More about me

Copied from the ITE III blog:


What is/are your favorite yarn/s to knit with?

There aren't a lot that I don't like. I love luxury yarns as much as the next person but also enjoy s & c & other mass market yarns. I think acrylic's fine for baby items as it can be machine washed & dried which is a must for new moms! I don't even use hand washable yarn for my nearly 3 yr old!

What fibers do you absolutely *not* like?

I'm not a big fan of eyelash yarn. It's okay in s mall doses but not really my thing

Do you have an Amazon or other online wish list?

http://www.amazon.com/gp/registry/registry.html/103-9385832-4579826?ie=UTF8&type=wishlist&id=34DWSNPX433R9

What's your favorite scent? (for candles, bath products, etc.)

Love citrus & "food" smells for candles/sprays. Bath products---just about anything. I'm a big bath & body works fan!

Do you have a sweet tooth? Favorite candy?

Peanut brittle. Caramel popcorn. I also have a serious addiction to hershey kisses w/ caramel.

What other crafts or Do-It-Yourself things do you like to do?

I do some beading & am getting into some stamping.

What is/are your favorite item/s to knit/crochet?

Dishcloths are fun b/c they're quick. I also enjoy the heartbreakingly cute baby kimono! Socks & bags too!

What are you knitting/crocheting right now?

A dishcloth for my Yahoo group Monthly Dishcloths exchange partner. I also have another heartbreakingly cute kimono on the needles.

Do you prefer straight or circular needles? Bamboo, aluminum, plastic?

Depends on the project. I've made a transition to my favorite needles which currently are addi's (a given right?!), Crystal Palace bamboo's (both straights & dpn's ) & Brittney DPN's & straights.

What is your favorite holiday?

I love 4th of July. I dont decorate for it, but it is one of my faves. I do love to decorate for Christmas now that the wee one is into it.

Is there anything that you collect?

bad question! In no certain order: Whiting & Davis mesh bags (pre 1940), Carnival glass, vintage watches (Hamilton, Gruen, Baume & Mercier, Wittnauer), yarn, dustbunnies LOL


Any books, yarns, needles or patterns out there you are dying to get your hands on?

There are a couple Noni patterns that are calling my name. Noro Silk Garden (for a potato chip scarf). The Civil War shawl pattern. Addi's in size 6 US (24" and/or 32" ) for the CW shawl

What knitting magazine subscriptions do you have?

I pick up knitting mags depending on what's in them. If I like the patterns I'll buy it!

Are there any new techniques you'd like to learn?

I'd like to be more proficient w/ cables.

Are you a sock knitter? What are your foot measurements?

I am! I wear a ladies size 9 shoe. My foot is just under 10" long.

When is your birthday? (mm/dd)

4 Sept.

Do you like to cook and / or bake?

LOVE to! Both as a matter of fact!

Do you like to read?

Yes. I dont read as much as I used to since it cuts into my knitting time. I love historical fiction, bios, historical non-fiction, chick lit & knitting books (obviously!) Some of my favorite authors are John Jakes, Anita Shreve, Emily Griffin, Antonia Frasier & on & on. I have an odd fascination with royalty---especially Elizabeth I, Mary Queen of Scots, the Russian Czars & the British Monarchy.

Heartbreakingly cute kimono #1

Okay, so it's not my first Heartbreakingly Cute Baby Kimono, but it is the first of this year. I have 2 more to make (2 more pregnant friends). I LOVE the little buttons on this one!

How I spent my afternoon

Woo--Hoo! A potato chip scarf! So called because they're so simple you really can't have just one!

This is made from Lion brand Homespun in Cobalt & LB Moonlight Mohair in coral reef. I CO at 230 this afternoon & with some breaks for playing outside w/ Libby, time with Bets, phone call w/ my Mom, dinner, bathtime etc I finally BO at 830 tonight. (pardon the ends that haven't been woven in yet!)

I have some Koigu PPPm that I was going to save for some socks but now might use for another one of these! Or I'll pick up more Moonlight Mohair & make a super soft one!

Peaceful moment

This morning the wee one & I went to AC Moore's knitting party w/ 2 of my girlfriends (Josie & Kelli). I was good & only picked up 3 skeins of Sugar & Cream. Josie found yarn for a pattern for a blanket for her daughter's bed & Kelli helped us LOL.

We went to Old Navy & then home. The wee one was fussy & barely ate lunch.

So around 2 she goes down for her nap & I'm bemoaning the fact that my netflix movies aren't here yet. I found What Not To Wear was on so I watched that while knitting the Heartbreakingly Cute Baby Kimono from M-D Knitting. About an hour into it hit me that I felt so good. Wee one was napping & holding her stuffed dog Jake, Libby was curled up on the love seat next to me, my kimono was more than 3/4 done & I was having a lovely afternoon.

We took Libby out to play & then to see the ducks. Home for dinner (jambalaya) & then snuggles, reading & chit chat courtesy of the wee one. I am SO AMAZED by her vocabulary! Tonight she had her Baby Einstein flash cards (the travelling discovery cards) & was going thru them "Apple, bird, cat (meow meow)" She made it thru part of the alphabet & then started finding the number section so she could find the dogs for #4! She'd point to them & count "one, twwwwo, feeeee, fooooouu"

*sigh* what a great day!

Stitches out & working stitches

After a busy morning (babysitting my friend's son so she could go have another U/S & then play & lunch @ Chuck E Cheese) we went to the hospital on post to have the wee one's stitches removed.

You'd think that it would be painless since the whole ER visit was horrific, right?

Well, you'd be wrong.

Her Doctor had one of the medics working with him to take out the stitches (one working the scissors and/or blade & the other holding the light & stitches) & me holding her down. The 1st 2 (or top 2 however you choose to see them) were knotted so close to the skin that it took 3 changes of hands to get them snipped. She was screaming & crying & fighting me just about the whole time---poor peanut! The last 3 came out much easier thankfully! She got 2 Dora stickers & then we were off to the PX to pick out a treat. We came home with the Princess Dora & Perrito doll.

Thank God she took a nap when we got home as the living room was a mess (toys all over) & Mommy needed to rest. We took Libby out to play ball afterwards & then played on the swing & jungle gym.

Tonight I'm working on my 1st of 3 Heartbreakingly Cute Baby Kimono. This one is yellow (plymouth fantasy naturale in bright yellow) for Kelli's bebe due in May. They're having a boy so the sweater will be yellow, bibs & washcloths/burp cloths will be ablue & a varigated yarn. The other 2 will also be for boys & will be made w/ the same yarn (different colors---thank you yarnware.com!)

We're hearing rumors that Hunter's TDY will be cut short & they'll be boots on the ground by 15 March. *sigh* It's our 4th deployment (3rd to Iraq) in 5 yrs. I really should be used to it by now & in some respects I am. Having him home IS a luxury. It's something we don't take for granted. It drives him crazy when he is home because I feel compelled to do something on the weekends as a family & he wants to lay low. Maybe one day we'll get our act together! LOL

Head meets tennis court

Sunday (just hours after DH left for a month in CA), the wee one took a header on the tennis court while we were out playing ball w/ Libby.

After seeing blood on her hand (and the fact that she was crying & touching her head) I picked her up, put the leash on Libby & ran the 200 yds to our house.

Let me tell you, an additional 35 lbs on your right hip while running is tricky!

Poor thing's face was covered in blood as was her shirt (it has since been thrown out rather than try to get it clean). I got her face cleaned up while she cleaned her hands w/ a baby wipe. The cut was small but in her eyebrow & looked deep enough to warrant a visit to the ER.

We were only there for 2 hours which is a record! They put in 5 stitches & sent us home.

Now her eyelid is a lovely shade of purple & yellow & stitches will come out tomorrow. Everyone's reassured me that she won't have much of a scar if even at all. I'm hoping her eyebrow hair grows in okay! Poor little peanut!

International Tote Exchange III!!!

It's time for International Tote Exchange III.

So how does it work?

You will make a tote/purse/handbag for your Secret Pal and a different Secret Pal will make a tote for you. The "totes" can be big or small, knit or crochet, felted or not - whatever you want to make.

If you are interested please read the sign-up process, rules and schedule (http://internationaltotexchangeiii.blogspot.com/ ) and then, if still interested, send an e-mail as described in the process. SIGN-UPS END JANUARY 24, 2007!!

I've done the past 2 & had a blast with them!

New Year, icky news

The year was off to a good start until this past Monday when we had a briefing where we learned that Hunter's unit will deploy about 2 months earlier than we thought.

This will be their 3rd deployment to Iraq & will be for 15 months.

I'm starting to go into deployment mode already----trying to figure out what we need to do before he goes & how the wee one & I will keep ourselves occupied.

*sigh*

On a side note I've finished one of my hats (Odessa by Grumperina) and am 1/3 done my 2nd (iceland & squiggle by Crystal Palace) for one of my girlfriends. It's going to be gorgeous once it's felted!!!