FO & ITE III Update

This is the lacy diamonds dishcloth that was our February Mid-Month cloth for the Yahoo Monthly Dishcloth KAL. It was a blast to make! I had so much fun with the YO's & K2Tog's. I think I'll be making more of this cloth for gifts.

My bag for ITE III is done, felted & all that's left is to shave it & put the straps on. I think I do need to felt one more strap as my partner (Joann) likes long straps. The bag is Knitty's Little Slip of A Thing & is done in blue & green. I got all crazy artsy fartsy & went with a "beach" theme ----the blue symbolizing the ocean & the green, land. She's a beach fan (even in winter) like me, a New Englander & a Red Sox fan! If she were from VT she would be completely perfect! LOL

I received my Yahoo Dishcloth KAL swap cloth puffy the other day! Lori made me a beautiful blue & yellow cloth (my kitchen colors) from a sock pattern! It's a mock cable cloth & is just gorgeous with the yarn. She also sent me some yummy teas & chocolates! I felt very spoiled!

AND LeslieJ sent me a goody package! She sent me a bag of caramel kisses (aka: CRACK in a wrapper!), a beautiful pin w/ an angel & an American flag on it (a support the troops themed pin), a little goody bag for the wee one (complete w/ play doh---the toddler's version of crack). Again----very spoiled!

Tonight we had an FRG meeting & got some info on when they're leaving & where they'll be. I was amazed to see the number of VERY pregnant wives & it made me sad to think that their hubbies may not be home for the births. There were 2 couples I talked to who got married within the last week (maybe more but I only talked to 2!). Hunter & I were one of those couples 4+ yrs ago----we got married inbetween his homecoming from Kuwait (may-nov 02) & leaving for Kuwait/Iraq in Jan. '03.

Then it was home to get the wee one in bed & Survivor & Grey's Anatomy for me & CSI for Hunter. Tomorrow they have a 1/2 day so that's good news. The wee one's birthday party is Monday (Hunter is off!) so I need to get the goody bags together this weekend.

Move over tweedle dum & tweedle dee. . .

So I've been wondering why I never have comments on my blog. Am I that boring? Am I that annoying? What gives gentle reader??

I start goofing off w/ my blog (basically adding my friend Cathy's to my list of blogs I read) when I realize that on my dashboard I have something like 40 unmoderated comments.

Unmoderated comments? Hmmmmmmmm. I have comments that were needing my attention!

I have been a terrible to my readers---You DO love me! You really really do!

Yay!

Weekend Update

So the wee one & I are just about 100% better. She goes to the dr. next week for a follow up on her ear infection. We're seeing the ped who was in Baqubah w/ Hunter 2 yrs ago-----I'm bummed that he's getting out of the Army in a few months.

Today we dropped Libby off at the groomers, went scouting for a sewing machine & then home for lunch. Hunter had to work today (so much for time with families prior to deployment!) so by the time he got home the wee one wasn't wanting to nap. We got Libby from the groomers, & played w her for a bit before getting ready to go out to dinner.

We had a nice dinner @ Carrabba's & then went to Barnes & Noble where the wee one played with the train table. They STILL do not have the Nicky Epstein felted bag book so off to Amazon I go! A quick breeze thru Marshall's (found the Laura Ashley comforter I want for her new bed on sale----must go tomorrow!!) & we were on our way home. Of course she conked out on the way home since she didn't nap today.

Tonight I worked on my Yahoo Dishcloth mid-month KAL. It's a lacy pattern which is very fun for me. I like the themed cloths but especially like the mid month's as they usually focus on a technique.

My bag for the ITE III is felted & dry. I like how it came out but the pattern looks slightly crooked so I think I'm going to rewet it & redry it tomorrow. If I do say so myself it came out great. The colors are pretty together & I like the pattern on the bag.

Happy Valentine's Day!

Flowers from the sweetie! He picked up white & pink daisies for the wee one & 2 dozen roses for me! We had chinese for dinner & now he's giving the wee one a bath so I can finish my bag for the ITE III. I'm 2 rows away from cast off & then tonight will work on my I cord strap.

We'll be felting tomorrow & hopefully send it on it's way to it's new owner.

I need to take pics of my 2nd potato chip scarf but the pic of the yarn (wound with my new ball winder!) will have to suffice for now. It's Noro Kochoran in color #18. It's gorgeous even if I did wind up w/ angora all.over.my black pants!

Heartbreakingly cute & updates

Here's the 2nd of the 4 Heartbreakingly Cute Baby Kimonos I need to have done by May! This one will be for my friend Kelli (the yellow one will go to Robyn). I'm going with green star buttons as I have some varigated Plymouth Fantasy Naturale (which is what I made this with) that will coordinate with this blue for a bib.

My ball winder came from joanns.com yesterday. So far I wound balls of the 1 lb cone of white cotton, 3 skeins of the yarn I'm using for my TE III bag & a skein of fantasy naturale.

Hunter will be home on Sunday morning. I am looking forward to him being here with us even tho it will be for a short time. *sigh* I shouldn't complain---at least he's not in the torch or advance parties----they're only going to be home 1-2 wks!

RIP Berylie

Hunter's grandmother died tonight @ 715 pm.

This picture is of her, my MIL, Hunter & the wee one at 1 week old.

Berylie was a beautiful woman---inside & out. I will never forget her telling a family friend that she always wanted to be a role model to her girls (she had 3 from her first marriage & a step daughter & step son from her 2nd). Her children sought her opinion & advice even they they were grandparents themselves (well my MIL anyway!).

My engagement ring is hers from her first marriage (she married her high school sweetheart & was widowed at a very young age). I've always felt honored to wear it---and today even more so. I remember when we saw her & GlennDaddy on Thanksgiving 2002. Hunter had just returned home from Kuwait & we were going to get married a week later. Berylie held my hand, looked at the ring & said "I am so happy you're wearing it" It felt like a blessing.

Doooooots!

Have you seen this monkey? Do you know who he is? For those of you who don't, his name is Boots & he is Dora the Explorer's right hand man, I mean monkey.

And he rules my house. Tonight the wee one was ready to go to bed & ran down the hall shouting "dooooooots! dooooooooots" We spent 10 minutes looking for Doots, er Boots.

I finally remembered he was in my purse (carried in the house that way after we went on an emergency play-doh mission. Yes, they exist!). Mommy is the hero & the wee one's now in bed.

I started my ITE III partner's bag on Friday. I'm using this pattern (http://knitty.com/ISSUEfall06/PATTlittleslip.html) The green part is being done in a beautiful sapphire blue & the purple in a green. I don't want to give away too much about her but she's a neat lady! Suffice to say she's a Northerner & we have similar interests!

I have heard from my partner but I think she's having trouble receiving my replies. Hmmmmm, not good!

I'm not much into the Super Bowl this year since my beloved Pats lost to those evil left-baltimore-under-cover-of-night Colts. I am, however, LOVING the fact that Prince is the 1/2time show!!! I've been a fan of his for gosh, 25 yrs? Am I that old? LOL I remember when he came out w/ Little Red Corvette & my older brother Michael criticizing him & his dance style saying that he was a Michael Jackson rip off. Funny thing that---Michael Jackson's done the same dance moves for over 20 yrs. Prince is constantly reinventing himself & his music. Michael Jackson---only his face!

Hunter is due home this week---YAY! The new word is they WILL be here for a month prior to leaving & they might have a week's leave at some point prior to deploying. Even better! His grandmother's health is not good at.all so we will be heading to VA for a few days if we do get the leave. She is his only living grandparent & the wee one's only living great grandparent. My grandparents on both sides were gone by the time I turned 25. In all fairness I don't remember much about my paternal grandparents. My paternal grandfather died when my father was 19 so none of us kids knew him. My paternal grandmother (Grammy) died a few months after my sister in 1970. I have very very few memories of her. My maternal grandparents (Memere & Pepere) died when I was 25 & 15 respectively. We used to go visit them every Sunday night. When I was really little we would go there for Thanksgiving & Christmas dinner. There would be 19 (out of 22) grandchildren, 5 out of 6 kids & their spouses & Memere & Pepere in one house. The kids would eat first & then the adults. There was plenty of French being spoken, the volume level akin to a rock concert & lots of laughter. As a little girl I thought all families were like that. It wasn't until I dated guys whose families weren't French Canadian that I realized that my family was a little odd. If you've seen the movie My Big Fat Greek Wedding you'll have an idea of what my Mom's family is like! Substitute French for the Greek language in the movie & you'll have it.

No, I didn't have a maple leaf on my wedding invitations!

Wow, such a ramble! I think part of what I love about Hunter is the fact that he is very family oriented. He has always spoken about his grandparents with such affection. Few people do that & it's something I think is sad. I think the only thing I would change about him & our situation is that our parents lived closer to one another & to us. I hate that the wee one only sees our parents so rarely.

Time to watch Rome & work on my bag!

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!