. (Heathers, anyone, damn I loved that movie) I think I grew up to fast, but man, she's seen more 'bad' in her life than I ever did at that age. I wouldn't go back to highschool, not even if it meant I don't have to turn 30. Although I wouldn't mind being 5 again :-)

On the knitting front...

There it is....two right armholes. While this isn't as bad as The Harlots two beautiful right handed lativian mittens (for that I would crawl in the cave and drink large quantities of wine) it is enough to make me sad. Especially when I ripped it out yesterday and proceeded to do it again. Once is bad, but TWICE....TWICE. Why knitting gods, why, why?

But I do have my SP4 pal! She seems way stressed out with school, and I'm about to send my first surpise....oh, this is gonna be fun!

Pam, Shannon, there are now three ME geeks...I know there are more out there. 'cmon admit it, you know you want to.

'Lily'

2005-01-30T09:50:00.000-07:00

is my Secret Pal and she's already totally brightened my day with her awesome personality. So Lily...this is for you!

1. Are you a yarn snob (do you prefer high- a nd/natural fibers)? Do you avoid Red Heart and Lion Brand? Or is it all the same to you? Um....no, I mean yes, I mean no. Well, kinda. I have no Red Heart in my stash, but I do have some Lion Brand. As long as if feels good to work with I don't care what it is.

2. Do you spin? Crochet? I'm crochet deficient. I tried to teach myself to crochet before I taught myself how to knit and I'm completely useless with a crochet hook, unless I'm picking up stitches or fixing a dropped stitch. I don't spin....yet.

3. Do you have any allergies? (smoke, pets, fibers, perfume, etc.) I live in AZ, the land of wierd allergies. I have no idea what I am allergic to, but absolutely nothing fiber, food or scent related!

4. How long have you been knitting? One year...almost to the day. It saved my sanity.

5. Do you have an Amazon or other online wish list? Yup...but I don't think its public, I'll have to check it out.

6. What's your favorite scent? (for candles, bath products etc.) hmmm,,,,I'm so not picky in the scent department. I like vanilla, jasmine, clean scents. Pretty much like them all..but much to my dismay I can't take bubble baths because my water heater isn't big enough to fill my tub *sigh*

7. Do you have a sweet tooth? YES...dark chocolate, yum. Although, I suppose I wouldn't refuse a fruit cake...hee hee.

8. What other crafts or Do-It-Yourself things do you like to do? I used to cross stitch, but knitting steals all my free time.
Although, I love to cook and was briefly enrolled in Scottsdale Culinary Institute, until I realized I didn't want to take out another $30,000 student loan!

9. What kind of music do you like? Can your computer/stereo play MP3s? (if your buddy wants to make you a CD) I can play MP3s. Everything except for hip hop and country. I own everything from Simon and Garfunkel to Tool.

10. What's your favorite color? Or--do you have a color family/season/palette you prefer? Red, red and more red....I even own a red couch and I painted a yellow accent wall.

11. What is your family situation? Do you have any pets? Two very fat lazy cats. One named Gracie and the other Y..yes the letter Y, it wasn't me it was the DB.

12. What are your life dreams? (really stretching it here, I know) To be independently weathly HA! Not really, just to live a peaceful and fulfilling life (whatever that means) and pay off my student loans!

13. What is/are your favorite yarn/s to knit with? Soft merinos, anything natural and did I mention soft.

14. What fibers do you absolutely *not* like? hard acrylics

15. What is/are your current knitting obsession/s? I am currently trying very hard to make something I can wear. Its not working out very well.

16. What is/are your favorite item/s to knit? Um, anything cabled....although I really don't have a favorite. I like hats, and really want to get this sweater thing down.

17. What are you knitting right now? The Chikami from Chiknits and the Ribbi is still on needles and I still have a sock to finish.

18. What do you think about ponchos? Some are nice, some have gotten way out of control. Its a fad and it will pass, I actually like wraps better.

19. Do you prefer straight or circular needles? CIRCS....I haven't knit on straight needles in a long time.

20. Bamboo, aluminum, plastic? Oh, my needles stash is out of control! I love, love, love needles. And currently have an Addi obsession, but bamboo's have their place when working with slippery yarns.

21. Are you a sock knitter? I've knit one sock and have yet to finish the match. But I love socks and want to make more....I dream about knitting a pair with Lorna's Laces! :-)

22. How did you learn to knit? I taught myself, my mom is a very crafty chick who crochet's, sews, cross stitches, embroiders and makes the most beautiful hand quilted quilts ever. She tried to teach me to crochet when I was little, but I'm left handed and I never caught on. So, a year ago, when I needed something to keep me busy I picked up needles and haven't put them down.

23. How old is your oldest UFO? Tank Girl from SnB, I started it last summer and, just never finished it.

24. What is your favorite animated character or a favorite animal/bird? I don't, I guess I don't really have one...but I was tinkerbell one halloween.

25. What is your favorite holiday? I think 4th of July, because we always spend it with relatives in Huntington Beach and its so nice and relaxing. I love the beach, but I hate getting in the water, I grew up with 80 degree pool water and the ocean is soooo cold. But I do love Christmas time, minus all the craziness and stress.

26. Is there anything that you collect? I'm not a collector, well except for kitchen appliances, knitting supplies and books.

Wow! That was kinda hard and who knows if its even helpful! I can't even imagine trying to a 100 things about me!

No it wasn't the rain

2005-01-28T07:39:00.000-07:00

I either have a cold or really bad allergies I can't tell which. Burning eyes and nose and sinus congestion. Just another great thing about living in Arizona, you never know what it is. Although secretely I'm blaming it on one of the sniffling kids from Saturday (just kidding Al) So, yesterday I took the day off, rented some chick flicks (13 going on 30 and The Little Black Book) and sat on my couch and knit up a storm. Then went to bed by seven and slept for almost 12 hours. I did manage to finish the body of the Chikami...so know I'm dividing for the armholes, and yes, I think I managed to mess up AGAIN. Yes, I've laid it on a big pile of work on my desk.

It feels like forever since I've met up with my pals! It looks like everyone had a great time at Mama Java's Wed night night, and I hate that I missed the knit in at Jessica's. Oh how I wish there was a yarn shop in Tempe, and of course I can't go to Lux, damn work. I don't think I will ever get to go to Lux. I will definitely be at Changing Hands. Anybody want to meet up early and grab a bite at Wildflower?

Tomorrow is my nieces 7th birthday party. I've been joking that you would think it her sweet 16 or something with the party my DS is throwing her. She's getting a bouncy castle (like the one Al rented) a snow cone machine AND a spin art machine. This is some kind of contraption that throws paint around. It should be great fun. In all actuality, my sis is really excited because they just moved from a small two bedroom condo into a big house, so its the first real birthday party Malora has ever had.

Thanks for the comments on the bag! I actually had someone ask me if I sell them!

Oh and Shannon...yes we must get together for some serious Buffy discussions.

Does anyone else know who their Secret Pal is yet? I haven't received anything!

A FO, just for me!

2005-01-26T09:35:00.000-07:00

After a year of knitting for others, I finally have my very own Booga!
prefelted

felted

After three trips through the washer I'm happy with the size. I'm also happy with the colors, but not so much with the straps. Mango Moon Woolie doesn't make a very good Icord, so I think I'll redo it with some sturdier wool.

Ribbi is in the UFO pile for now, I've been working on Chikami. My camera is REALLY bad, it is actually green, not blue. But here's a pic anyway.

I'm trying to destash a little, so I used some Berroco cottontwist that has been hanging out for a while. I like how its turning out, but I know its going to be too small, unless I drop that 15 pounds that needs to come off. I'm also not sure if I like the feel of the rayon blend, its not scratchy, just a little hard.

I know I promised pics of the messed up Ribbi....just can't bring myself to look at it quite yet.
I also need to get on that SP4 questionnaire....I'll do that soon too.

Happy Knitting

um....warm

2005-01-24T15:38:00.000-07:00

So, do ALL knit bloggers live where the temperatures are below freezing. Perusing through the blog world today, I think so. I should've taken a picture of the people laying out by the pool yesterday. Gotta love Arizona, where this is the only time you can go outside without your skin burning off your face. Of course, we don't have to shovel snow.

I needed something seriously mindless, so I started a Chikami. I PROMISE to post pics tomorrow. But now, gotta go to Yoga.

Er Argh

2005-01-20T16:06:00.001-07:00

hee hee....Buffy and Angel were and will always be my favorite guilty pleasure, and if you know Er Argh, then you know a littl about Buffyverse as well. Heaven, for me would be watching the all seven and five season DVD's and knitting with no interruptions.

Anyway, er argh because I have a case of Alisonitis....my new phrase for being too busy to knit. The first week of the semester is always a little nuts, but MAN.....I worked almost 12 hours yesterday and missed Mama Java's. I was not a happy camper. Apparently, I wasn't the only one either. Yesterday just must've been a bad SNB meet up karma day.

Ok, so I'm gonna fess up now. I finished the second panel of ribby cardi and *deep breath* the armhole decreases are on the WRONG side. Go ahead finish laughing.

It is pretty funny actually....I mean, why didn't I notice it was backwards. Er Argh. I'll post a pic, just so everyone can see what a dumbass I can be. I need to knit something in the round, on my addi turbos and just veg with it. I also need to come up with some other projects...I mean I HAD to put ribbi down, b/c it just makes me mad. hmmmm....I think I'm off to Fiber Factory.

See

2005-01-13T15:31:00.000-07:00

today is a better day.

I checked my email to find a great card from an RAOK pal, Suz. Thanks Suz!

Mike got published! Check it out http://www.newyinzer.com/. It's not the New Yorker...but he's out there and he didn't have to do it himself. Oh, if I forgot to mention it....he writes. His best genre is short stories (imho). And yes, he totally has that dramatic, oh poor me, life is suffering, blah blah, blah attitude. (not to offend any writers or artists...but seriously) It's getting better, thanks to a BIG dose of reality and several therapy sessions.

All of my work is off my desk, oh wait I spoke too soon. Well, that's ok.

I spent some quality time with Al, Melanie and Pam last night (Melanie, I didn't know you had a blog...for shame!) - although I couldn't stay past 9pm. Does that officially make me old?

Randy Rhoades totally yelled at people on the phone today, well she usually does everyday, but today I found it particulary entertaining! (warning, if you don't know who she is - she's very liberal)

I have nothing to do tonight but knit and I'm about to walk out the door!

Happy knitting everyone!

bowl of cherries

2005-01-12T14:59:00.000-07:00

sometimes they're sweet sometimes they're sour...
Mike's mom lost her job. Long story--here's recap. She worked for the same man for 13 years. She started as his only employee and now he owns a million dollar chiropractic clinic. Mike's mom just made too much money. He doesn't have more than 20 employees so he is exempt from all the federal laws agains unlawful termination. Basically he wanted cheaper labor. However, Mike's sister who also worked for said clinic got herself fired b/c she was too distraught to work in a place where her mom was fired. Its gets better....Mike's sister is roughly two months pregnant, and her husband the carpenter doesn't have steady income....but is totally pissed off at her for quitting.

Mike no longer works with the autistic girl and is in the process of looking for another client. I tutored the older sister and I no longer tutor her. All because the girls' mother is a beligerant drunk who like to pick fights. It makes me very sad.

The BEST part is, all this happened the weekend (Fri - Tues really) they were all staying with me in my one bedroom, one bathroom apartment. Good times, good times.

Its three days before classes start and department chairs and finally decided its time to get their act together. Its not just students that are procrastinators, its academia in general. I guess its a good that I still have my job.

I've had no time to knit. I'm dying to buy some Lorna Laces for a pair of pretty socks but I'm broke and I'm pretty sure I totally f#$ed the neck edging on my ribbi.

Thankfully, I'm meeting some SNB pals tonight. Screw the calorie counting, I'm having a pastry!

Tomorrow the cherries will be sweet.
Oh and have you checked out the Harlot's tally. Holy Crap! It makes me feel a little better about the world and totally amazed at the generosity of the knitting community.

No I haven't been abducted by aliens

2005-01-10T11:15:00.000-07:00

Just by family. So, this is just a quick note to say hi. Haven't done any knitting since Thursday. I now clearly understand that knitting is an addiction b/c I think I have the shakes and sweats LOL! The marathon went well. Shay ran it in 3:55 her personal best. She wanted to qualify for Boston, but the qual time is 3:40. I say, hell she finished and is still walking...sort of.

Missed everyone this weekend. Wish I could've made it to Pita Jungle yesterday.

Happy knitting

I'm officially a joiner

2005-01-05T08:58:00.000-07:00

and part of the ribby knit along. Hopefully it will help take the trauma out of my first real knitted garment. Speaking of which here is the left front panel of ribby.

I like the way it looks better than the back, maybe because its smaller.

And my booga bag in its huge prefelted form, although not as huge as Sandy's Oregon Tote...which she finished. YEAH Sandy.

I said I was going to work on the icord last night, but I didn't. Surprise eh...who goes to SNB to actually knit.

I did however teach a very nice lady how to knit English style. YEAH me. Its much slower and more cumbersome, but actually easier to teach, weird.

There were a ton of people last night, we are definitely outgrowing Changing Hands. The small room makes it hard to move around and talk to people. There were a few last night that I never even got a chance to say hi to. If anybody has any ideas for a good meeting location in the Tempe/Chandler area, we would love to hear them.

I had said that I could meet a couple people on Sunday. Actually my weekend has been taken hostage. DB's sister is coming in from Utah on Friday to run the Rock n' Roll on Sunday, she'll be here until Tuesday. His mom and other sister and her husband are coming down from Prescott on Friday as well. Its gonna be a grand ole' time. No knitting....or rugby (Kim) for me. :-(.

Ouch

2005-01-04T13:50:00.000-07:00

I haven't blogged since last year! heh, heh. Ok, that was bad. But its still been a few days.

You know how you get everything done at work before you leave for vacation to minimize the disaster that will ensue upon your return....it never works so why bother. I suppose it wasn't that bad, except the getting up at 6am part.

I finished the back of Ribby. I think I casted off too tight, I don't know. I 'm going to wait until I have the front panels done to decide if I want to redo it.

In the meantime I am working on this....my very own Booga bag!

the color looks really washed out in this picture. It pinks and reds....suprise huh. Yes, it matches my Ribbi and my mixer! LOL!

I only have a couple more rows left and then the icord, which I'm going to work on tonight at SNB. I'm really glad b/c while I love the colors, I HATE the yarn. Its Mango Moon Woolie and it is quite possibly the worse yarn I've ever knitted. It breaks really easy, its very scratchy, it has little twigs and things stuck to it and kind of like Kureyon wit different wieghts, but the transitions aren't as smooth. It better felt nice. Oh how I wish I had bought the $15 Manos.

Yeah Secret Pals4. Can't wait.
If you haven't read recently (although it would amaze me) Yarn Harlot is running a tally for donations for Doctors without Borders. Over $9000 so far!!! and somone's gonna win mittens! have you seen those mittens!

Two days down

2004-12-29T09:10:00.000-07:00

five more to go, before my week of freedom is over and I must make the best of it. Mama Java's was great yesterday. My SnB pals are the best! Getting to know all of you turned the crazy year I started into a great one. You all are a supportive, talented, wonderful group of girls!

Thanks to Sandy (Brooke's mom) for a wonderful lunch. I'm almost done with the back of Ribby and Today, I go to Jessica's to buy, buy, buy. Well, not really that much. Just enough for the French Market bag from Knitty. I'm thinking either Lorna's Laces worsted or Manos...hmmmm decisions.

I'll post a pic of the back of Ribby as soon as its finished. I'm starting to think that Ribby is not a good name for a knitted design...I have a feeling mine is going to go to the pond.

Oh the things I will make with this

2004-12-27T10:07:00.000-07:00

That's right, its a 325 watt, 5 qt retro red Artisan Kitchen Aid. The dream tool for cooks and something that I've fawned over for years. So, not knitting related, but pretty cool nonetheless.

I'm so glad everyone's knitted objects were a hit a Christmas. Its nice to hear that people appreciate the things we do for them. Mine were no different. Everyone loved their gifts, but the hit was the little felted booga bag I made my niece, she thought it was the greatest thing ever. Although, I'm not sure if it was the purse or the chocolate I put in it. LOL! My grandpa wore his scarf all day and my mom was amazed that her daughter could make something that intricate and beautiful.

Christmas was nice, a little crazy and I'm glad its over. I'm finally going to knit something for myself! It's been almost a year since I started knitted and I have nothing of my own....so here is the beginning of my very own Ribbi! Everybody else better get started! HA!

I can't wait to see everybody tomorrow, I think I'm going through withdrawals.

Happy knitting.

Doing the happy dance

2004-12-22T08:51:00.000-07:00

because I did it. They are finished, all of them! Now I did revise my list a little. I decided that I would rather everyone have one knitted item, then some people have two and other have none.
I finished the scarf and felted the fuzzy feet last night.

The peruvian wool felted wonderfully. I only put it through one cycle and poof...I had fuzzy feeet. I decided that if they are a little to big for her, she can just wash them again. Instructions courtesy of Becky's awesome knit knotes, which you see are already attached! I love them, they are so great.

I also decided to do a hat, instead of trying to finish the ankle socks. I gave up my beautiful Big Kureyon for it and I think it turned out really cute. This time I've used an upside down kleenex box to model it for. Notice the knit knote already attached.

I'm leaving for Prescott today. Wish me luck...I'll be back on Christmas day.

Happy holidays to you and yours.

Its so nice

2004-12-18T10:30:00.000-07:00

when you walk in your house and its totally clean and your laundry is done and you had nothing to do with it. I guess I will breakdown and buy him food to eat this weekend. But now, I have to watch Sara's secrets, becuase I am a foodnetwork junkie and work on my Grandpa's scarf. I'm halfway done with it. YEAH!

Good point Becky, good point.

due to a headache

2004-12-17T15:24:00.000-07:00

that made my head feel like my brains were going to blow of the back of it. I didn't go to our SNB last night. Sigh, now I have to wait until Jan for the next one. However, I do have a WHOLE week off after Christmas with nothing to do (wink wink).

I think the headaches are due to 9 hours straight of staring at a computer. I wonder of the next step in the evolutionary process will be people who are immune to head, neck and eye pain from computer staring. Will these people just out procreate the rest of us out to create a generation of super computer users with no work related annoying pains

Anyway, my mantra this weekend is...who cares about the house, who cares about food, who cares about dirty clothes...just knit, knit, knit. Hopefully come Monday mornng I will have a post full of pictures of FO's....even felted!

A half hour, then I get to leave. At least I have Randi Rhoades to keep me company and then off to Fiber Factory for needles! Because yes, I need more needles.

Happy weekend!

Cookies

2004-12-16T15:29:00.000-07:00

The cookie exchange was a hit, and the baked items were fabulous. Thank you Alison, for being the hostess with the mostess.
I made toffee bars -- not exactly toffee, more like a cookie. But still good. Here's the recipe.

1 cup packed brown sugar
1 cup butter or margarine, softened
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 egg yolk
2 cups all purpose flour
¼ teaspoon salt
4 oz milk chocolate broken into pieces
½ cup chopped nuts

Heat oven to 350°. Beat brown sugar, butter, vanilla and egg yolk in large bowl with electric mixer on medium speed, or mix with spoon. Stir in flour and salt. Press in ungreased rectangular pan. 13X19X2 inches. Bake 25 to 30 minutes or until very light brown (crust will be soft)

Immediately place milk chocolate pieces (I use chocolate chips) on baked crust. Let stand about 5 minutes or until softened; spread evenly. Sprinkle with nuts. Cool 30 minutes. Cut in 8 rows by 4 rows, while warm.
Yield – 32 bars

No pics today, I have nothing to show. I'm hoping to get started on my brother in law's tie tonight, but I need size 2's....yes, size 2's. What exactly is wrong with me that everything I knit is on very small needles. I must be a glutton. The FO just comes out so pretty on small needles. As much as I want to whip out 15's and some chunky yarn, it makes me feel like I'm cheating somehow. I seriously need to get over it, before my knuckles get all knarled from gripping toothpicks.

Pam - GET BETTER!!!!!
Alison - have a fun, relaxing and safe trip
Shannon - Thanks for telling me my sidebar was all screwy - is it better now?
Ilana - THANKS--you know why :-)!
Everyone else - hope to see you tonight and Happy knitting!

This hat is the one thing I managed to finish this weekend

2004-12-14T13:21:00.000-07:00

I used the chenille for SWTC, so scrumptious to work with and it gets soooo soft after its been washed. It would definitly pass Alison's cheek test. This is a really bad picture. I have it nicely draped over an upside down coffee mug, classy eh. Its cabled, but you can barely tell and the colors are much more vibrant.

I decided to change my cookie for the cookie exchange. I hope nobody will mind that I'm bringing toffee bars instead. I figure, that there can never be enough chocolate.

Work is BORING....nothing is happening, so I'm knitting. I just turned the heel on the other fuzzy foot, and getting ready to pick up stitches. So maybe I will get a few more Christmas presents done.

Yeah Al, for having the vision to create an AZ knitters/crocheter's ring. YOU ROCK and I think maybe you have ADHD....but that aside you still ROCK. If you are from AZ and you haven't joined yet....just do it
http://arizonaknitters.blogspot.com/

Ilana - Shannon, are your buttons showing up?!? Oh, and I added Alison's button too....I'm a little behind the curve.

Ughh

2004-12-11T11:09:00.000-07:00

So, I had no idea that my cute banner wasn't showing up! I put it on my web server at work and I must not have it linked up right. Its too bad b/c its totally cute. Oh well, worse things in life have happened and I have other things to worry about!

Happy weekend!

The Party

2004-12-10T15:35:00.000-07:00

was a huge success! We had a great time and Southwest Trading Company was great. It is really nice to have such a cool yarn distributor locally. I do believe we need to make our winter party a tradition! It was great to see everyone, it had felt like forever! Brooke looks fabulous...she doesn't even look stressed or tired, its amazing! Prince Jack is absolutely adorable and I don't think anybody touched his hands. Aaah, the power of the blog.

We had so many donations for door prizes. Thanks to everyone who donated, they were wonderful. The grab bag was a hit, I think everyone loved their gift. The fashion show that SWTC put on was really cool, they modeled their new designs and new yarns. AND they sold us fabulous yarn at really low prices....I got all THIS for $25

I also won this from Jessica Knits!

and these are Becky's cool Knit Notes...such an awesome idea

AND....Alison, who is just the best, made me these! Don't you love my legal pad background HA!!!

Everyone wore their handknit garments. I'm pretty sure that Brooke's mom was wearing the vest that Brooke made her. Becky was wearing Skully, which is too cute in its purple and pinkness, and Kirsten was wearing the lovely Karalund. I'm sure I'm missing some people, so if your reading this SORRY! Its been a long week and I'm tired :-).

Happy weekend! Happy Knitting! Happy Holidays!

Its about time

2004-12-09T14:07:00.000-07:00

Well I finally broke out of the blogger template world. Well....modified one anyway, courtesy of Photoshop and Dreamweaver. I love expensive software! Watch for my button to come soon.

I've been scroogitized

2004-12-09T08:30:00.000-07:00

So, sorry about the grumpiness of yesterday's post. Haven't been myself lately....maybe its the holidays, maybe it was that rainy weather. As much as I love it, I suppose it could've affected my mood. Doesn't matter b/c YEAH tonight is our holiday party. So looking forward to seeing everyone, I feel like its been forever. Maybe I was having SNB withdrawals....that's probably it.

I may be the only one not give a handmade item, or knitting accessory. I took a hint from the Harlot that sometimes knitters, especially thier hands need to be pampered too. (*wink*wink).
I am going to leave work early and head up to Jessica's if nobody else can to pick up her contribution. I hear she is donating some great things and wouldn't want anybody to miss out on them.

For Stephanie. The pattern is from Berroco, its called McGraw, although it totally looks like a version of the Fisherman's scarf to me. I paid $14!!!!! for the stinking pattern book at Jessica's. If you want it, I will be more than happy to copy it, or anyother scarf pattern in it and will have it on hand tonight.
another gratuitous scarf pic

Look Illana!! Stephanie too

need to just let it go

2004-12-08T08:46:00.000-07:00

I came to the realization last night that I will not finish my Christmas knitting. I was almost to the point of tears and way too tired to knit. There are gifts I haven't even cast on yet and I just don't know how to let it go. The weekend was pretty much lost to a side job of building web pages for an instructor and while he is paying me pretty well....I would rather be knitting. The weekdays have become mostly about tutoring my 9 year old and while I enjoy it and think she's great, right now, I would rather be knitting. My sister is begging me to do a Taco day on Sat. I know this sounds wierd, but my dad created these tacos that are simply to die for. I don't even know how to describe them. He would spend almost every Sunday during Football season, watching the games and making tacos. The entire taco process took him 3-4 hours depending on how many he made and sometimes he would make over 100. Since he died, my sister and I have been trying to perfect the 'Broaddus' Tacos and we haven't been able to get them just right. Now if it took him that long and he made them practically his whole life, imagine how long it takes us. Her husband's family is in town and they are dying for tacos...which means we have to make alot. So it looks like this coming Sat. may be lost as well.

I used to be one of those people who could stay up all night and function reasonably well the next day, but since entering the world of a regular 9-5, I can't. Maybe I'm out of practice, maybe I'm just getting old. In any case, it doesn't matter because, unless I am able to knit 24/7 for the next two weeks, its not going to happen and this has made me very sad. I am not even going to have time to bake, and I make damn good cookies from my own special recipes that I worked very hard at creating. I'm even copping out on the Cookie Exchange and making a very simple (albeit yummy) Cherry Almond bar, it only takes a few minutes to make. Cookies for me, generally take two days between the preparing and chilling of all the dough. Yes, I'm a little crazy, but I take my cookies very seriously.

I'm a huge fan of Desperate Housewives. I know there are people who take offense to this show, these are probably the same people who take offense to the Sopranos and I think they need to seriously lighten up--nobody believes Homemakers or Italian Americans actually behave this way in real life. I think it is hysterically funny, and like Lynette, maybe I just need some Riddalin to get me through until Christmas. Damn, I have no children with ADHD. (just in case, that was sarcasm. I don't really want to have children with ADHD and I am not making fun of people who have children with ADHD)

moving right along

2004-12-07T13:10:00.000-07:00

I really need to get one of those nifty counters I see on other blogs, just to remind myself how much more I have to get done in like 2 weeks. Here is my progress. I frogged and restarted the fuzzy foot and have not yet cast on the other one. I have about 50 more inches left in the scarf. It's a 20 row repeat with a different cable pattern almost every other row. Each repeat is about 4 or 5 inches, so i guess its not so bad.

Well, I'm off to find a gift for our holiday party on Thursday
not much to say...guess I'm at my word limit today.

Happy Hanukkah

tres cute and fuzzy feet

2004-12-03T09:41:00.000-07:00

Thanks to Ms. Becky, I went from Mrs. Brady helmut head to tres cute! I suggest everyone itching for a new holiday do head on down to The Ends. VERY cute salon on 28th and Indian School. I now feel like I can walk out of my apartment without scaring people. AND, she might tell you what her super secret mystery holiday grab bag gift is....hee hee, she told me and its AWESOME.

I brought Fuzzy Feet to work with me today, so I must take a picture. Yes, Becky is right, I do feel like my blog is naked without pictures, silly but true.

I'm using the Peruvian Wool and can't believe how soft it knits up and it has kind of a spongy texture. Oh, I can't wait to make Ribbi with it. Still turning the heel, but they are pretty quick. I hope I don't have the same problems other people have had. So far so good.

Happy weekend!

Aren't gurus masters of their craft?

2004-12-02T14:30:00.000-07:00

Or are they just crazy people who have competely gone off the deep end.
I'm going with the latter, because I've never knitted a sweater and I'm pretty sure I fell off many years ago.

You appear to be a Knitting Guru. You love knitting
and do it all the time. While finishing a piece
is the plan, you still love the process, and
can't imagine a day going by without giving
some time to your yarn. Packing for vacation
involves leaving ample space for the stash and
supplies. It can be hard to tell where the yarn
ends and you begin.
http://marniemaclean.com

What Kind of Knitter Are You?
brought to you by Quizilla

I am amazed by sock knitters. I finally finished one sock and MAN, knitting on size one dpn's takes FOREVER! This little sock should've been such a quick knit. I hope I can finish the other one in 23 days.

Photoshop is the best :-)

So I lied

2004-12-01T15:49:00.000-07:00

I was just sitting here staring, might as well take a picture. Nanee Nanee booboo.
Plus, I just downloaded 30 day trial Photoshop to make stuff for blogging purposes.....you know I have so much free time.

merrily, merrily, merrily, merrily....

2004-12-01T14:41:00.000-07:00

I wish my life was but a dream. Then I could knit whatever I wanted and it wouldn't really be 24 days until Christmas. (where did the last 20 go?) I've just barely made it to the toe decreases on one of the socks. I brought it to work with me and it is sitting on my desk, while I think to myself, if I have time to blog, I have time to knit and then sadly remembering that knitting is much more obvious than blogging. So, no pics today because I have nothing to show for an entire day gone by.

Thanks to Shannon for posting the link to Fugging Up. I haven't laughed that hard in a long time.....streams of mascara running down my face at 7am this morning. I almost snorted coffee. Red Hot Chili Fuggers. Damn that's funny.

Also, I think I'm going to have to try mittens. But not just any mittens....Yarn Harlot style mittens. They are so beautiful.
Oh and I made my first hair appointment with Becky! Yeah, I can't wait. Thursday at 5, I think she will make my poor pathetic, hasn't been cut in 8 months hair, beautiful. No pressure.

Who has time to blog

2004-11-30T11:18:00.000-07:00

when there is so much knitting to do. The SO actually called me obsessive. I promply told him that he should start thinking about what to buy his family for Christmas. I am not obsessive, merely trying to finish all his families christmas presents. And so what if I AM obsessive, there are alot worse things to be obsessive about right? He's the one that is obsessive about exercise, working out even when he has injuries. Hmph, obsessive my ass.

In fact, not only am I not obsessive I got very little knitting done over Thanksgiving. Why, becuase I was entertaining his family on Friday. His mom and sister decided to come down from Prescott on Friday (which is why I wasn't at Jessica's *sigh*). We had a good time, we went and saw Finding Neverland. One of the best movies EVER, at least one of the best movies I've seen in a long time. Its just beautiful and I highly recommend it, especially if you are a Johnny Depp fan, he is just amazing. BUT did DB go......NO! It was just me, his mom and sister running around, while he stayed home and did, something, not really sure what.

Oh well. At least I found the cheap digi and have pictures of some progress. Almost finished with one of the ankle socks. Size one DPN's, this is taking forever! I also started my grandpa's cable scarf. In real life it is a stone color....not sure what the name of this color is in blog world.

I was so excited when I turned the heel and picked up the stitches and there were no ugly holes!

The cable pattern is almost every row, so it is ALOT of cabling, but fun

Started the Fuzzy Feet. I'm using the Peruvian wool, it knits nice and soft. I hope it felts okay. I know that Becky complained about the pattern, but it seems okay so far. I did have to interpret a little and went down a half size needle. Although I think I want to add eyelash to the cuff and can't decide if I just want to pick up the stitches or restart it. I was also thinking about double stranding them with mohair...hmmm.

Yeah Jack for finally making it into the world. I expect you to start knitting soon young man. Congratulations to Brooke and Joe.

'tis the season

2004-11-24T07:51:00.000-07:00

Evenings seem like such a waste when you don't get to work on projects, especially when the days keep ticking away. This campus is going to be empty today, everybody always takes the day before the holiday off, so I brought my knitting to work. Teehee, I'm going to try to finish my sock sitting at my desk.

I'm sure everybody reads and knows Wendy and Lucy, she is only the most famous Knitblogger ever. Today's post is about a very cool charity. If you haven't yet, check it out, she's made donating very easy and if we all just donate a few bucks who knows how many knitting baskets we could send. Wow! The power and kindness of the knitblogging community is amazing. Aaah, one's very own sheep and llamas.

Speaking of charities, I really must do a few afghan squares this weekend, or actually tonight, so I can bring it to Jessica's tomorrow. Really, how long can a 9x9 square take. JUST DO IT (that was me talking to myself)

Now about this cookie exchange, I make a pretty mean chocolate chip cookie, my own made up recipe....but alas Al is already doing chocolate chips. Hmmm.....do bars, like a very yummy cherry almond bar count as cookies. Or should I stick with another ol' faithful like my also made up oatmeal cookie, or thumprints with apricot jam, or hershey kiss cookies, or snickerdoodles YUM!......oh my, the decisions.

I'm not sure

2004-11-23T14:51:00.000-07:00

what the punishment is for being a bad bad blogger, but I deserve whatever it is. My only excuse is that since my last post I have been working on

Heather (sister) Kitty Pi (finished but not yet felted)
Malora - Booga Bag (finished but not yet felted)
Mary (Mike's mom) ankle socks (YEAH! heel turned on one, it was very exciting!)

This is what I have left
Mary - fuzzy slippers, other ankle sock, cable hat (yes she gets more than one thing...we also have to buy her a chiminea. I think that is the name anyway, one of those small little fire pit chimney things for outside)
Marcy - (Mike's sister) cable headband
Grandpa - cable hat and cable scarf
Mom - tank top - she doesn't wear anything else
Dave (brother in law) tie
Pete (Mike's brother in law) new ski hat b/c Mike stole the one I was going to give him

Mike (Mike's semi-estranged, but only sometimes, father) - beanie

Christmas FO's - sort of
Grandma - caplet
Marcy - Chinese charm purse - still needs handles
Shea (Mike's other sister, they are twins) Chinese charm purse - still needs handles and cable headband
Other Dave (Marcy's husband) Jcrew hat and scarf
Pete (Shea's husband) - quick knit scarf

We always have to get Mike's family more than one thing....I'm not sure why this tradition didn't end after they all turned 30, but it didn't. The awful thing is that I still feel like its not adequate. We will still probably by them stocking stuffers. Yep that's right, stocking stuffers for 30 year olds.

My dilemmas
Zach (12 year old brother) I have no clue I will probably give up and by him a violent Xbox/Gamecube whatever the hell he has game, no wait that is my grandma's job. Last year, or the year before, she gave all the boys Grand Auto Theft 4, or maybe it was 3, in any case it was the number one most violent game that year. Go Grandma.
Sam (14 year old sister) Some of you have met her - fellow knitter and everthing she wants she makes for herself.
Money will probably work the best for these two, I do believe that is the teenagers favorite gift.

The bright side is I am not going to Prescott the weekend, which means more time to knit. Of course, it also means I don't get to go to the Prescott yarn shops.

Still no camera. One of the other reasons, but not an excuse, why I haven't posted, I feel like my posts are naked without pictures. What was the world like before blogs and digital camera's *sigh*

tension smension

2004-11-15T08:14:00.000-07:00

Something is different, I'm not sure what it is, but my tension has changed. Maybe this happens to everyone the longer they knit, maybe its because I've become comfortable enough to not hold the needles so tight my hands get stuck in permanent knitting position. I'm not sure, but it is annoying. I used to go up needles, now I have to go down needles AND I use more yarn. Which is really what this is about. Last night I was happily knitting and almost finished with Wendy's cat bed for my sister, when AAAGGHHHH.....I ran out of yarn. I bought FOUR hanks of Brown Sheep Lambs Pride worsted, granted I held two strands together to get a bulkier weight. The pattern only calls for one and a little bit of another skein of Noro Kureyon bulk, which has less yardage that Brown Sheep. Each hank has over 200 yards. So I should have plenty, right. I figure over 400 yards of wool is more than enough. NOOoooooo.

I have never, ever run out of yarn. I usually have more left than I know what to do with. Of couse, Fiber Factory isn't open today. So I can't go get another hank and I so wanted to be done with another Christmas project. I was on a roll and now I've run out of steam *sigh*

I ordered my Ribbi yarn on Thursday so it should be here any day now. Sorry about skipping out on Changing Hands on Friday. I got the 'but its Friday' from DB. He made it up to me by taking me to the Graduate on Sat. We got GREAT seats for $20 a piece! It was ok, just ok. Morgan Fairchild is no Ann Margaret and whoever it was is no Dustin Hoffman. Plus, they hardly played any of the soundtrack. The soundtrack really made the movie. Oh well, it was fun anyway and I'm making him go to the Lion King in Jan.

nothing to do with knitting, or politics either

2004-11-11T20:32:00.000-07:00

I have a question, and I couldn't think of a smarter group of people to ask and I know there are teachers out there :-). So sorry this has nothing to do with knitting, but I am tutoring a nine (4th grade) year girl and her reading seems slow and stumbly to me, any suggestions on how to determine if she is reading at her level? We read A Series of Unfortunate Events and it took about 10 minutes to read two pages. The family is VERY touchy, and I'm a little frustrated. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated and once again sorry this is not about knitting, But hey my first post of the day was knitting friendly.

Frogger strikes again

2004-11-11T20:06:00.000-07:00

I met Kim and Brooke at a really cute coffee shop, we knitted for about three hours and had a really good time. Those two can seriously make a girl laugh when she needs it. I should have finished quite a bit right. But nooooooo. Everything that I had on needles, the Choo Choo Cable tank top AND the tennis socks that I was so proud of met the damn frog. How I hate the frog. Why is it that he (and I'm sure its a he b/c a women couldn't be so annoying, wait gotta think about that for a second) works so fast. What takes hours to knit the frog can destroy in just a few minutes. Oh its so sad. But not all was lost, Brooke very kindly showed my how to turn my heel (work short rows) and pick up stitches.

On the agenda tomorrow. Go buy new digi and don't lose it this time!

2004-11-10T14:58:00.000-07:00

Nope didn't find my camera....now I'm really glad it was cheap. I borrowed a co-worker's. So, here's the capelet.

I think it came out pretty ok for my first knitted garment that is not a hat, or scarf. There are still a few stitches that look kind of loose, I tried to squinch them together when I blocked, but maybe I just didn't do enough squinching.

Started the Choo Choo cabled sleeveless , of course I'm not using Choo Choo, as much as I would like to. I'm using a cotton blend instead. It should be okay, it swatched fine. I actually swatched! Three days and I blocked for the first time and swatched....maybe I'm becoming a real knitter!

Christmas, seriously

2004-11-09T10:50:00.000-07:00

Thank you Yarn Harlot for reminding me that there are only 46 days until Christmas. I forgot and what are blogs for if not to remind you of the things that make you want to get very drunk, because there is NO WAY you will finish your entire Christmas list unless you take an entire month off and sit in your room with the doors locked, the phones turned off, no TV, no computer, and do nothing but knit. Thank you Yarn Harlot, because I forgot, and now everybody is getting a st hat.

I can't find the cheap digi, so no pics of my caplet, which I must say blocked quite nicely.

PS...I was just about to add, and Illana beat me to the punch, that there is even less time until Hanukkah. Here is my only solace...there is less time to stress about it. Sorry.

Yes, It's Monday and just for Allison

2004-11-08T14:14:00.000-07:00

So I didn't post all weekend and must apologize about that. Here's why: I didn't take my laptop home. Yes, I have a computer and I love my G3, first generation Rudy Red Imac, But, it is slower than slow and drives me up the wall to do anything on it other than read. Sorry.

I did however, knit all weekend. The rainy weather made for some good knitting days. I started and finished my grandma's caplet, there are no pictures because currently it is, hopefully, blocking into the correct shape on my dining table. My first attempt at blocking, I even wove in all the ends. I also made Mike a hat so he would quite whining that I never make him anything :-). The best part is that I made it with the Mexican Wave, which is acrylic because many months ago he said he liked the color. Well, I finished it, he put it on, then promptly said he didn't like it as much as the other one. The other one being the one one I made out of yummy Brown Sheep. Why did he like the other one better, you ask? THE YARN....yep, DB has turned into a yarn snob. HA!

In case, you haven't seen the ribby cardi from ChickKnits....I suggest you take a look. It is totally cute and I too will be joining the craze. Elann has the Peruvian Highland wool on sale for ...take a breath.....2.25 a skein. Cheap, cute and natural fibers. Ladies, does it get any better. Here are my colors:
For the body

and for the sleeve

I haven't seen a knit along for it...how does one start a knit along, hmmm...

I got on the reminder list for secret pals 4 and am totally excited. It starts in Jan, which is good because the holidy madness will be over. I can't wait. I thought I joined RAOK, but I can't find 'the other' list to sign up and haven't received any email except the one to put the button up.

Doesn't this just make you want to sit in front of a fire, knit and drink Illana's hot chocolate

So, there. I've posted. Now let's see if I can make anybody else...who hasn't posted yet today post. Man, talk about power.

had a cute title

2004-11-04T17:07:00.000-07:00

Earlier today I had a really cute title for today's post and some really cute things today, but now I've forgotten what they were. This is indicative of my whole week and am so looking forward to going home and having a glass of wine or two b/c YIPPEE its my Friday.

I figured out that my $17 dollar digi does a neat trick, it acts as a video recorder when its plugged into my PC and lets you take snapshots. If you don't believe me just look below hee hee, I went a little nuts. In order (really I'm just too lazy to put title on them)
A water color that my Grandma painted, hanging in my office
My computer, figuring out what neat tricks my cheap camera does
Malora, yes really it is. I post other pics later b/c she is so damn cute
cable hat - I got alot done yesterday

I worked on my cable hat yesteray at Mama Java's. It was very peaceful in all the madness. Yep, I was there for six hours. Just ask the very nice woman that is always working there. Maybe she's the owner? Not sure, don't know her name and I feel bad about it. I decided not to follow the pattern for the hat. Yes, Al the passed stitches were looking really strange and I totally messed up my cable rows. So I'm just making it up as I go along. I hope it doesn't meet the frog *sigh*.

Hopes

2004-11-03T11:35:00.000-07:00

I know that I said I would not get political on this blog, but after perusing the blogs yesterday, other people decided they just couldn't keep it in. Well, I can't either, and it's my blog. So, instead of rambling, I compiled a list of my hopes.

All I can say is that I hope my younger siblings do not hit 18, or they don’t lower the age, before this thing is done, one is 13 and one is 14, soon to be 15.
I hope hangers don’t replace doctor’s clinics
I hope that the Constitution is left alone, as it is, except for perhaps a change to the electoral college system
I hope that religious fanaticism does not replace scientific reason
I hope that more people/children do not continue to go sick and untreated because they have no healthcare
I hope that America does not go broke because Rumsfeld, Wolfowitz, Rove and company cannot quit spending money to wage unjustified wars.
I hope that more jobs are not lost
I hope that Bin Laden does not continue to roam around free and healthy
I hope that the idea of killing terrorists to stop terrorism will go away. Killing terrorists does not stop terrorism, it martyrs the terrorist. Only a serious change in the US’s policy towards the middle east, and a serious change in the ideas and cultures of those on ALL sides will begin to start to bring any type of lasting peace. I could talk about terrorism all day, but I won't
I hope that discrimination, of any kind, towards anybody, for anything will not grow and become a long lasting sore in America’s history
I hope that fear will not guide us into an Orwell novel

On the knitting front...I am going to Mama Java's early to cry in my espresso. Yes, I am taking the afternoon off from work. I will prboably be there around two or three, and if anyone wants to join me I promise, I will be there simply to knit, or at least try anyway. I am frogging my ski cap, I messed the cable rows up completely last night. But it was fun! Thanks Allison and Mike for letting us crazies into your home and I hope nobody was offended.

The Club

2004-11-02T15:09:00.000-07:00

Just saw this and think it's spectacular. Hadn't heard of it before and thought I would post it. Debbie Bliss "The Club"

GO VOTE

2004-11-02T10:31:00.000-07:00

I'm really not going to be political on this blog, but I will say that if you are reading this and you are registered and you haven't voted...GO VOTE. This may very well be the most important election of my/our (30ish) generation, or really of whatever generation you happen to belong.

I'm a little upset because I don't think I will be able to make the knitting/election shinding at Allison's, it should be alot of fun. Oh well.

I started on my ski cap. It is an interesting pattern. You pass a stitch before and after each cable, so it makes this interesting pattern along the sides of the cables. Then once I am done with the bring, the body of the cap is done in purl. When its done you are supposed to push the purled portion up through the cabled brim. I think this may be what the passed stitches are for. I wish the pattern had a picture, so that I could see what it is supposed to look like. I hope I'm doing it right. It is a little hard to see in the pictures. Once again, my camera is awful. The ski cap is a really pretty purple color in real life. Mike thinks the roll brim hat looks girly...hmmm. He also said it looks very 20's eraish. I think he might be a little crazy and certainly wonder about his fashion sense. I was planning on giving it to a brother in law in Park City Utah. His fashion sense is lack too. Is it too girly?

Yep! Got an account with Photobucket. They have some wierd time policy for new accounts. I just happened to sign up at the right time.

Windy City

2004-11-01T16:21:00.000-07:00

This windy weather is wreaking havoc on my allergies! Not that I don't love it, but wow, blowing dust is not good for a girls sensitive eyes.

I had a great time with the girls yesterday, its always fun to chat and knit. I finished my roll brim hat that I started, it was a quick and easy knit. I found it at Needle Beetle. Its just one of many great sites. I'll post a pic tomorrow. Now on to "Jess's Cabled Ski Hat". Luckily, most of my presents are going to cold weather people. Brooke was kind enough to loan me the correct size needles....well they are 10 and 1/2's and the pattern calls for 10's but I'm a tight knitter (I think), so it should be ok. I also finally found a tie pattern for my grandpa, but seriously, I want to give him something he will hear. I keep thinkging about it and I just don't know if he woud. I mean they do dress up alot, but other than formal black tie, I think he goes as casual as my grandmother will let him.

Yep, changed my blog a bit. I really want a cute blog skin, I was all inspired by Illana's. I found one I like at BlogDesigns, but I can't get the images to load correctly. I'm still thinking about 'things about me' list, think I'll start it in a few day.

Other than that its just another Monday.

How is it possible

2004-10-31T08:35:00.000-07:00

How is it possible that I have no children, there is only myself and Mike, I do not go to school, I work 4 days a week (granted they are 10 hour days) and I still cannot find time to do everything that I want to do. I'm a little grumpy because I haven't been able to knit at all this weekend. Nothing, nada. It is amazing how it affects my mood when I can't knit. I haven't even done any grocery shopping, my refrigerator is so empty it is sad. I haven't exercised since Thursday, which totally makes me feel guilty and like I have gained five hundred pounds overnight. (yes, I too have definite weight issues) I cleaned my apartment, but it just seems to get dirty again the next day, and I am a clean person. I don't understand where the time goes, or what exactly I have been doing all weekend.

I am meeting Brooke and Pam at Coffee Plantation to hang out and knit, and am really looking forward to it, but again I feel guilty because I think I should be doing something else. Although what that something else is, I am not really sure. Am I the only one that ever feels this way. Kudos to all you women out there who have children, lead busy lives and still manage to do what you want to do.

AAAGH

2004-10-29T17:49:00.000-07:00

Well, there are my pictures and when I said my camera is cheap, boy did I mean it. You totally get what you pay for. I don't like Hello very much either, it adds the pictures as seperate posts and I can't find them in the code to put anywhere else, so I just have this long line of pictures. Oh well, I wanted 'em I got. Hope you enjoy them.

BTW...I had no Idea I had comments, or that anybody was really paying attention to my blog until today. Thanks guys. Oh and I did go to Spin that day.

2004-10-29T17:35:00.001-07:00

cable head band

2004-10-29T17:35:00.000-07:00

J-Crew from hell scarf

2004-10-29T17:34:00.000-07:00

Quick gift scarf

2004-10-29T17:29:00.000-07:00

Chinese Charm bag in microspun

2004-10-29T17:27:00.000-07:00

Chinese Charm Bag

2004-10-29T17:25:00.000-07:00

"tank girl" from SnB

2004-10-29T17:24:00.000-07:00

"JCrew" style hat

YEAH Pictures

2004-10-29T15:14:00.000-07:00

There not up yet, but soon will be. I bought a digi this morning. A very, very cheap one, but it will take pictures and that's all that counts. I'm so excited I'm beside myself. I'm also playing around with my blog a little, I had to clean my house this morning and it was all I could do to keep focused on the cleaning. I've had that song "I don't want to work, just wanna bang on my drums all day" in my head, only I've changed the words to just wanna play on my blog all day" :-).

On the knitting front Allison and I went to Fiber Factory last night. I admittely wasn't feeling very well, but who can say no to hanging out at a yarn store with someone that loves it as much as you. I will say that I am finally all better, no cough, no nothing. Its great when you can sleep for like 12 hours. Neither one of us were very inspired, not sure why. Of course, I still managed to spend $40 on accessories. Crazy, I know, like I need more needles....but I didn't have 11's and I NEED them. We had dinner afterwords, Michael (Al's Michael) came along. He seems extremely nice and about as interested in knitting as most of our signigicant others. Although, he did make reference to a cult. HA.

Ok, must take pictures know and then figure out how to publish them. Yeah!

Fighting colds

2004-10-25T11:00:00.000-07:00

So, not only did I have Malora all weekend but I started to get sick on Friday. I decided to fight it and promptly began to load up on Zicam, echinacea, zinc, vitamin c and anything I could think of. So, I never actually got really sick (although my stomach is really mad at me for putting all that vitamin c in it), it has just been three days of sorta feeling bad, then feeling good, then feeling bad again. I think its better if you just let yourself get all out sick, sleep, lay around and knit. Seriously. Now I'm at work....obviously working hard...wondering if I should go to Spin, I don't feel horrible, but I don't feel good either..hmmm. To Spin or not to Spin.

Just had to vent about the cold for a second. On the knitting front, I hate that I missed Pita Jungle yesterday, but it was probably good that I didn't spread my germs around. Speaking of which I really must do a 100 things about me list....my detestation of being sick, or around sick people would be pretty much on the top, right along with my annoyance and just plain lack of understanding of insanely perky individuals.

I ended up giving the red cable beanie to Malora, I couldn't help it...it just looked so cute on her. So I was up one Christmas present and now I'm back down. Oh well...I should just take the rest of the week off and use my sick time. I have over 200 hours of it. This is the great thing about a state job, you really don't lose your vacation, sick, or personal time. It just keeps rolling over and over and over. I definitely think that is a good idea, stay at home sick and drink Illana's hot chocolate all week YUM!

Malora

2004-10-24T08:50:00.000-07:00

Okay, so I am oficially a bad blogger, I really thought that I would post every day, at least every other day, but I guess not. Since my last entry I have finished a cable knit beanie...it is REALLY cute. I knitted it with the same yarn I knit my headband only in red. Anyone who knows me (and that is not a lot of people anymore) knows I am a red freak. I am still working the scarf from the little gifts book and I am still pondering my grandma's gift, now I think maybe I want to do the Anthro capelet, but there are soooo many cast on stitches. Well that's my knitting front.

My absolutely adorable six year old niece, Malora, is sitting next to me as I write this, reading every word and she just modeled my cable beanie. I must say that it probably looks cuter on her than it does on the person I am going to give it to. I am supposed to have her all day, both her parents are working so I don't know if I will make it to Pita Jungle. She is bugging me to teach her to knit, so I guess I'll join the in the effort of teaching first graders to knit!!

I must say that even though I don't blog everday, I read everybody's blog everyday. There is nothing wrong with being personal, especially if it is empowering for you. One of the things i love most about this group, is that it is full of strong, smart, diverse women. We all have issues that we struggle with. I haven't actually posted mine, but more than a few of you know what they are and that is actually kind of comforting to me.

I have to go because the absolutely adorable niece is seriously bugging me to be done now, she insists I've written enough.

Beautiful morning

2004-10-16T09:00:00.000-07:00

Woke up this morning and it is 79 degrees in my apartment with no air conditioning! I wish I had a backyard to sit outside and drink my coffee and knit, I really must think about purchasing a home, but I think my yarn addiction is acting as a deterent! HA

I finished my cabled headband, after I ripped out the first attempt and it is just lovely. It just may be the most beautiful thing I have ever made. The cables came out just perfect and it is so soft. It is for a skier in Park City Utah, so I hope that she likes it as much as I do. Although, I agree with what Brooke has to say about knitting for Christmas. Christmas and gift giving in general is so out of control that the 'regift' is part of our vernacular. I know that people probably won't appreciate my hand knits as much as they would something that I purchased on sale at the the last minute. However, I think that the gifts I'm giving this year mean more than the ones I have given in the past. From the choosing of just the right pattern and the purchasing of just the right yarn, to the labor of making the gift, more thought goes into each gift than making a simple purchase. Not to mention, I am having a blast making them...it takes the stress out of Christmas shopping (of course the stress of trying to finish everything replaces the stress of shopping).

Thankfully, there are some people in my family that really like handmade gifts, my mom is a quilter, a sewer, a crocheter, a cross stitcher, and just a crafty chic in general. Last year I cross stitched a little fairy for her and it was the first time any of her children (she has four) made something for her and she almost cried! She just loves that a couple of her daughters have discovered the joy in what she likes to refer to as the lost arts. My little sister Sam (some of you have met her) is into knitting too. I think my Grandma will appreciate a hand knit as well. She is a painter, and for several Christmases she gave everyone one of her water colors. I loved them! They were original and beautiful and always had them exquisitely framed. She stopped giving them as gifts b/c she didn't think people liked them. I wish she would start again.

I think the moral of this rant is that gifts are supposed to be special. We should give them because we want to, not because we feel obligated. We give people gifts because we love them. I can't think of anything more thoughtful than knitting with somebody in mind, so if they don't like it...don't wear it....complain about it....that's fine. I know its a special gift, whether they do or not.

cable crazy

2004-10-09T16:21:00.000-07:00

I.LOVE.CABLES. They are so much fun. I didn't use Crystal Palace yarn, it was way to fuzzy and just didn't look right. So I bought what the pattern called for - Classic Elite Lush, it just happened to be on sale at Fiber Factory, YEAH. It is so incredibly yummy to knit with, I'm going to be spoiled. The ladies there were actually EXTREMELY nice to me, Lori especially. I was quite amazed. Maybe they are feeling the heat.

I'm really excited b/c Ifinally have wireless at home--so I can use my work laptop without dialing in (Cox Cable only lets you connect one computer at a time) and its sooo much faster, which means that hopefully, this painfully tragic blog will begin to take shape.

Congrats to Becky on her interviews, man, I wish I had an interview at Mama Java's. Keep us posted!!!

Must make Christmas presents.

bad, bad blogger

2004-10-07T19:43:00.000-07:00

Okay, so I'm really bad at blogging...sometimes in the decision between posting and knittng, I have to choose knitting :-). I am actually supposed to be working right now, I have a huge deadline to meet tomorrow, so will probably be up all night. I finished my j-crew from hell hat to match my j-crew from hell scarf, and both actually turned out very nice. One of these days, I swear I will get pictures posted.

I'm getting ready to start the cable headband from knitty, with some exquisite Crystal Palace angora blend that I bought at Susse ---Wheeee---can't wait to see how it turns out. I'm still insisting on learning that silly provisional/open/waste cast on, so that I can knit the knitty cable band hat. But for now, just gotta crank out the Christmas presents. I wonder, do knitters actually like this time of year, when its all about just finishing everybody's in time...hmm.....I'm sure we all like it when somebody actually appreciates our gifts! Gotta go--gotta deadline.

Finally

2004-10-05T18:42:00.000-07:00

YEAH!!! I have links!. I nixed the whole cute blog template, but only temporarily. I finished the j-crew from hell scarf and am on to the matching j-crew from hell hat. Hopefully it will go much quicker on 8's than it did on the 4's I used for the scarf. One of these days I will have pictures. Must go home now...its almost 7pm and haven't had time to knit one stitch.

gone crazy

2004-10-03T09:27:00.000-07:00

Yes, my blog is blank. I am trying to put up a cute design template from blogdesigns, and just having a wee bit of trouble putting the html in. I always seem to make thing more complicated than they need to be. Oh well, one of these days I will actually put up my knitting!

can't believe I'm blogging

2004-10-02T15:57:00.000-07:00

Well, I've finally joined the blog craze, because I need just one more thing that I am addicted to. The SNB-AZ knit out yesterday was just amazing. I still can't believe how many people were there and how little knitting I actually got done. My current project - I've nicknamed it the j-crew scarf from hell- is taking way longer than any scarf ever should. I suppose its my fault, since I decided to do a 1x1 rib on size 4 needles.

Oh well, I have to start making my blog look pretty like everyone elses. Jeez, now I'm going to have to invest in a digital to take pictures of my projects. That's right I own no camera....can knitting get any more expensive.

TTFN