Monday, October 5, 2009

Crazy.......

I thought I was before but the past few months have proved that either I wasn't that bad or that it can just get worse. Knitting has been my sanity and of course this morning I do not have time to post the pretties that I have finished. My dad and step-mom divorced for a second and final time and much bickering and weirdness happened afterwards. See I may not have always liked my step-mom but I did grow to love her in the end. Her being the uber-bit$h that she was is what i needed to get out of an environment that wasn't healthy for me. So yeah I love her for that because I totally could have been one of those girls in school who was knocked up at 16.

School started and again busy stuff going on. This is my last year as the PTO fundraising chairperson. Can't say I am sad to see it go and really we only do one thing. This year it was decided that I would have all the little things (box tops, ink cartridge returns, etc.) reported to me and then I'd report them to the PTO. No biggie but now it's more work than ever before on top of me working, being a Junior troop leader (yeah more on that later), watching a kid in the morning (again) and being down to only 1 car. Oldest daughter J's troop bridged most of their girls last year and their leader moms as well. So this year the 10 remaining and of that 5 returning needed a leader - no on wnated to do it. So I steped up cuz how hard could it be to lead a troop for 1 year right? HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA And on top of that I was scammed into watching on of the kids I'd watched before a few years back in the morning YET AGAIN. Not thinking that yeah I'd have her even longer in the mornings because of the late school start this year. >.< I love her and her mom but it's hard not to feel taken advantage of some days. Was tol that I needed to drive hubby to work this morning due to his ride/boss needing to drive his wife to a dr. appt. No biggie right? Was supposed to have her and texted mom and said 'If I am going to have your daughter Monday morning you need to make other arrangements for her because I have to drive hubby to work and don't have room in my car for her too.' Legally I had no seatbelts and I wasn't getting arrested or given a ticket because I had her daughter in my car. she argued 'What do you want me to do? No one else will take her. And am not asking her dad....' Dad ended up watching her this morning anyways because I said can't no way I can fit her in. Just frustrates me to no end sometimes the crap that I get myself into and then have to get out of because I am too nice a person. But the spine is growing and I doubt that I will be going through this hassle much longer.

And it's school fundraiser time. Yay! But I keep getting emails for people to volunteer - not that this is a bad thing - but the fricking info just went home on Friday 10/2 and i had emails starting 2 weeks ago! Ok thanks for being overeager to do this but I don't even have a schedule yet for the PE classes until later this week! UGHHHHHHHHHHHH!

And now I must get ready for work and try not to take my lack of sleep out on the kids. *SIGH*

Tuesday, September 1, 2009

Wait what?

So today we had a meeting with all the lunch supervisors that are coming back this year to discuss the change in lunch times. Seeing as we have over 650 kids in the school, 14 long tables (1 designated peanut free), and the changes in time starting had made it something to puzzle over. We found out today that the way our principal worked it so that it goes along with the limit on how many kids can be in the cafeteria at once per the fire marshall - there will only be a 5 minute overlap of the grades.

How does this change our work schedules? Well we now are no longer all coming in at the same time and working together. We picked grades and we will come in 10 minutes before that grade comes to lunch and then be there for 2 hours. We are to clean as much as possible after coming in from recess before we have to leave. And those with the lower grades will do the mopping and the rest of the cleaning. Good in theory but we'll miss chatting with each other and this kinda eliminates us going out to lunch after work. Maybe we'll have to get together before or something. I took 1st grade as I don't work Wednesday's at the school and then the lunch lady who works Kindergarten who has no kids on Wednesday's will work my grade for me.

So now I work from 12 - 2 pm - darn this later start time but hey I don't really have any thing going on during the day. It'll just take some time getting used to. Hopefully the kids won't be too bad - I subbed in the Kindergarten lunch last year so I know a lot of them. But the thing that got me was not only are the start times changed but we start a day earlier and end a day later! They added two full days to the school year this year. Somehow I'd caught the ending date change but not the start date - they go back next Tuesday not Wednesday! ACK! I thought I had one more day - nope! So the kids are going to be so frickin' tired next week once school starts. Ugh so am I. We may start later but the girl who comes over in the mornings so I can get her on the bus will be here at 6:15 am. The bus doesn't come until 8:28 am. BLEH! I'm gonna need me some really good green tea really soon. ;)

Knitting - Amy's b-day sock colorway has been revealed. She couldn't wait and I wanted to see if she could guess it - she did. :) Weasleys Wizard Wheezes from Sunshine Yarns was the colorway - she gets rainbow socks! And I repeat Amy if they are too big - send them back and I'll keep them! hehe ;)

Started my Ishbel in Emmett from Sunshine Yarns on the way to Michigan's Adventure with the in-laws. Have finished chart A and working on chart B once I get the lifeline in.

And now it's bed time since I need to get up and be to the Jazzercise Clubhouse tomorrow by 10 am. First morning of back to back work there. Should be interesting and I guess I have to figure out what we are doing in between the first and the second class times. Maybe a picnic lunch in the park tomorrow. Really don't feel like driving home in between.....

Monday, August 24, 2009

We have a freeloader......

Saturday was my cousin's wedding in Lansing - we ended up missing the wedding because of well the time just got away from us. Made it to the reception - had a blast - and then dropped off the girls at my in-laws house for the week. We finally leave and get home a little after midnight to find a little white fluff ball of a dog sitting in my old computer chair that is out with the trash cans in our yard. He growled so we stayed away but left out some food and water and went to bed. Morning comes and he is on the porch but if we go outside he hides. Not growling any more though. We eat breakfast and get around to go to church and next thing we know he is at the screen door looking in at us. Ok so we needed to leave and head out. He backs away a little but stays on the porch and finally scoots close enough to sniff me and let me pet him without growling or biting. We go to church and come home to find the neighbor trying to coax him off our porch. Our neighbor loves all animals so that was no surprise that he would be over once he spotted the dog. Won't go to him but as soon as I go up the steps he is all over me to pet him. Then Hubby decides since it is raining off and on to try and get him inside. He comes in sniffs around, scares the poo outta the cat who then hides and plays with our dog.

We took him for a walk (HAHAHA) ok so he got 1 street away and sat down refusing to walk any further. We ended up putting signs at the mailboxes hoping that someone will claim him soon because he is a yipper dog. And let me tell you as much as I love my cat - he annoys me at night when he needs to 'explore' my side of the bed or sleep on me when I need to get up and go to the bathroom. I like the dog but I'll be glad when he goes to his owner - hopefully soon!

Knitting - Amy's socks are done, her surprise gifties are done - box WILL go out into the mail today I promise!!! Started my Hermione hat yesterday and frogged it today. Need to learn to not cast on in a new form while watching a movie instead of paying attention. >.<

Saturday, August 15, 2009

Knit knit and knit some more!

Next project became Amy's b-day Monkey socks. the Sunshine Yarn used is remaining unnamed until Amy gets the socks to involve a hint of surprise in her gift. :) Next up will be my Son of DRT washcloth depending on when it is sent out and the race officially starts!

Life in general right now is hectic to say the least. The girls are constantly going places and doing things and playdates everywhere! We went to the lake in a local State park the other day with friends. My back is SO burned right now. UGH! made it really hard to sleep last night since I normally sleep on my back. Not to mention the tag on my top was killing me. Thank god for tagless clothing!

I got my super awesome Princess Bride swap package from my Odd Ducks swap group. Grace/Nerdy on Ravelry was kind enough to step in as my angel for the swap and sent along some very lovely goodies. I got a beautiful knit hat (must find out the pattern!), some peanut butter cups from Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory, some hot cocoa mix from Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory, beautiful roving in Sunflower Farm (my fave flower!), and the package smelled so darn good from the enclosed tea - mint green tea and dreamland herbal tea. She also enclosed a little goody for each of the girls - their envelopes had a chocolate bar and a bookmark in them. Which of course are already gone and in use. :)

Princess Bride swap

Saturday, August 1, 2009

Swaps

On Ravelry I am part of the Odd Ducks group and have been moding for the Addams Family swap. This has come to a close and we are just waiting for all packages to be mailed and to see what kinds of goodies everyone came up with to send. The next OD swap I am moding is Jim Henson/Muppets swap. Signups are still open until midnight EST on Ravelry Odd Ducks group if interested. :) I'm hoping to hold out on this swap and then join the Buffy swap in this group when it opens for signups - trying to stretch the monies coming in until school starts again and I am back to work.

And today kicked off the start of signups for Son of Dish Rag Tag. Yes, I have already signed up and paid to be in it this year. It was just a blast last year - and I absolutely LOVE the scrubbin' bubble that I got from the person who sent me the package. Can't wait to see the pattern that we get this year. And it's not too late to sign up if you are interested. Cost only $1 to cover the initial sending of the packages with patterns in them. Link to the left will take you to the signup page.

Knitting - finishing up my Drops of Twilight (Ravelry Link) in Twilight Sky - Sunshine Yarns for the sunhine september KAL. Yes we know it's not september yet but that is when the KAL finishes so the name works. ;) Then to figure out what to knit next - so many favorites to little time! Think I might do Dragon Breath socks (Ravelry Link) in my Dobby yarn (Ravelry Link) - Sunshine Yarns. Need a change of pace from scarves after this one. Not that is it really a hard pattern but I need something quick and relatively sinple to work on next.

Wednesday, July 29, 2009

yay for knitting!

the dress for madelyn was a hit and should fit her. i actually did my first little bit of crochet around the edges and it didn't look too bad! then i made my blue hobo or mary poppins bag using the grrrlfriend market bag pattern and some sugar and cream yarn i had just sitting around. made a mini one as a gift and am currently working on the drop scarf version of the clapotis. which i have to fix some boo-boos on right now so back to it!

Wednesday, July 15, 2009

It's done.....

But I can't share it here......at least not yet I promise there will eventually be pics shared of my mom's Christmas gift. :) It looks so pretty and dried fast from the blocking that really brought out the pattern so well.

I have since moved on to birthday knitting.....which really is last minute knitting because Madelyn's birthday is Saturday.
>.>

<.<

But really I already had a gift ready for her - it was requested that I make another Bunny Blanket Buddy a while back from my brother. Because the one I made for her sister Keira - is Maddy's favorite toy! hehe I just so happened to already have a blue/periwinkle one sitting here sans face and told him so. He however requested that it 'has to have the scary face on it like the other one' - he quoted my words back to me after I told him it was faceless. :) So I have to getthe face on it but I wanted to make a little cotton dress for her like I did for Keira. Using my Mission Falls 1824 Cotton in Aubugerine I cast on the Bella Colour Toddler Jumper (Ravelry link).

The sad part was I cast on while watching kids at the Jazzercise club house since they were mostly older kids entertaining themselves. I did so before I realized I did not have a row counter or a stitch marker to my name with me. >.< So I made so by using my ring as a stitch marker and got to second row. Now to get back to it so I can hopefully get it done by the party time. We might not be going :( so I might have more time but I'm hoping to get it done by Saturday just the same.

Tuesday, June 30, 2009

I suck......

at this it would seem lately. I dunno what my time is spent on *coughknittingcough* that there isn't a spare moment to actually blog. So as promised this post is somewhat picture heavy - I decided to do mosaic's of what I have bought/compleated/been gifted vs. individual picture posts.

This is all the Sunshine Yarn that has been bought in the last 2 months as well as the 1 skein that I won in the May KAL in the Sunshine Yarnies group. :)

SY Yarns

(Top Row: Glideroy Lockheart, Phoenix, Jasper & Emmett. Middle Row: Twilight Sky, Alice's Porsche, Starry Night & Wisteria. Bottom Row: Snape, Dept. Of Mysteries, Dumbledore, Phoenix rovings.)


This set is of my completed knits so far this year.

2009 Knits

(Top Row: Snowflake socks in Night Walk, Snowflake Socks in Cabernet & Leisel in Jasper. Bottom Row: River Rapids Socks in Cornish Pixies, Porphyria Mitts in Buffy & Lily's scarf.)


This set is of things that have been gifted to me and other yarns bought.

Other yarns

(Top Row: Mission Falls 1824 cotton in Aubergine, Merino Yarn [Odd Duck Swap] & Sisu [Odd Duck Swap. Bottom Row: Merino Roving [Odd Duck Swap], Araucunia Ulmo Multy & Greenfield Village Yarn)

And now I gotta dash to make it to the clubhouse on time and then on to knit night! :)

Current knitting project - My mom's Christmas present so no sneak peeks!

Thursday, June 11, 2009

Life......

Has been crazy enough that I pretty much forgot I even had a blog. Not quite sure how that was possible but I just haven't blogged in months it feels like.

Life in general - school is out the kids are home and I am once again crazy. However I can send hem to play and sit and knit because with the exception of 2 days a week - I have no where to be. Went to Mackinac Island with Julia a week ago - had a blast and I loved being almost in the UP. Made me contemplate going further up north and I just might have if I was driving......Hubby would have killed me though. Maybe next year with or without him I want to go up there.

Yarns - Yes I have bought more. No I am not posting them here.....at least not right now. I'll do a separate (picture heavy) post with them in it and possibly the completed knitted items.

Knitting - 2 pairs of snowflake socks, some porphyria mitts in my Buffy colorway, a pretty scarf, and I am almost done with Lily's scarf (finally!). It has become my mindless tv knitting.

Spinning - I finished spinning half the roving I started forever ago at knit night on my newest spindle. Now to get it off there in hopes of plying it with the other half once it is spun as well. And yes there are some more rovings that will be posted in the new yarns post as well. My bins are overflowing - but I'm not buying any bigger ones just knitting with the stuff I have to make room for more. It's getting some Christmas presents out of the way early this way. :)

Back to cleaning now seeing as I was roped into having a playdate at my house when the house is a mess. Darn kids!

Saturday, May 9, 2009

B-day pressies and such! picture heavy sry :)

First off I finished the Sunshine Yarns Butterbeer socks! Had to take a pic of them with my cat as the colorway was almost his coloring. They are so pretty - see:


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Then I cast on my next pair in Sunshine Yarns Cabernet for the May KAL. I am knitting the Snowflake socks. :) Aren't they pretty so far? I am of course on the foot portion now and haven't taken current pics.

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Wednesday was my b-day and Amy sent me the rest of my gifts. I'd gotten the yarn & stitch markers earlier as we traded Weasley's Wizard Wheezes - she got twist and I bought the merino sport to trade her. :) And the ebil sneaky woman bought this yarn around Christmas time an teased me with it when all along it was for me - EBIL! J. Knits superwash sock in AC# 130 soooooo pretties!

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She made those project bags for me and some pretty stitch markers (family set and Twilight!!!!!) that are not in the pics cuz I forgot them. >.> So here they are! And the lovely coffee cozy that she made a few of but I love it and will use it often instead of the cardboard ones! :) Aren't the bags awesome?! The bowling one is super special and appropriate - a friend of ours from her school dragged her to join our team one year and we have been BFF's ever since!

Twilight Markers, take 2

Jenni's Bday Markers


And my newest Sunshine Yarns rovings. :)

Bella in 65% Superwash Merino/ 35% Silk
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Wisteria in 100% Organic Merino
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Friday, April 24, 2009

Just cuz.....

These things are fun :) And it just shows how much Amy and I belong together HAHAHAHAHA :D



Thursday, April 23, 2009

Random silliness

So I took the How I Met Your Mom - Which character are you quiz on buddytv.com and these are my results. ;) hehe


Which How I Met Your Mother Character Are You?

More on How I Met Your Mother. Created by BuddyTV

In knitting and such I have one sleeve added to Keira's b-day dress and cast on the other today. Got a pre-birthday package from Amy. :) I got my Weasley's Wizard Wheezes in the mail and the J. Knits that I have been drooling over ever since she bought it last year. I'll post pics tomorrow once I have charged batteries in the camera or more time to take them. :)

Saturday, April 18, 2009

Sunshine!

For today and in my mailbox yesterday! YAY

I took pics just a few minutes ago because the kids have been all over the place this weekend already! J went to a girl scout pool badge event and ended up spending the night at a friends house after a playdate with her. Picked her up this morning and found out it was the first sleepover that had been hosted at the girl's house before - J was very well behaved. So glad to hear it! Miss emo-pants B comes back from her overnight with her troop this afternoon. Let's see how well she did and how clingy she will be when she gets home.

Now to the Sunshine-y goodness!

I ordered some Harry Potter inspired yarns this update (woot!) and one is a different base that is going to Amy in trade for her's in Twist base.

Dobby
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Ginny
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Hermione
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Weasley's Wizard Wheezes in Merino Sport
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Friday, April 17, 2009

Secret Pal finale

Today I got a surprise, I knew my Sunshine Yarns order would be in the mail today, when my mailman knocked at the door and there was a box it stumped me at first. 1) I'd only ordered 4 skeins and 2) I didn't even bother to look at the label but was wondering why my yarn order was so heavy. Come to find out the lovely Bobbi sent me my final box after having moved. :) It was jam packed full with all sorts of goodies. As you can see below I got some Claudia Hand Painted Yarns Cotton Ball in Passion fruit, "Outlander" by Diana Gabaldon, EZ's Knitter's Almanac, Fit from Within, yummy Lindt Lamm chocolates, a super cool Interweave knits tote with a Franklin Habit drawing on it, a book mark, 52 rainy day activity cards, some cute tissues, a sheep coin purse or small notions holder, a sheep pez dispenser, a sheep magnet, a sheep mini memo pad & pen, a sheep list notepad, sheep notecards, and a sheep daily memo pad. Thank you Bobbi I love it all!


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Saturday, April 11, 2009

Yarns! VERRRY picture heavy sry.......

I had to look at my blog to see what had indeed been posted already. All my new rovings were posted so now it's all just the new yarns from Sunshine Yarns and a few others as well. I bought a crap ton of cotton yarn from Meijer a while back. What it was on sale and I do have a plan for it. The women's fall retreat with my home church I am doing a workshop and teaching knitting dishcloths. All the completed dishclothes go to be sold at the Great Lakes Christian Home.

I bought some Cotton Fleece on ravelry. In Cavern and Charcoal.

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Now the Sunshine goodies! I bought the following:
Night walk
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Cabernet
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Variegated Mini Skeins
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Twilight yarns - Forks
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Bella
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Midnight Sun
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Esme Island
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And I have started knitting Butterbeer from Sunshine into the Spring Forward socks. Aren't they pretty?
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now I am off to my aunt's for Easter. Hope everyone has a happy holiday and a great spring break if not already done!

Friday, March 27, 2009

I'm on a mission.....

First off the Katy Perry concert is tonight and I need to clean my living room and vacuum a LOT. Mostly because my babysitter is allergic to cats. Can't have her getting super sick while we are gone almost an hour away! So I clean....

Knitting - Keira's b-day dress is on hold at the moment. I am attempting to make a February Lady Sweater in time for my sister-in-law's wedding. I got a cute dress but well it's got small straps and we DO live in Michigan so I want to be warm if it's not that day. :) I also picked up another project that I hope to have done as soon as possible after the FLS - a comfort blanket for this project:

Nautical Yarn info@nauticalyarn.com is the “clearinghouse” for the Ludington Chapter of Project Linus. We typically collect 100-200 blankets each year and deliver them to our local hospital for children who have been ill or injured.

This week we received a request from the Michigan National Guard. Camp Grayling, Engineering Company, Unit 1434 is requesting the help of Blanketeers from the Ludington Chapter of Project Linus. Two-hundred fifty (250) Michigan soldiers are being deployed this spring. These soldiers would like to give Project Linus blankets to their children for safety, security, and remembrance while Mom or Dad is gone for one or more years.

A total of 500 blankets are needed. While we don’t believe we can collect 500 blankets, we would like to assist with blankets for the more vulnerable age group, children between the ages of 4 and 10. Blankets must be delivered to Nautical Yarn by May 1 so they can be delivered to the soldiers prior to their deployment.

Please help with this endeavor to help provide security for the children of our Michigan volunteer soldiers.

Nautical Yarn and several yarn companies, especially Plymouth and Berroco, have generously provided FREE kits to help with this blanket drive. Stop by Nautical Yarn to pick up your free kit (while supplies last).

If you are able to make a blanket for this endeavor to help provide security for the children of our Michigan volunteer soldiers, it would be greatly appreciated

Please email info@nauticalyarn.com

The nice thing about this is that if local - they have kits with yarn for FREE how cool is that. If not local the suggested size is 3 ft x 4 ft in a washable yarn. And then it can be mailed to them as long as it's there by May 1, 2009. So I'm heading out tomorrow and going to pick up some more yarn (I know I know really don't have space for it now but hey I'm knitting it I swear!) for the blanket that I hope to get done in time.

Spinning - I still have roving on my spindles that I need to take off and set, and one to finish spinning that half of the roving before I attempt to ply for the first time. I bought more Sunshine Yarns roving last week. posting pictures below. I bought yarn this week and let me tell you was it hard to NOT buy at least 1 of everything that I loved!

As promised :D

Second Roving of Sangria - a little more orange but I love it!
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Peach blossoms roving - yum!
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Color Collection - Sangria, Wildflowers, Rainforest, Daffodils, Bitterroot, Spiced & Arctic
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And a little something green for ordering on St. Patty's day - a St. Patty's Day mini skein. :)
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Now back to cleaning!

Tuesday, March 17, 2009

More sunshine

What can I say stalking the site for updates is not good for my health....err I mean not good for my wallet. :D I bought more Sunshine roving today - more Sangria, some Peach Blossom that I missed last time and some Color Collection which is a few diff colors. Sounds super fun! What can I say I like getting things in the mail and since I am lacking in the swap department at the moment I am using retail therapy to remedy that.

Ok back to messing around the house before I get to run out for the evening and spend 'adult time' with some of my favorite ladies at the 'Bou!

Sunshine and Jesus Freaks

Saturday was a great day. I got my rovings from Sunshine Yarns - woot! Pictures below. :) I bought Alpine and Sangria (got the last one!) and wanted Peach Blossom, Vampire and Watercolors. They were all so pretty it was hard not to get a box of roving like someone I know. >.>

Alpine
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Sangria
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I got the mail on my way to meet the rest of the worship team for the Winter Jam concert at EMU. A few bands that played were Hawk Nelson, The Afters, Newsong, Brandon Heath, Stephanie Smith, Francesca Battistelli and of course Toby Mac (formerly of DC Talk). The seats were general admission and we had nose bleed seats at the side of the stage. But the concert rocked. Toby Mac closed it out and had everyone on their feet singing along. He even closed it out with an old DC Talk song "Jesus Freak" it was AWESOME.

Knitting front - I have finally started a new project - Purple Summer Dress. I'm making this for Keira's birthday (my niece). It's a pretty simple pattern and I'll probably make more since I bought enough yarn to make at least one more in a different color. :) This is the top of the dress so far.

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I did start spinning my roving last week at knit night. I'm about half way through the roving right now and I'd say mostly at fingering to DK weight of what is spun.

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Monday, March 9, 2009

Cookies and yarns!

Well Friday I drove to Lansing to deliver my family's orders of cookies. Man was it windy driving! But I also stopped at Threadbear Fiber Arts because they were having their bi-annual cleaning sale. They had some great deals (flat feet 50% off!) there and yes I bought stuff. I got some Flat Feet sock yarn, a new 1.2 oz. spindle (about 10" long), and some more roving. I love the person who dyes this roving. This is the third roving dyed by them that I have bought from Threadbear. :) I'm wondering if it's a local dyer....I should ask on Ravelry. And I did look at The Yarn Pirate's sale as well but I think I'm saving to buy some of the roving that goes online tomorrow at Sunshine Yarns. Some really pretty ones in the newsletter she went out!

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Oh and today I used my 10% off coupon at The Dizzy Sheep to get some Mission Falls 1824 cotton yarn. I loved the little dress pattern they show at the bottom and thought it would be super cute for my nieces! I got enough to make two dresses in the colors Jade and Sky.

Knitting news - I wound my yarn from my SP13 spoiler into balls to get the socks started. I am starting to wonder about the mohair in it and if when I two-strand knit with the two colors if that will make the socks even warmer. These might end up being my around the house socks if that is the case. We keep out heat low in the winter to cut down on the bill so I am always bundled up since I am always cold. Go figure I live in Michigan! lol I haven't cast anything on yet. I am debating starting my roving I posted the other day on my new spindle instead of knitting right now. But with my table being in the car for cookie booths I have no place to prep the roving and keep it right now. Boo. :(

Swaps - waiting on my reveal box for SP13. My pal is in the process of packing up their house to sell it - so I understand the delay. I am also in limbo on my Princess Bride swap for the Odd Ducks group on Ravelry. I just patiently check my mailbox daily in hopes that I'll have either package soon. I signed up for another Odd Ducks swap - the 80s & 90s Nickelodeon shows swap. this should be fun!

Thursday, March 5, 2009

COOOOOOOOOKKKIIIIIIIIIIIEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS

That of course was said in my best cookie monster voice as I typed it. :) It's that time of year when my house starts to fill with girl scout cookie boxes that need to be delivered to family. And right now I only have one kids order in my house, well in my car really but you get my drift. Extra crap in an already small house is not fun. Good thing I am planning a trip tomorrow to deliver the cookies.

This will be the second of three trips to Lansing this week alone. Tuesday was my friend's father's funeral. I may not have seen her in about a year but I felt this was a trip that needed to be made to be there for her and her hubby. Tomorrow to deliver cookies. And then Saturday to run around like chickens with our heads cut off trying to visit everyone. Namely hubby's grandma who was just moved into a nursing home, then his parents because they miss us, and at some point my bff's from high school Em and Josh. But tomorrow will not only be cookie delivery but a trip to Threadbear - they are having a their bi-annual clearance sale that starts today. YAY 50% off Harry Potter sock yarns!

Knitting news - I bought some Sunshine Yarns Twist sock yarn a week ago in Butterbeer and Cornish Pixies - both Harry Potter colors. I also got the Harry Potter mini skein set in Twist. So pretty! I am getting my The Unique Sheep yarn into balls to start the pattern from my secret pal from SP13. I can't wait to see how they colors look knit together. So that is what I am casting on next. And then I am finally gonna finish the scarves on my needles. Really I am. I swear it this time... >.>

Friday, February 27, 2009

How my day really went.....

Well my schedule wasn't quite how I said it would go. The table wasn't cleaned off until this afternoon. The kids were at the door waiting until the oldest wandered away after I got there. We went to where I signed up for our cookie booth to be - they told me I was wrong - no booths here. So I went to the other movie place they said yup booth is here. We set up my youngest (whose booth it was) goes to the bathroom and has an accident. We head back toward home but stop at the school because it's closer. She had everything BUT underwear. I stole some from the office, the principal knew I did it. ;) We get back to the booth and then things seem to go good for the rest of the time. I get home am told sil is going to be late. I look at my paperwork - I was right on the location that I signed up for. I called the person in charge of the booths - he said yup you should have been there. WE lucked out on being able to even be at the other location because no one was signed up for that time there.

*Bangs head on wall repeatedly*

YIKES

I swear there aren't enough hours in the day for all the crap I need to get done. Today alone is enough to make me want to pull my hair or have a big dessert (or drink) waiting for me at the end of the day. Here is my schedule so far:
now to 10:30 clean off my folding table to use it tonight, find a place for all the 'things' (read crap) on the table;
10:30 get ready for work;
11:00 leave for work, remember to check mailbox at school for booth change and check for cookies;
1:30 done working head to cookie cupboard to pick-up booth order for tonight; come home and figure out how to fit long folding table, 11 cases of cookies, booth posters, 3 girls and their backpacks into my Jimmy after school today;
3:30 pick girls up slightly early from school to get to booth on-time to set up;
4-6 pm cookie booth and listen to my girls whine about how hungry they are from lack of food (like I won't pack a snack or something >.> makes note now......);
6:15 pack up and head home for oldest and youngest to get picked up and leave for the weekend;
Eat and then crash in bed.

Cookie booth time drives me crazy and this year I got the brilliant idea to pick Friday nights vs. Saturday afternoons. Something to do with a few field trips already being scheduled on the mornings available or something like that. Which means I have to RUSH from the school to the booth spot and get it all set up and hope that the girls remember. Not to mention that I will have my 3 girls at both the Friday booths and only 1 is in the troop and works the first Friday only. ARGH!

The oldest and youngest are being kidnapped by my sister-in-law for the weekend so they can be fitted for flowergirl/jr bridesmaids whatever they heck they are going to be in my sil's wedding. 2 of them are wearing flowergirl dresses and the oldest is having a bridesmaid's dress altered to fit her. I'm not paying for them and sil picked them out so I'm not complaining about it......yet. As long as it all works out I'm ok with it.

Knitting news - nada, zip, zero, zilch, nothing. I got nothing. The dish/wash cloth is sitting next to me forgotten because of all the craziness that is my week, well next few weeks. But I am finishing it as soon as the table is cleared off. That should be on the list...... And somewhere in there I wanted to actually go workout HAHAHAHAHA Yeah I don't see that happening today at all unless I go back out tonight.

Off to do my list of chores... :)

Saturday, February 21, 2009

Hehehe good times

So last night (well really a few hours ago now) some friends and I went out to celebrate one of their birthdays. We went to BD's Mongolian BBQ - if you have one local and haven't been go there before 4 pm (half price then) - awesome food. Mind you I don't drink much but when I do - look out. The last time we were here we had this Mango Madness drink and ordered them again. Well we were sat in HOT Joe's section. Two of us are married and the birthday girl is divorced........but we were ALL drooling over this cutie. I'll freely admit it. However I'm not the one who kept putting her foot in her mouth. :) We were his entertainment for the evening as he put it. LOL were we ever! Being that it was Tara's b-day she got a free dessert and he only brought one spoon and went in search or 2 more. Gen decided to not wait and after a few minutes took Tara's spoon when she wet it down and ate with that. She had tipped the dessert cup up to her mouth and Joe stopped by. He mentions that she is 'drinking that like a champ' and she just about spits it out. Then he says ' what am I going to do with you ladies?' At this time Tara and my drinks are gone but Gen still has some to go. She replies 'anything you want........did I just say that out loud?' We bust out laughing. Needless to say he got a good tip and when Gen payed with a credit card he asked to see ID - noted that she was from Florida and stated he would be moving there in about 6 months. As we wait for the receipt she says somthing silly about mentioning where she lives and if he is ever in the area to stop by her work (starbucks). Then she actually said it to him. We laughed harder at her.

We left and headed over to 5th Avenue in Novi. They had a live band - The Underdog. They were great I think there was only one song I didn't know the words to that they played. They even played "Video killed the Radiostar" by The Buggles - how cool is that (pretty cool I think!). But Tara only knew maybe 2 songs and kept looking at me weird for singing along to all their songs. I kept asking her how she didn't know the music because she is older than me and should have known The Buggles?!?! But we discovered a drink that really is dangerous - the Superman shot. Yummy and tastes like superman ice cream. I was DD and had fun watching them get smashed because let's face it I may be younger but I am a lightweight now. :)

Knitting news - 1 of 2 dish/wash cloths done and will have the other done tomorrow and be stopping at the post office or my local Meijer which ever is open when I venture out. Now it's bed time and strangely I am wide awake. This is not a good sign. Guess I have to go read myself to sleep now....

Thursday, February 19, 2009

Bleh

I decided to start spinning some of my fiber that I am hoarding instead of knitting right now. This in particular is calling to me.....

tday yarn 019

I have a few projects that I want to get done for swaps but they require me to a) finish other projects to get the needles or b) buy new needles. I decided to procrastinate a little. Just a little. :) But really I plan to attack at least one of the projects later to get the needles and get that swap box out.

As requested I am letting you all know that I posted an entry on the Mom's who rock blog. I went with the classic of Becca and the shopping cart and how the Meijer floor won. Complete with pictures because I have already proven that I am a mean mom who documents everything. Well what I can remember to that is. :)

I suppose I should get some breakfast in me soon. It was an early morning with trying to convince the hubby that not all coffee tastes like "burnt plant" to use his words. He made some yesterday and used what should have been - for me at least - a 16 cup serving of grounds! So to save my coffee maker I made it this morning....well I set the timer last night to make it this morning. But I did get up and add the chocolate syrup and silk to it for him. He is at the starter level where it has to have a TON of sugar to make it good for him. I just laugh because I used to be that way before discovering the flavored coffees.

On a different note my brother called me last night to let me know my Dad is selling his house. Why? Well because he and my step-mom are getting divorced - again. They are a long story to say the least. When I was 14 my mom and dad got divorced. My dad had already been seeing my step-mom and within a month of the divorce being final he was married to my step-mom. My brother and I tried to ask him to wait a while before getting married and we were told no. So then when it came time the summer after senior year to tell them I was pregnant she was moving out and leaving my dad then. She threw a fit about me being pregnant and having just bought me new clothes because duh I was preggo and couldn't fit into my old stuff. They managed to get back together in a year and were remarried shortly after that. Evidently the fighting has gotten worse between them and she just can't live with him anymore. My dad just simply told my brother "see what I have to put up with." We of course were not shocked because we knew what an uber b**ch she is and have had her rants directed at us as well. As much as I have come to like her and get along with her now - I love my dad more and want him to be happy. Hopefuly this time they will work it out - however that ends up being I don't care. I'm worried about the girls and how they are going to take it because she has been their Grandma this whole time but is not a blood relation. I know they will miss her and want to spend time with her - but will she. Gah that is a long paragraph of venting! Ok I'm posting this now - Thanks for listening. :D

Sunday, February 15, 2009

Crazy

Life is simply crazy right now. I haven't cast on a new project, ok wait that is a lie..... I have cast on Bella's Mittens by subliminalrabbit but I don't know how to use the magic loop method and am debating using dpns vs to circular needles to complete them. So cast on and joined but nothing else.

Kids are off on break this week and will have another break around Easter time. So yay no getting up early except to push the hubby out of bed in the morning and then turn the alarm back off!

I came home from church this morning/afternoon and was too wiped out. I basically had lunch and then crashed until about 15 minutes ago. And I still feel tired. Hope I'm not coming down with something. :(

I've been asked to contribute on a new blog: Moms Who Rock. A friend of mine started it and it will ahve stories and articales posted from other moms. So if you check it out - I know I am posting the round brush story on there and another one about shopping carts and where kids should not sit in them. But haven't posted anything yet. :)

Saturday, February 7, 2009

Good grief

The van thing on Thursday was all because it was too cold to start that morning. Hubby started it when he got home and it started right up. hehe So he put this fancy heater thing on it so it would start on friday.

This morning I went and worked out for the first time at Jazzercise. I chose the Lite class cuz well I suck and needed to see how much work it would be. I'm glad I went with Lite because it kicked my butt. In a good way though. :) But the instructor said it takes your body 8 weeks to get used to the adjustment when you start working out....hmmmm 2 months. Well as long as I lose I'm ok with that. :) I'm a little sore right now but it was fun.

Knitting - I am almost done with the second mitt. I have one more repeat to finish and then the end ribbing before moving on to the thumb. Then I plan to tackle the mistake I made on the first thumb. I somehow managed to drop a stitch and then when I picked it up skipped a row and need to fix it. You can't really tell but I know it 's there and if they were just for me I'd say forget it but they are a gift so it's getting fixed! And a super happy thought - our knit group is now meeting every Tuesday night! I'll have to see how that works in the budget and if the hubby will let me out once a week instead of every other! :D

Thanks for the virtual hugs and kicks in the butt - love you guys!

Thursday, February 5, 2009

Well crap

So this week is pretty much the week from hell. Monday we had problems with the van starting - come to find out that a fuse was blown. Tuesday - work was the pits....we broke up 2 fights in the first 20 minutes of recess and had 2 shipped teeth in the same mouth. Wednesday - we learned that I cannot have caffeine within an hour of my kids getting home from school - the drive me batsh*t with the silliest things. Thursday - the van won't start yet again and OH JOY happy 10 years to me today.....just the way I wanted to spend our anniversary - being a taxi driver! And the kids tell me they are out of cereal. How are they out of cereal already? I did by one of the 2 lb. bags and another 1 lb. bag. Well when hubby opened the 2 lb. bag it kinda exploded all over the floor - lost about 1/3 of the bag. Still should ahve had enough to get through the entire week.....well my kids spilled about 2 bowls full of cereal as well. Again still should have had enough - oh yeah the kids pour their own cereal and then DON"T eat it all and of course have had milk in it and throw it out. *SIGH*

And yes I could fix the van with the money out of my check but that is going to fix the bumper of a car that I backed into in a parking lot and made sure to do the right thing and leave a note. Got that call on Monday of this week too - again *SIGH* Well I guess I have to drive the hubby to work this morning adn them drop the kids to school and then try to figure out how I am going to have enough gasoline to get him from work this afternoon as well. This is turning out to be such a happy day!

Sunday, February 1, 2009

Bleh!

Where the heck did January go? Here I am thinking I still have some time but nope not a single bit left. Yikes! I have 2 swap packages to go out this month - preferably in the next 10 days as they should be to their destinations BEFORE the end of the month. I also have my 10 year anniversary coming up this Thursday. GAH has it really been that long! >.< And the middle monster turns 9 this month as well. And numerous other Girl scout events between the 3 yup 3 troops that all the girls are in. It's cookie time again - did I mention I am cookie mom for the youngest daughter's troop? SUPER busy is my life right now. So yeah this blog kinda slipped but hey I did manage to get 5 posts last month! Not that that really is a lot or anything, I'm just saying.......

And I just lost my train of thought because I left to do something else away from my blogger page......RATS! oh and it's dinner time anyways :)

Monday, January 19, 2009

Meme stolen from Amy........

Cuz they are fun I say! hehe

1. Started my own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than I can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland/world
8. Climbed a mountain
10. Sung a solo
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched lightening at sea
14. Taught myself art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown my own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitchhiked
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a Marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of my ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught myself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing (indoor)
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had my portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had my picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a lawsuit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee
100. Rode an elephant

Wow I really have done less than Amy.....do I get extra points for having had more than one kid? ;) I think I should. lol

Knitting- I have frogged the Hedgerow socks. The ladders I was getting using dpns sucked so I will use my circs once I have finished to project currently on them. Which would be Porphyria some mitts that I am making for a swap pal. Yes, I am in more than one swap so I won't say which one in case they snoop. :) I also got a bunch of goodies for my swapees today. Hopefully they will both like their gifts.

Friday, January 16, 2009

I got a package!

My hubby got the mail today and there was a package. I thought oh goody the book we ordered is here - nope it's from my secret pal! Look at the pretty yarn I got! yum sheep with chocolate kisses. :)

sp13 pkg 2 002

sp13 pkg 2 003

The yarn is from The Unique Sheep in Verve Lake Erie and Leili Tow Path - both are used in the included toe up sock pattern. :) And both are yummy! Can't wait to start this and see how long it takes me to get the hang of it. I love how I got Lake Erie since I live in Michigan - what a cowinky-dink. ;)

Thank you pal! I totally LOVE the yarn that you sent and the sock pattern is new and a new technique for me - YAY!

Tuesday, January 13, 2009

SIGH & SP13 QOW

Cars are fixed YAY! Oh and I won a $200 visa gift card from the radio the other day - woot that went toward the repairs of course. :) Today is my oldest girl's birthday - she is 10 in about 2 hours. Where did the time go?!?!?!?!?!? Not to mention that she is almost as tall as half our family (my mom and aunts....ok not a big deal there) but if she keeps growing like that she will probably be as tall as me - 5'8" or taller since her dad is.....sigh

SP13 QOW - What is one thing you think you can't do that you really want to do in 2009? Please elaborate!

Well I know I can't crochet. I mean I can make a mean chain but anything further and the patterns confuse me. I have books and have borrowed books from my library and to me it seems that knitting is better explained than crochet is. Crochet is of course younger than knitting so that might explain it. I have even sat with ladies at our knit night and they took my pattern and ran with it but I was lost after the first part.

But what I'd really like to do but haven't would probably be tackling a big project like a sweater. Most likely the February Lady sweater to be exact. And of course I don't want to follow the pattern exactly - I want to do one of the variations off it. Or maybe it was more than one I can't remember which I liked better. It seems like forever since I was on Ravelry looking around.

Knitting news - I worked more on my sock at the Fiber party our knitting group had this past Saturday. There was a total of 3 of us there - the hostess, another lady and myself. We had a blast and were all local to the area so the crap ton of snow that was coming down all day and that night didn't bother us too much. I have started getting things around for a pair of mitts I plan to make. The pattern for Porphyria by Cissy Black is pretty and one that I want to try out with my Buffy the Vampire Slayer tvyarn. :)

Thursday, January 8, 2009

Just call me car killer.....

Well this is pretty much a week from heck and its almost over with. Earlier this week my van started leaking antifreeze worse than before so we stopped driving it. But we hadn't been driving the hubbsters car because of the wheel bearing starting to come loose. With the van leaking we had to use it and a co-worker said it should be fine for short trips. It made it 2.5 days before it got to the point that if I had driven it much more I think the wheel would have come off. At least I wasn't that far from hubbsters work and turned around to leave it there. SO glad he has some mechanical training and is order the part and will fix it today after work. When I parked the wheel was on an angle tilted in toward the engine so you know it was getting bad. UGH!!!!!! only 6 more months and then hopefully his car will be paid off and we can use mine as a trade in on someting newer. But this leaves me bumming a ride from one of the other ladies I work with for today since I am supposed to be working kindergarten for the regular lady and amd the only one today who knows how to out of those of us regulars that will be there. *SIGH* It'll all be better tomorrow when we take the van in for a fix as well and tehn it'll be back to having to working cars for a while longer until the next silly thing breaks.

Knitting news - nada, zip, zero zilch! Nothing is done. I worked on my hedgerow socks over break and got further than I had before I frogged them. But I haven't picked up anything recently for some reason. Not starting anything (prolly a good thing) and not finishing any of my current projects. At this point when I finish the two scarves I have to do it will be spring and they won't need them. LOL Hopefully I'll get to working on them tomorrow and Saturday while waiting on the van to get fixed. Fun fun!

Well gotta dash cuz I need to get ready before my friend gets her to pick me up. Hope everyone is having a better day than I am! :)

Saturday, January 3, 2009

I got a package!

And sorry pal for the delay in posting! Craziness is my life with the holidays and being sick - again. UGH!

About a week ago I got this awesome box in the mail from my secret pal. :)

christmas1 040

Inside was even better - even Jack decided he HAD to smell everything!


christmas1 043

So In my lovely package was the following: some colorful Catania Color yarn, a bar of goat milk soap - so pretty, some bath confetti (keeping this away from the girls!), Berkshire Mountain Blend coffee - yum can't wait to try this, an Herbal Tea sampler - the white pear was yummy!, a mug, a Christmas tree note holder and the cute dog card wishing me a brightly colored holiday!

Thanks pal!!!

Christmas was good I felt better then and I even surprised my Aunt with the Owl cloths with matching towel. But I had to borrow a needle at her house to get the button on the towel. She came over and saw the towel and said it was good work but didn't see the owl on it to know it was for her. hehe I just kinda started laughing and showed my mom who laughed with me. My aunt laughed later when she opened the gift and saw it. Then I had to print the pattern for her because she'd never seen a washcloth with a design in the middle. And I got her on ravelry too. yay!

My mom got me Fraggle Rock! Ok so she got it for both me AND my brother each. But she had gotten his first and then went out to get mine once I said I wanted it. hehe I got the better boxed set. We told Matt is was because she loved me better. :D I also got soem Nora Robert's novel's from her a shirt from her trip to Alaska AND a giftcard to Threadbear. That I had to wait a week to use since we were coming back then for more parties. I got some undyed roving and some size 2US circulars for a pattern I wanted to make. yay!

Now back to cleaning - UGH!
Secret Pal December package