Back from vacation

Ahhh it is so nice to be home. I mean, don't get me wrong, I love going on vacation - however there is something to be said about coming home.

Our new camera took some wonderful shots of Mystic, CT. It was amazing that I could take a shot through a window and have it actually come out. There is this 'aquarium' setting on the camera that make it appear that the glass between you and the object you are taking a photo of, is not there. The best part is that you can just put the setting on 'auto' and press the shutter. Viola!

One of the reasons we went into that area was Mystic River Yarns store. Sina was holding some yarn for me that I need for my next project (details in next post). Then, I couldn't resist buying another skein of yarn that I swore 'spoke to me'.

We stayed at the Whaler's Inn. Of which was really nice and you could not beat the location! We were able to keep the car in their parking lot and just walk to everything. Ideal!

I'll have pictures of things in my next post...need to install the camera software and get the pics into a lower resolution.

Out with the old...in with the new

camera!

Our old camera was a 3 mega pixel camera. We bought it about 5 years ago, needless to say it did take some nice pictures, however, in the past few months every so often it would create a blury picture (this while it was on the camera stand!). Go figure.

So, in our vacation week spending money we splurged on a new camera.

Introducing the Canon Powershot SX100 IS, that would be 8 mega pixels...thank you very much! We opted for the memory card for $24.99 and now we can take over 1100 pictures on one card.

So, now there isn't any excuse for nice photos!

I was able to take a nice photo of the bag. Yes...I'm STILL working on it.The brown material makes up the four pockets in this bag.

How about leaving you with a nice garden photo:

Dyeing

I finally got around today to using some of the Paas dyes the DH bought for me for Easter. All I have to say is what a fun activity and I can see myself doing this again soon!

Here were my steps:

I mixed up the dye disks into vinegar, then added the water. Time to turn the ivory yarn into color. I chose orange, purple and green.Into the steaming pot it goes to set the color.After some steaming and rinsing.To me it is just beautiful!

Now hurry up and dry....

Twisted Headband

I found this pattern on Ravelry the other day and couldn't resist. The Bamboo tape really takes to the pattern quite well.

Needles: US 8/5 mm
Yarn: Berroco Bonsai Bamboo Tape
Color: Green
Pattern: Dream Stitch Head Wrap by Wendy Bernard

It is so nice and soft, unlike how the photo makes it look almost tweed-like. It took me a little while to figure out this new stitch, you make 3 YO's then crisscross the 6 stitches. Once I got the hang of it, it wasn't really that bad.

I did take her pattern and bring the width to half. Wendy created the pattern with 24 CO's, however I chose to CO 12. I think it will make a better headband in this width.

Now back to sewing...

Cozy #2...

I finished with a whole day to spare! I love when that happens. I used the scarf pattern from Last Minute Knitted Gifts. I really like how it came out in the Sea Silk.In this photo you can see the YO's that make up the pattern. I really need to make myself one now, as I love the way it looked when I was trying it on.

I'm back on the sewing front now that the neck cozy is completed. Here are some of the fabrics I'm using. I have a total of 6-fat quarters that I'm using. Yes...I know that you do not see the full 6...I need to keep some surprises! :-)My goal is to get it all sewed up tomorrow...ummmm right! :-)

What procrastination...

I'm starting to freak at the time I have left to finish the neck cozy. I've also added making a bag for my sister's birthday. So, in the next 7 days I need to complete the neck cozy and I have 15 days to wash, cut and sew up a bag. No problem! I like stress. ;-)

The bag is going to be made from this Daydreams fabric kit from Keepsake Quilting. I then ordered the matching fabric to complete the project. The idea is to create a bag that can fit a pocketbook and lunch pail into.

So I'm off to get the craft table set up and start cutting...

100th post

Who would have thought I would have hit my 100th post?! So have you read all of them or do you just skim them looking for something important?

I'm knitting, just not as much with these Jodi Picoult books! I'll take some pictures in the next few days and post them.

In the meantime, feel free to chart your linguistic profile:

Your Linguistic Profile:

40% General American English 35% Yankee 10% Dixie 10% Upper Midwestern 0% Midwestern

What Kind of American English Do You Speak?

New Purchases

I don't know where my head has been lately. Somewhere between the "...port of indecision and southwest of disorder..."

I've made a few purchases from The Loopy Ewe. I found a new Sea Silk in the colorway Cosmic Dawn that I just could not pass up. I also purchased my first pattern for a set of wrist warmers. It is designed by Monica Knits and you can see it here. Sheri was having a LG bonus, so I was sent a Loopy Ewe stitch marker and a sock pattern for free. BONUS!

I'm working on another neck cozy. I really enjoyed the way Gram's knit up, so I'm making another one. This time instead of the bamboo I'm going with the Sea Silk. I'm using the same pattern from Last Minute Knitted Gifts.
I'm also working on my shawl. Although that is taking so much longer. I was reading a knitting book the other day and it make reference to the fact that we, as knitters, will complain more about casting off 100 stitches than CO 10 stitches and knitting 10 rows. How true is that? I really feel it has to do with progress, if I did 10 rows it seems like I accomplished a lot more than 100 CO stitches. In this reference, I have found the reason for why my shawl is taking so long!

I've also been reading the latest Jodi Picoult books. If you haven't read them, I highly recommend them! Although, they do slow knitting progress down! :-)

Ms. B has also been spending time with me just 'chillin'.

So much for being unique

HowManyOfMe.com

There are 184 people with my name in the U.S.A. How many have your name?

I think I liked having my maiden name, as that brought up only 2 other individuals not 184!!!

Spring is here

I'm convinced. See...
I'm still working on my shawl, however how you'd ever be able to see an inch difference since the last photo I posted seems silly. So, there will be no photo until a noticeable difference.

I have enjoyed wearing my new socks! They are so nice and swishy. I think everyone deserves at one point in their lives to put on a hand knit pair of socks. Now for those of you reading this - please don't expect socks for an upcoming holiday...as you see this is only my second pair, I'm a slow knitter and I would hate to disappoint.

On the other hand if you want a neck cozy that can totally be arranged, as I've completed one within 10 days.

Could I be done?

That would be yes! As you can see, I have finally completed my second pair of socks! WOO HOO!!I'm so excited to be done with these!!

In my search in Ravelry for my next project I found a few things. However, I'm going to head back to see if I can finish my Seasilk shawl before I get started on something else.

I also found this upon my arrival home this weekend:
I do believe Spring is on it's way.

Ten on Tuesday

It's Carol's 10 on Tuesday.

Ten Things You'd Fix in Your Home (if you had the time and money):

1. Change the siding. I can't stand the color it is.
2. Add a two car garage. In New England you need it for those winter mornings.
3. Update the kitchen with new and bigger cabinets.
4. Move the washer/dryer to main floor.
5. Get a new refrigerator. Definitely need the refrig part on top and freezer on bottom.
6. Enlarge the living room. We need to have the piano and cedar chest in the living room.
7. Enlarge the master bedroom.
8. Might as well put in a master bath while we are at it.
9. Have a 3 season porch.
10. Just blow this one to shreds and start from scratch!

There hasn't been any knitting this past weekend. I promise I'll finish these socks soon! I already have my next project just waiting to be started.

However it wasn't like I was just hanging around at home the entire weekend. DH and I decided to head to a mall for a couple of hours. We were also asked out for dinner by our dear friends. That day ended up with me reading a bedtime story to my SLG! The next day we went to a wine/beer tasting.

So there are all my excuses! Enjoy your April Fools Day and hope you made it through without too much torment!

Oh Mother Nature...

It is Spring, not Winter. Again...Spring NOT WINTER!

What is this kind of forecast:

• Friday: rain, snow with a chance of sleet in the morning, then rain in the afternoon. Little or no total snow accumulation. Near steady temperature in the upper 30s. Northeast winds 5 to 10 mph with gusts up to 25 mph. Chance of precipitation near 100 percent

The rain is fine, just not the sleet and snow, regardless of the no accumulation they are saying.

Since I really do not have anything else positive to say...I'll leave you with a photo of a quite relaxed from finishing that plate fully of lettuce bun!

PS - didn't feel like corrected the glowing eye either.

Rockin Sock Club Month 2

** Spoiler Warning**

Leave it to Blue Moon Fiber Arts to cheer me up! I love this yarn and the pattern that came with it! It is the colorway 'Lucky' from Lucky Charms. Tina had us all guessing as she kept giving us different color hints, well sure enough she was following the Lucky Charm colors (blue moon, purple horseshoe, green clovers etc.)! Too funny!

'Cause you had a bad day...

Remember the song with that line in it? Happy listening.

Happy belated Easter! I hope the Easter bunny was good to you. S/He certainly was to me. Want to see the best gift s/he left:
Yes, that would be 8 boxes of Paas Easter Egg Dye Packages, WOO HOO!! This would be to dye the white yarn that I just purchased from The Loopy Ewe! I also got the candy as well, but this was a great surprise!

I've also been knitting. I told you that I had. Now, I finally have the photos to prove it.

I couldn't believe how close I was to the toe decreases when I got them on the sock blockers. I was then going to start the decreasing tonight, however I'm going to wait until I have a better day (hence the song in my title) - as I'm a bit afraid that I would mess up my gauge.

I love the pattern I'm doing on these. It is a K2 P2 from the cuff all the way down. Very easy!

I'm hoping to have them done this weekend. However, I would not take a bet on that.

I did let that employee I spoke about this weekend go today. It turned into a crazy fest with the broker they supported having a hissy fit at what I had to do. Can you imagine being a 40+ year old man and storming around like a 6 year old having a fit? Some people {eyes rolling}. I mean come on, grow up and act your age. Hello... they were not doing their job, they were not working the scheduled hours, they were lying on their time sheet? Can you say grounds for dismissal after doing these things even AFTER being put on probation? Enough said... so please be quiet hissy man.

So - for me this means taking over this individual's job, supporting hissy fit man, training 2 other new employees, keeping another one on track, conducting my own management duties and past position that I held all during the busiest time of the year for our company....I'm thinking this week may just cost me another 3+ pounds in stress eating alone!

When it rains it pours...

If you want to see/hear about knitting and beading come back for the next post.

**Warning this blog entry has been known to raise blood pressure.**

Things around here have been in a word, stressful. I thought after I passed my test for the month we'd have smooth sailing. Let me list all those thing that have occurred since then:

• DH's car was hit by a tractor trailers' mud flap; it caused scratching to hood, front quarter panel, windshield and took off side mirror ($)
  
• DH got a speeding ticket ($$)
  
• DH hit a car that decided to cut in front of him to take a left hand turn from the oncoming lane ($$$)
  
• DH is completing the crown/root canal on his tooth ($$$)
• It cost $$$$ to fill oil tank
  
• I have to fire someone on Monday
  
• I killed another plant
  
• I haven't been sleeping
  
• I haven't been knitting :-(
  
• I'm gaining weight like no tomorrow due to my stress eating UGH UGH!!!
• Found out wonderful neighbors are putting their house on the market in two weeks
  

Please tell me that we won the lottery last night?

**More positive blog post next time.**

No more studying...

which must mean that I passed! YES I DID!! WOO HOO!

Off to have a celebratory meal and then to let the knitting begin!

Still studying...

I can not wait for this exam to be over. I am really spending some major time studying when I really want to finish my socks (they have been put on hold under this test is passed!). So, until then, they sit on the ottoman taunting me in their see through case.

There have been quite a few things going on in the past couple of weeks, I'll bring you up to speed on a couple of items.

First the Loopy order:

• 2 Skeins of Panda Cotton, Ivory - I plan on using this to try out Kool-Aid Dying.
• 1 Hank of HandMaiden SeaSilk in Renaissance colorway
• Loopy! She is a plush ewe with a shirt that reads "A Little Loopy". I mean after buying yarn and having a stash, who isn't a little loopy? :-) If you feel the need, you can buy one from The Loopy Ewe.

We also had a large celebration for my Grammie's 85th birthday! She has always enjoyed receiving handmade items. In knowing that my talents are quilting, knitting, beading and a tad of sewing I was a bit limited in what I could actually pull off in less than a week. A quilt - no way! Beads - well I have made her many items already and I really wanted to knit her something. However, we know how long it takes me to knit things, so..

I had a skein of Panda Cotton in the Roses colorway and felt that this would be perfect with her white hair. I decided on a neck cozy, something small enough for me to finish - yet in using a few YO's I could integrate a lace design. Off to the needles and a few hours later I had this:

(sorry for the poor photo...haven't had time to correct it)

I learned a few things on this project, how to make a knitted buttonhole and how to pick up a couple of dropped stitches, one of which included a YO.

Well I have to get back to the books, as this break time was a tad longer than I should have taken.

I'm officially...

A LOOPY GROUPIE!! I went to the post office before work this morning and picked up my LG package. Once I arrived at the parking garage at work I stayed in my car to open it. I just couldn't wait until after work, I mean that was like 9 hours away at least!!

Here is what I received:
Yes, that would be two hanks of Lorna's Laces in the Ravenswood colorway, A Romney Ridge Farm Wall Calendar, Loopy Kisses AND The Loopy Ewe bag. All as a thank you from Sheri @ The Loopy Ewe! Sheri and her elves ROCK!

I'll show you what I actually purchased later as I have to go study now.

Is Spring ever going to get here?

I'm not so convinced. I love snow, do not get me wrong. I'm the first one to get excited when I see snow. HOWEVER, since we have had basically freezing rain/snow ending as ice/just plain ice/10" of snow in a 2 day time frame - all of which have been occurring during the work week for the past 3 months...the one who likes the white stuff starts to get annoyed by it. I heard on the news channel last night that we are just over 49" for this season! Crazy!!

So please bring on Spring! There is nothing like sneezing and sinus congestion...I mean birds chirping, flowers sharing their beauty with us, things in the yard turning green, I believe you get the idea.

I'm going to shock all of you...yesterday the DH and I went to a library! WHOAH! I actually got in some uninterrupted study time. Now if I can just keep up the studying until I take the test, I'll be good.

I'm also on a self imposed 'no knitting' until I pass this exam. I really hope this works as my exam is sometime between now and the end of March.

DH and I also had SLG over yesterday. I had to wipe away a tear from my eye as when I arrived to pick her up, she greeted me with "HI D" then "I missed you". AWWWW. How can you not love that?!

As you can see we all wore our party hats and appropriate jewelry! All three of us had a great time and it was hard for it to end when I had to bring her home.
Now I must go back to my study book...