White Willow

It Has Begun

2008-01-25T11:48:00.000-08:00

I have started on my hoody vest...and I la-la-love it!!! Can't wait to finish it :) This yarn is sooooooo much fun to work with and provides much needed post holiday instant gratification...sigh...

Another holiday knit

2008-01-21T10:54:00.000-08:00

Here's another pair of socks that I made for my mama's hubby, using my favorite "quickie knit" pattern, the K2P2 rib. He was a bit shy in posing as a sock model for me, so my mom donated her feet for the cause. Don't they look all comfy-cozy in front of the woodstove?

Yarn: Lornas Laces Shepherd Sport Colorway: Black Watch

Woo- hoo! I got called a hussy :)))

2008-01-19T16:13:00.000-08:00

That's so funny~ I LOVE that word~ makes me grin every time I hear it used! It's so reminiscent of a long ago era...not my era mind you *grin* Well, I'm still trying to bribe people into sending me their pics of the holiday knits I made for them. (For some reason I passed them out before taking pics of them *the sound of me smacking my head*) I did get one back and this is the tank top that I was working on a few months ago, from Interweave Knits...this turned out sooooo awesome and it was a quick/fun knit. I am going to be making one for myself shortly for the summertime. It's so soft and light... love it! Anyway, this went to my bestest buddy in Florida, Misty. I think it looks fabulous on her :)

I'm not sure if you can see the cabling, but you can see close-up's on my Sept. 6th and 16th posts. There's also more info on the yarn used and where to find the pattern in those posts.

Here's a picture of my mom's holiday gift. This has got to be another one of my favorite knits so far. I found the pattern for it in VOGUEknitting's Fall 2005 issue. It was in Nashua Handknits Special Advertising Section on page 38/147. I saw it and instantly fell in love with it, especially for my mom, because she's a big vest wearer. (I'm putting in the zipper for her, which is why I have it back right now). I modified it a bit to fit her tastes, by changing the hoody into a K2P2 collar. This was such a quick knit, due to the Super Bulky weight, and it was fun to work the basketweave pattern. It's such a pleasant little pattern, darnit! The yarn is called Equinox Stripe and the colorway is called Storm, and if you hurry, methinks Ram Wools is having a sale on it right now...a big sale...it's normally 16.00 a skein and it's on sale for 4.95...wow! You would need 6 skeins for size Small (Bust 40), 8 skeins for size Med/Large (Bust 48), 10 skeins for 1X/2X (Bust 56), and 12 skeins for 3X/4X (Bust 64). It's a bah-gain! Don't miss out :) I highly recommend knitting this vest. I just ordered more yarn for my very own~ I'm going to keep the hoody on mine, and am going to use Fiesta (which is the colorway shown in the magazine) :) The yarn is so soft and amazing to work with...what are you waiting for? Go and get yourself some!

...Because i'm a slacker...

2008-01-11T06:20:00.001-08:00

...I haven't posted here in ages! I am gathering up all of my holiday knitting photos and will be doing a montage here in a few days :)...really...I am! *grin*

I've been extremely busy lately...

2007-11-20T16:18:00.000-08:00

...was feeling like coming on here to catch up and blog, but I'm not feeling like doing it now. Actually I'm feeling kinda bitchy, and yes I do realize that I have to blog 4 times a month for a certain swap...and yes...there are 10 more days in the month...

Whatever. I hope you have THE most FABULOUS Turkey Day!

Here's a pic from Halloween, with my knight in shining armor :)

Thanks Secret Pal!!

2007-10-30T10:25:00.000-07:00

Thank you so much to my super special Secret Pal on the other side of the world! I do believe you said you are in Singapore :) I can't wait to find a pattern to turn this pretty purple wool/alpaca blend into a warm pair of mittens and hat for moi :) I'm soooo excited! Thank you also for the patches for Eli, the needles, tape measure (also taken over by Eli :), and the cute cell phone charm which is currently dangling off of my phone as we speak! I had faith your package would arrive- silly faith I still have in the postal service- and it was filled with some great surprises:

Pumpkin carving...Eli's first carving session with the fam...much fun had by all :)

...and...his second pair of mama-knit socks (yes, there is only one in the photo, but I swear, the other one exists!!) The little man is becoming one super spoiled handknit sock wearing little man...and I love it!

Almost there!! Hooray :)

2007-10-15T08:35:00.000-07:00

Ravelry update...because it's fun for me to watch the numbers :)

You signed up on August 27, 2007
You are #29114 on the list.
427 people are ahead of you in line.
14981 people are behind you in line.
58% of the list has been invited so far

Randomness

2007-10-09T07:08:00.000-07:00

Today I'm feeling random...here's a picture of me showing Eli how to shove a sheep!...kidding of course...we were at the County Fair when they were doing the sheep judging...sigh...how cool is that? Please pay no mind to my Miami Vice tribute dress...found it in a vintage clothing store one day...ummm...OK, consignment store, but who's counting...and at the time, I thought it was a great idea! *grin*

Second, a little late I am, (many apologies) but I must show you some really great hand dyed yarn that I traded Jana for over at http://www.whiteoakstudio.blogspot.com/. She calls her product TVYarn. She matches up her colorways to pop culture tv shows and movies...how cool of an idea is that?! This particular colorway is called The Color Purple. Thanks so much for the great trade! I'm loving it so much :)

Last on the list of randomness....ravelry...sigh...stillllllll waiting, but alas, I'm making progress! Here's my stats:

You signed up on August 27, 2007
You are #29114 on the list.
2543 people are ahead of you in line.
13174 people are behind you in line.
60% of the list has been invited so far

Fabric samples

2007-10-02T07:44:00.000-07:00

This post is for Francine and Ayako. Sorry it took so long:

Francine, this is the horse fabric. It's really pretty :)

Ayako, here's the two different shades of Zodiac fabric:

Another trip to the hospital...

2007-10-02T06:59:00.000-07:00

It's been awhile since my last post- I was in the hospital all last week with my little man, because he was verrrrrrra sick. The doctors diagnosed hime with Kawasaki Syndrome. He had a fever of 104-105 for 6 days, a rash all over his body and a very worried mama...

He's doing better now. We're home...sigh...

I love yarn in the mail :)

2007-09-19T10:36:00.000-07:00

Yup, I sure do...anything that is not a bill, I sure do love :)

I received my big ol' bundle of Nashua Equinox Stripe, which is a bulky yarn (quick knit! woo-hoo!) and this is the last you will see of it until after the holidays...ummmm...so if you know who you are, who will eventually be wearing this...look away now!! *grin*

SAFF in October

2007-09-16T05:59:00.000-07:00

Well, here's where I'll be in late October- The Southeastern Animal Fiber Fair! I'm so glad I stopped over at Jana's blog, or I would have still been in the unknown. I'm hoping that a few of my NC bloggerland buddies will want to meet up for this? It's going to be a rather smashing time, if I do say so myself :))))))

Check it out:
SAFF

Also, a progress pic of the tank that I'm working on...I am sooo in love with this yarn/pattern. It's a fun, quick knit, that you can do while being climbed on by a toddler. I may have chosen a different color, for this very reason alone, but hey, it was on sale :)

A Day at the Faire

2007-09-09T05:19:00.001-07:00

Over the weekend, I took Eli to the annual Fort Loudon Trade Fair/18th century reenactment. It was sooo much fun, but manna, was it hot out. It felt to be about 110 in the sun. That didn't stop us from having a good time though. While we were sitting in the shade, Eli looked up...

...and saw a donkey and pig rider coming our way. Look closely at these costumes, ladies and gentlemen...very clever...

He was immediately taken with Harry Donkey :)

After we had a bowl of red beans and rice, served hot out of an iron kettle, the battle reenactment got underway. They relived a typical skirmish between the English and French, with a bit of humor thrown in for good measure.

I would have to say that this guy was my favorite from the day though...A big man and his little pipe...He was with the group representing the Cherokee Indians that were/still are in the area.

His buddy had the right idea to sit in the shade and do some sewing. He was practicing one of their Native American artforms, called quilling (I believe), where the quills of a porcupine are taken off of the animal (in most cases already dead:) and sewn into rawhide. Very impressive and looks to be dangerous work :) *sigh* A man who sews...

New Yarnin's

2007-09-06T12:28:00.000-07:00

Don't you just love the postlady? Well, I certainly do, when she pulls up to my door, honks her horn and hands me two packages full of sunshine :) I ordered some Classic Elite Premiere Yarn off of Ebay last week, because I've had my eye on a certain pattern in the Fall Interweave Knitscene, called the Two-Over-Two Vest. Why it's called a vest when it's actually a tank, I'll never know, but I'm not going to sweat the little details. :) I also received my skein of handspun yarn from Kristie at kristiehaynes.etsy.com, called Plum Puddin'...126 glorious yards of wool/mohair. Maybe good for a new winter hat? hmmm...

Of course I cast on immediately...

A picture speaks a thousand words

2007-09-04T06:18:00.000-07:00

The Story of Life

2007-08-31T10:38:00.000-07:00

This advice was given to me a long time ago...

Sometimes people come into your life and you know right away that they were meant to be there, to serve some sort of purpose, teach you a lesson, or to help you figure out who you are or who you want to become. You never know who these people may be (possibly your roommate, neighbor, coworker, long lost friend, lover, or even a complete stranger), *but when you lock eyes with them, you know at that very moment they will affect your life in some way.*
And sometimes things happen to you that may seem horrible, painful, and unfair at first, but in reflection you find that without overcoming those obstacles you would have never realized your potential, strength, willpower or heart.

*Everything happens for a reason.*

*Nothing happens by chance or means of good luck.*

Illness, injury, love, lost moments of true greatness, and sheer stupidity all occur to test the limits of your soul. Without these small tests, whatever they may be, life would be like a smoothly paved, straight , flat road to nowhere. It would be safe and comfortable, but dull and utterly pointless. The people you meet who affect your life, and the success and downfalls you experience, help to create who you are and who you become.

*Even the bad experiences can be learned from.*

In fact, they are probably the most poignant and important ones. If someone hurts you, betrays you, or breaks your heart, forgive them, for they have helped you learn about trust and the importance of being cautios when you open your heart. If someone loves you, love them back unconditionally, not only because they love you, but because in a way, they are teaching you to love and how to open your heart and eyes to things.

*Make every day count.*

Appreciate every moment and take from those moments everything you possibly can for you may never be able to experience it again. Talk to people that you have never talked to before, and actually listen. Let yourself fall in love, break free, and set your sights high. Hold your head up, because you have every right to. Tell yourself you are a great individual and believe in yourself, for if you don't believe in yourself, it will be hard for others to believe in you. You can make your life anything you wish. Create your own life and then go out and live it with absolutely no regrets. MOST IMPORTANTLY, if you love someone, tell him or her, for you never know what tomorrow may have in store.

And learn a lesson in life each day that you live.

These words of advice are my gift to you. Bright blessings :)

Some WIP's

2007-08-28T12:19:00.000-07:00

Thought I'd post a few pics of my WIP's...soon to be FO's! I'm almost done with the socks for my mom's DH's holiday gift, and I'm coming around the bend with my shrug :) I'm adding the cuff and viola! A shrug!

Of course, Eli just had to make sure the length of both cuffs was equal...

Can you tell he's mine? He comes from a long line of wool smellers...*grin*...that's my boy!

SP 11 Questionaire

2007-08-23T05:23:00.000-07:00

Hooray for SP 11!! I know I'm late in posting this, but better late than never :) Life just carries you away sometimes.

1. What is/are your favorite yarn/s to knit with? Handspun yarn is my TOTAL weakness right now...cant't get enough of it :) I'm also addicted to sock yarn :) I love superwash and superwash blends.
What fibers do you absolutely *not* like? Squeeky acrylic :( It will always have a special place in my heart, because that's what I learned with as a child, but it doesn't have a place in my knitting basket anymore:)

2. What do you use to store your needles/hooks in? A cardboard box...gasp!

3. How long have you been knitting & how did you learn? I started knitting when I was 7- my grandma taught me how- yay grandma! I put it down when I discovered boys and didn't pick it back up until a few years ago when I came to my senses!
Would you consider your skill level to be beginner, intermediate or advanced? I'm intermediate, I do believe. There are still a few things that elude me...

4. Do you have an Amazon or other online wish list? Not anymore. I think I'll create one though...

5. What's your favorite scent? I love spicy and I also love fruity. I'm not into heavy florals, but a light one can be nice. I also love Cookie/Food scented candles.

6. Do you have a sweet tooth? I have a sweet tooth, but not for chocolate. I like hard candy- sour balls, lollypops, etc.

7. Favorite candy? See above :)

8.What other crafts or Do-It-Yourself things do you like to do? I really don't have alot of time for other crafts right now, with a toddler running around! I do like to sew, though and do cross stitch

9. Do you spin? Very little- It's another thing I'll pick up after the boy is grown.

10. What kind of music do you like? I like folk music, rock, bluegrass, basically anything with a good beat.

11.Can your computer/stereo play MP3s? (if your buddy wants to make you a CD) My computer can play CD's.

10. What's your favorite color(s)? I love purple, pink, raspberry, and red. I really like jewel tones- green and blue, but then again, I like earthy colors as well, when mixed together, like sage, violet and grey...I think I just love color

11. Any colors you just can't stand? I'm not a fan of yellow.

12. What is your family situation? I am a single mom, with a toddler- he's two and a half. I work full time from home, to be able to keep him out of daycare, and pick-up work on the weekends to supplement the income. I'm tired alot lately, but it's worth it :)

13. Do you have any pets? I have one kitty- an old siamese cat named Sam.

14. Do you wear scarves, hats, mittens or ponchos? All of the above except for ponchos. I've just moved from Florida to Tennessee and am looking forward to wearing wool this year!!!

15. What is/are your favorite item/s to knit? I'm addicted to sock knitting. I also love hats gloves, bags and am working on my first sweater :)

16. What are you knitting right now? Socks...of course :) Holiday presents, a sweater and two bags.

17. Do you like to receive handmade gifts? I adore handmade gifts :)

18. Do you prefer straight or circular needles? Bamboo, aluminum, plastic? I use them all, but I definitely prefer natural materials- wood and bamboo.

19. Do you own a yarn winder and/or swift? Both

20. How old is your oldest UFO? Over a year...gasp!!

21. What is your favorite holiday? Halloween

22. Is there anything that you collect? Yarn..haha!! Refrigerator magnets (lost all of mine in the move), small blue glass bottles, garden gnomes, stained glass sunlight catchers, good recipes.

23. Any books, yarns, needles or patterns out there you are dying to get your hands on? What knitting magazine subscriptions do you have? I would love to try some addi's. I also would love some size 2 ebony DPN's for knitting luxurious socks! *grin* Books- I'm wanting the sock book that Vogue put out, with their best patterns in it. There's also the Knitted Tam's book that I've been eyeing.

24. Are there any new techniques you'd like to learn?hmmm...must think on that...

25. Are you a sock knitter? Yup

26.What are your foot measurements? I wear a size 9 US shoe. My foot circumference is: 8 inches

27. When is your birthday? Jan 25th

28. Are you on Ravelry?Not yet
If so, what's your ID?

Some Cool Halloween Fabrics :)))))))

2007-08-20T19:14:00.000-07:00

My favorite day of the year is coming up....yes, I do realize it's August, but it's coming up, I tell you! *grin*

Here's some new fabrics I've picked up. Love them!

Ladybugs :)

2007-08-06T05:31:00.000-07:00

When I was walking through Cades Cove the other day, I found this little lady on the side of the trail. I've always been partial to the little bugs, and I found an interesting site on ladybug lore and legend, for anyone who's interested :)

This is my favorite of the legends: If a Ladybug is held in the hand while making a wish, the direction that it flies away to shows where your luck will come from.

How exciting!

2007-07-31T09:58:00.000-07:00

I received an email yesterday from Peachy at Lime & Violet, and I thought I would share it :)

"Hi! I just wanted to drop you a quick note to say that we selected your etsy shop as our Etsy Site of the Day over on Lime & Violet’s Daily Chum. (It’s at http://limenviolet.com/blog )Your site will be featured this or the following week (I’ll email you the date once I know it), and we’ll probably post a picture of your header graphic or something that you’re selling so that people can see the loveliness and click through to find you. Let me know if you have any questions I can answer or if there’s more information you’d like me to add! Thank you, and congratulations!

Peachy- Lime & Violet Daily Chum Staff Writer"

I'm sooooooo EXCITED about this! I'll be featured on Wednesday, for anyone who's interested :)

Yesterday...

2007-07-30T05:37:00.000-07:00

...I really should have gotten some work done, but did I? Nahhhh...How could I when the mountains were calling me? :) The hills were alive with the sound of music- ~lol~

How do you solve a problem like Maria...?

These were taken from the center of Cades Cove, in the Smokies. It was a perfect day for a picnic :) I'm looking forward to cooler weather, when I can bring my knitting along with me...sigh...a little slice of Heaven...wish everyone could join me!

Playing with Roving

2007-07-26T08:34:00.000-07:00

Can I just say how much I love wool...:)

This is called Lovespell.

Rainy Day

2007-07-25T08:23:00.000-07:00

Not much is happening in the mountains today. It's kind of overcast and rainy, which = cold and damp, which = wool sock wearing weather!! Woo-hoo!! Yippee!! We're dancing through the countryside as you read this :)

For your viewing pleasure, because I know you just want to see my feet, I'm wearing a pair of socks that I picked up in Ireland and Eli is wearing his first pair of handkint by mama socks! Please excuse the one red toe! I was trying to economize by using up leftover stash yarn (Bryony ;) and ran out!

An early start on the holiday gifts...and other fun things I've been doing :)

2007-07-20T16:49:00.000-07:00

First of all...Thank you to everyone for all your comments and kind wishes :))))) They really warmed my heart! I love you, man!!! lol! I just wanted to recognize everyone, before I go rambling on...and on...;P

I am one heck of a holiday procrastinator, but this year, I'm getting a head start. I want to do a Laura Ingalls Wilder holiday this year and give only handmade items. I have 8 people to cover...I guess you could take that literally! *grin* First on the list is my Mom's new husband Jack. He is going to get his first pair of toasty warm, made with love, wool socks :) I fugured that it would be safe to post this, because he doesn't read the ol' blog. I'm making a standard "guy" sock, using the Garter Rib pattern. I love how quickly this knits up! Lorna's Laces Shephard Sport in Black Watch was my choice for him. I have one done and I'm onto the second, surprisingly, I'm not suffering from second-sock-itis.

I've also been working on my first official wool garment for myself, other than socks or shawls I've made for other people...*gasp* I have never had any need to make sweaters in FLA, but now is my time to shine baby!! I traded someone super lovely for the yarn. ( I hope you're feeling better sweetness!) It's some gorgeous super-soft worsted Malabrigio in Tortoise Shell. For some reason the picture came out dark, but I think you can still see it. I'm making the Retro Redux Shrug from the book Lace Style. It's a really simple two-row brioche stiche, that is easy to remember, so I can work on it while Eli is awake! Can I get an Amen for that!

I've also spent the last few days finishing up an order for a super great California knitter, which I packed up this morning and shipped off to her. I had to take a picture, because I absolutely love seeing all of this color together...I was sad to see it go, but I know they're going to a good home.

Last but not least, I thought I would share a few pictures from my final days in Ireland. In my haste last month, I never got to finish up. Here is the castle that we stayed at, Ashford Castle in County Mayo:

At this castle, they offered falconry lessons, and it had to be one of THE most magnificent experiences I've ever had. The feeling of holding something so wild was amazing. The bird that I got to fly was a Harris Hawk.

When Eli gets a little bit older, I'll be looking into adopting my own falcon or hawk to work with, now that I'm in the proper area to have one :)

Ya'll have a good night now, ya hear! ;)

I'm Back :))))

2007-07-17T07:05:00.000-07:00

I back in bloggerland, baby! It's been awhile, but I sure do have a darn good reason this time! For those of you who are unaware, I recently moved my son and I to the Smoky Mountain area of Tennessee. We've been here since mid-June, and I'm finally starting to feel that we're settled in. It was a major life change and took alot of adjustment. We're doing well, Eli is thriving here with the mountains and animals and family around.

I did start to feel like I was missing something though, and I realized that I was missing my friends in bloggerland. Everyone who I've gotten to know and those that have simply left comments, have become a part of my life. I missed you guys...I think I'm going to shed a tear now...lol!

I hope to hear from everyone and I hope all is well in everyone's world. I'm slowly stopping by and saying hi, but I am in dial-up hell here, so it may take a few days :)

xo
Brooke

Finished Cowl :)

2007-06-07T15:07:00.001-07:00

I've been so busy dyeing and sewing as of late, that I haven't had time to finish up the Ireland photos, but I simply have to share this one:) This is the finished cowl that I designed for the Knitters of Avalon KAL.

Please pardon the goofy wistful look, but it simply couldn't be helped while standing next to a 700 year old castle...sigh...

Native American Summer Series

2007-06-02T13:51:00.000-07:00

I'm happy to officially present my Native American summer series, which has slowly evolved over the past few weeks. I'll be adding a few more colorways to the collection over the summer.

Here's a sample :)

Medicine Woman (lace weight merino on top/ SW sockyarn on the bottom)

Prairie Grass

Dreamcatcher

Day 4 Part 1: Connemara and County Mayo

2007-05-28T08:43:00.001-07:00

I intended to post this yesterday, but it turned into another day in the ER with Mr. Eli. His cast was causing him major discomfort, and of course, it was a holiday, so we got a chance to spend the day with a million other sick and injured children in the germ tube...whew...what a day! He's doing good now- new cast, and hopefully he'll be getting it off on Monday. Yay!

So, here we go with day 4 part 1

The coolest part of our morning, was stumbling across (in my case jumping across) the Quiet Man Bridge.

This bridge was in a beginning scene of the movie The Quiet Man, featuring John Wayne and Maureen O'Hara. I've always had a special place in my heart for the Duke, so this was especially cool :)

This is the view to th e West of the bridge...gorgeous...

My mom and I both agreed that this part of Ireland was THE most beautiful, from what we had seen. Connemara and County Mayo. The scenery became more rugged, the people became kinder, but it definitely got colder!! I think you can see this in the way we are huddling with each other in the picture :) The water behind us is Lough Corrib.

The Maumturk Mountains.

A very rugged sheep, but so handsome. Oh how I coveted his wool...

The next post, will be Day 4, part 2...Ashford Castle!!!! We're off to the park :)

Day 3 Glendalough to Oughterard

2007-05-24T08:03:00.000-07:00

Before I get started on the Ireland pics, I want to say a quick thank you to Cheryl Lynn in Corpus Christi, Texas, for the awesome dishcloth swap package! I love the butterfly motif on the dishcloth and the V.S. Love Potion Body Butter is to die for! Thanks for making the swap so much fun!

Day 3 in Ireland was pretty much a driving day with a few stops along the way. We drove from the East Coast back to the West Coast, to stay overnight in Oughterard, which is a small town outside of Galway.

The one "big" place that we stopped at, after almost giving up on finding it, was Leap Castle. It was closed to visitors, but we did get to roam around on the outside for awhile. This is purportedly the most haunted castle in Ireland, complete with a bloody chapel, staff of ghosts, an oubilette, and an elemental. Sounds like a party to me! Here's some links if you're interested on more history: info and photos . My mom and I both got a really creepy feeling walking around this place, but couldn't figure out if it was just because we were told it was a creepy place.

Here's some creepy swans..kidding! They're so pretty and serene.

That's about it. Like I said, it was a driving day, so there's not a whole lot to write home about.

First finished skein!

2007-05-21T07:27:00.000-07:00

Well, here it is! My first official finished skein of handspun!!! I posted a picture of it yesterday while it was drying. 500 yds/8 oz, single ply...what to do with it now... Any ideas?

Detour for yarn

2007-05-20T06:14:00.000-07:00

Taking a short detour from the Ireland photos, I thought I'd share a picture of some of my handspun yarn, done on a drop spindle. It's 100% merino roving from Ashford, approximately 500 yards. I'm very pleased :) It only took me three months to spin!! haha!

The second photo is of a skein of yarn I'm working on for a certain someone out there! I'm attempting to capture the elusive Tiffany Blue. :) Being a person who has never had the good fortune of receiving one of these little treasure boxes, I'm going purely on internet photos. There's a few subtle color gradations of Blue with a hint of White, symbolizing the ribbon.

Day2- Dublin to Glendalough

2007-05-18T09:46:00.000-07:00

We started our day out early, with the excitement of going to Dublin coursing through our veins, 1 part nervousness, 2 parts anticipation. On the way, we found a very pretty unnamed castle off the main road. Well, I'm sure it has a name, we just don't know it.

This place was so cool. It had a great vibe to it. Hard to explain. Kind of felt like I'd been there before :)

Once into Dublin, we immediately started shopping and my mom bought this lovely woven wool wrap for me...sigh...so pretty. I just adore these colors.

We pretty much stuck to the City Centre, saw the Book of Kells and the Trinity College Old Library... another sigh... we even saw Art Fotle there (inside joke...mom). I'm going to say this really quietly and maybe you won't notice... we had lunch at Burger King...gasp!

Isn't this sidewalk art incredible? I had to give him a Euro for his time.

We made a quick stop in the Gin Palace Pub for a pint as we were wrapping up our time there.

We were spending the night in a hostel in Glendalough, so we gave ourselves a bit of time to enjoy the ride through the Wicklow Mountains. We found this gorgeous old church and took a few pictures within the ruins of it. (note my mom's snazzy new socks- my gift to her for Mothers Day- I used the Sockotta yarn that Cary sent me).

Down the road from this church, was a very pretty field full of sheep :)

Baa-baa...black sheep :)

We also noticed that the countryside is full of this shrubbery with bold yellow flowers and HUGE thorny spikes, called Gorse. This stuff looks brutal to walk through.

When we reached Glendalough, we grabbed another pint and a GORGEOUS $50 piece of chicken...I'm sure it wasn't that much, but man oh man, the US dollar does not go very far over there.

Like mother...

Like daughter... :P

After dinner, we strolled through the old monastic village of St. Kevin. Supposedly this place was founded in the late 500's by this guy who sat in a tree, had a bird lay an egg in his hand, talked a doe into nursing some king's baby, and had a pet cow who licked his clothes...ummm, OK... whatever you people say :P It was a very pretty place, very peacefull, nestled between two mountains with a lake at the top and at the bottom of it.

My mom's building rockets...shhhh.... :) This is actually a storage tower that also served as a place of refuge during Saxon raids...or it's a rocket...

Day three tomorrow. We're heading back towards Galway on the West coast.

Whew...I'm back...to normal at last :)

2007-05-17T05:21:00.000-07:00

Long story short, I'm back, Eli has a broken arm, which is now on the mend- he decided to stage dive out of his crib while I was away. No one told him that in order to successfully stagedive, one needs actual people on the other end to catch him...No, I'm not making light of his injury, I was horrified by it, I'm just making the best of the situation now. 2 weeks, 4 days and that sucker comes off!! Woo-hoo!!

I also had a nice bout of the stomach flu the day after I returned, so I was not having a good time of it...That's the bad stuff, now on to the good! My mom is getting married (Sadie, Sadie, married lady- anyone get that reference?) *grin* I'll be taking Eli on his first airplane trip in June, and I'm actually looking forward to it :) Thinking positive...

I have a gazillion photos from my trip, some coming at a later date from my mom's camera, so I'm just going to post a few every day. Ireland was AMAZING. There was a suspicious lack of yarn though, for a country so rich in sheep...hmmm...I guess I didn't have the secret handshake :)

The trip started off great, with free champagne on the plane!! Hooray for free booze! Delta came out of bankruptcy and wanted to get all their passengers drunk :) I only made one small mistake in my knitting...

Our first day was spent in Cashel. There aren't a whole lot of photos from this day, because we were a bit jetlagged and out of our minds :) I do believe the Cashel was the place where St. Patrick offered a clover to one of the chieftan's in order to explain the trinity of Christianity...I think...maybe he thought the guy just needed more fiber in his diet.

Contemplation on the Rock of Cashel...or maybe she's catching up on her sleep...either way, my mom and I both agreed on the beauty of the vista. There's a name to the countryside and for the life of me, I can't remember...it was the horn of plenty or the vale of goodness or something fruitful like that.

I do think that my favorite area in this town was the monastic ruins of the Hore Abbey...get yer minds out of the gutter people! Monty Python and Mel Brooks had nothing to do with the name...It was named after some Hore guy...OK, I'll just stop now...

Well, that's all I have for Day 1- like I said, I was not in my right mind that day! Tomorrow we go to Dublin!

Gone Fishin'

2007-05-02T12:52:00.000-07:00

Well, not really, but I've always wanted to say that :) I'm off to Ireland- I hope everyone stays happy and healthy!

Pleased as punch, I am :)

2007-04-28T06:26:00.000-07:00

I traded this:

For this:

And I am so happy! It's a beautiful handcrafted lampwork bead pendant, made by a very nice Etsyan vendor, Carleen at Carleens Creations.

Oh, how I do love trading. It kind of takes you back to how things used to be, before the Federal Reserve got involved. You know, "I'll give you five chickens for that there goat," kind of thing.

Cashmere Sale

2007-04-26T07:12:00.000-07:00

FYI, cashmere yarn is on sale in my store for 20% off :)

Today In History

2007-04-26T06:09:00.000-07:00

With all the work I've been doing lately, I haven't had a whole lot of knitting time, so I figured that I'd fill my blog today with interesting things that happened today in history.

1514 Copernicus makes his 1st observations of Saturn
1721 Smallpox vaccination 1st administrated
1865 John Wilkes Booth assassin, is shot dead near Bowling Green VA at 27
1906 1st motion pictures shown in Hawaii
1977 New York's famed disco Studio 54 opens
1982 Rod Stewart is mugged, the gunman steals his $50,000 Porsche
1990 Danny Wood of New Kids, steps on a stuffed animal & twists his ankle
1992 "Growing Pains", final episode on ABC TV
1994 1st multi-racial election in South Africa begins [3 days] Dr Nomaza Paintin in New Zealand is 1st black South African to vote

I wish I could take credit for knowing all of this...but I don't. I found it here.

In every aspect of your life…go cruelty-free!

2007-04-25T05:06:00.000-07:00

Here's My PSA for the day from Bust.com.

Making a sink full of suds, cleaning the commode, hanging with your girls at a make-over party, or hittin’ the town with style, do it all with compassion!

Know which companies don’t test on animals by looking for the leaping bunny logo, the only cruelty-free designation that you can truly trust. Companies carrying the leaping bunny don’t test their products or ingredients on animals.

Be confident about your cruelty-free choices! Look for the leaping bunny logo, and request your FREE Compassionate Shopping Guide for a list of companies that don’t test on animals.

www.LeapingBunny.org • (888)546-CCIC

My Brother the Goat Herder

2007-04-24T18:18:00.000-07:00

This is my brother in Tennessee:

And these are two of his new goats. When I say new, I mean this is his first go at livestock. I'm so proud of him!

It's a shame they'll be bald after I visit him later on this year...haha!! You CAN spin goat fur into yarn...right?

No worries. I'm just kidding...I think.

Moving Sale

2007-04-24T09:07:00.000-07:00

Am I moving? No, but the lovely Miz Amber is and she's having a moving sale- lots of STR, Posh Yarns and *gasp* a first edition Starmore book, plus lots of other good stuff. Stop on over and help a sister out! You know I'd be shopping if I didn't have leprechauns on the brain :)

Some pictures from my backyard

2007-04-23T19:25:00.000-07:00

And when I say backyard, I mean this really pretty park in Miami, called Pinecrest Gardens. It's one of our favorite places to go, and this is why: (not to mention the fact that it's also free, free, free!)

I love banyan trees.

There's also a lake here, which to me is the only thing that feels staged, but hey, they have iguanas on their payroll, so I'm OK with it :) Doesn't it look like you should be playing mini-golf here? All they need is a dutch windmill.

Now it's time to play count the iguanas...

A close-up of one of the little suckers...

There's also a small lilypond, which I thought was pretty.

But I think my all time favorite spot in the park is where the magical pink tree lives. This is a photo looking up into it.

And that's my little slice of paradise in Miami.

Baggage

2007-04-17T17:03:00.000-07:00

*grin* I've been sewing my little fingers to the bone over the past few days, and I thought I'd share a few pictures. The first bag is a custom order bag for Wendy aka skywitch, posted here for her perusal...

I absolutely love this fabric- it is so "alive." I always love working with what someone else picked out, because I get to see a new perspective. It's kind of like looking through someone else's eyes. I can't wait to get it in the mail to her best friend!

The second bag is the first bag that I officially made for myself and didn't jut keep as an afterthought. I found a small amount of this fabric online and snatched it up right away. I do have a gnome obsession as of late, and this bag just scratches that itch.

This fabric is so representative of what I think I would see if I were ever lucky enough to happen upon the fey folk during a walk in the woods.... If you step back from the bag, it looks like a bunch of pretty colors blending together, kind of earthy. It's when you get closer, the details appear, and there they are hidden! Dragons, gnomes, fairies and elves...this fabric makes me soooo very happppy :)

I do have enough fabric to make one more bag. If anyone is interested, let me know and I'll make it up and list it as Reserved just for you.

xo

A Thought

2007-04-15T09:02:00.000-07:00

I was outside this morning taking pictures for Etsy, and happened to look to my right and notice this one tiny yellow flower in a vast sea of St. Augustine grass. Something struck me as entirely profound about this little flower standing alone, waiting to be noticed. It seemed as if she didn't care, really, if anyone ever came along. Her existence goes on with or without us. Talk about doing your own thing!

I often wonder how many "little flowers" I miss, because I don't take the time to stop and really look around. Notice the little things. The details. I get so caught up in deadlines and worries and the mundane activities that fill up my waking hours. So much time is spent doing things for others, changing diapers, wiping noses, things I wouldn't trade for the world, mind you, but they do take up a great portion of the day...well, I could do without the diapers! :) I can't wait to get to Ireland, where I can just sit on the side of the road and watch the world go by.

Lost and Found

2007-04-13T15:40:00.000-07:00

I've had some amazing lost and found experiences within the past few days. Thought I'd share them with you. This may take awhile, so pour yourself a cup of coffee, and get your comfy sweats on :)

I was walking down the street one day and I said, "Universe, I really need a pair of sunglasses. It's so bright here..." A few days later, the DB took wee man to the playground and he found these:

I'm a dork, you say? Why yes I am! Thanks for noticing! These sunglasses are soooo not me, but you know what? They were free and I'll wear the crap out of them! ...well, maybe not in Ireland. They may think I'm some huge famous rockstar or something... :P

I also found these earings that were lost...under a bunch of junkmail on the dining room table...it's so hard to find good help these days...wow, I really do live in fantasyland...rockstar, maid, what's next? Anyway, my bestest friend in the whole wide world sent them to me last week. They're stirling silver with Tiger Eye and Moonstone- my favorite :) She found them in a vintage store and knew they belonged to me...isn't she brilliant? Thanks Misty!

Two days ago, I opened my mailbox and found these inside.

They're stroopwafels from Holland. A very thoughtful knitter who has stopped by my store a few times, sent them as a thank you gift for shipping international. Wasn't that thoughtful? I will totally work for cookies! They're like little waffles with caramel in between. Eli reeeeeally liked them. Pay no attention to the blue spot on his nose...he got into my nailpolish that day...Thanks so much Jenneke!

I also found this in the mail:

What traveling sock knitter would be complete without it? *grin*

Last but certainly not least, I opened up my door yesterday and found the most awesome box of goodies that my KTC swap partner sent me. This was such an awesome surprise! Before I list the items, I must first make mention of how well Sarah did putting this together- she covered all the bases and then some- Inside I found two books, yes folks, two books- The Squires Tale by Gerald Morris and The Secret of Jin-Shei by Alma Alexander- the spooky/funny part to this is that a few days ago, I told myself I needed to find two books to bring with me to Ireland. Now that's covered! I also found a GORGEOUS skein of recycled sari silk from frabjous fibers. This was so cool to discover!! I have yet to work with sari silk and now I get the chance! There was also a tin of ginger-lime tea which is supposed to make a wonderful sun tea (she definitely sent it to the right place!), a package of currant scone mix, Patchouli soap in all these cool swirling colors (good call!), a tin of tangerine lip butter, a pack of book plates, a small pad of paper, and the most perfect gift in the world for my little guy- a retractable sewers tape measure...whew...I think I covered it all! Note: not all items are shown in photo, because they mysteriously became the property of the little man and "moved"...Thank you soooooo very much Sarah- you really outdid yourself and I hope you enjoy your package as well!

OK, I think I'm up to date- have a fabulous weekend!

The Results Are In

2007-04-11T08:11:00.000-07:00

Thank you to everyone for the well wishes regarding Eli's CAT scan. He did really well on Monday, the little trooper that he is. It was a long day, but we made it! His surgeon called this morning with the results, giving us good news and bad news. The good news is that he doesn't have a ring of cartilage in his esophagus, requiring surgical removal. The bad news is that he was diagnosed with Esophageal Dysmotility, which he will have all of his life. Arrrgggg....frustrating...To break it down in laymen's terms, think of how in elementary school, we were told that if we hung upside down and swallowed food, it would still go up to the stomach- well, if Eli did this, it wouldn't work, because he doesn't have the capability in his esophagus to contract and move the food to the stomach. The only way to correct this, is to perform an aggressive surgery, transferring part of his colon into his esophagus, and that simply is not gonna fly. No way, no how, would I put him through something like that at the stage we're in. He's thriving, gaining weight, etc., he's even taller and heavier than a lot of kids his age.

Soooo, I'm starting to save up for The Magic Bullet, which his father has been coveting for months! :) (what is it with men and this Magic Bullet thing-a-ma-jig?) This thing is cool, though. It does all kinds of amazing blender tricks! It even does your laundry...just kidding! Eli will never be able to enter a pie eating contest, but he will learn to adapt. I just want him to have a normal life. The surgeon told me to treat it like a food allergy. Lots of people have different diets, things they can and can't eat. I know things could be much worse and am thankful that he is doing as well as he is, frustrating as it may be to us.

Muchos gracias again, for all the kind emails, comments and support- It means so much to me :)

Pink!

2007-04-05T12:32:00.000-07:00

Some random pinkness...

I just custom dyed this skein of lace weight merino for a lovely lady who stopped by my Etsy store, and I don't want to part with it... *sobbing*

Eli and I on South Beach a few days ago, on our way to becoming pink :)...

A new colorway for the summertime...Bewitched...

I do believe I'm falling in love with pink!

Why oh why...

2007-03-31T13:55:00.000-07:00

...do some people who sell things online NOT list that their items come from a SMOKING environment, if they are smoking around their goods? I've ordered two things now, that smell like they were dug up from the bottom of a bus station ashtray. If you're going to smoke, whatever, it's your lungs, just please don't sell me your shit!! And shit is what I equate something to, when it is rendered useless by odor...Arrgggg!! Can you tell I'm mad? Ooh...I swore... ;P

Quiet moments

2007-03-30T07:13:00.000-07:00

Everyday, Eli and I go out for a walk in the afternoon and he's always collecting feathers, rocks, nuts and such, but yesterday was especially exciting! Look at the beautiful snail shell he found. It's a pretty good sized shell, being about two inches across. Yes, I get excited over the little things...I'm thinking of cleaning it out (don't worry, the snail is long gone) and painting some kind of woad colored blue design on it...

Seeing what he collects and what is important in his world, always brings a smile to my face :)

Due to our long walks and no naps for two days in a row...arrrgggg...the wee one crashed out early on the couch with his daddy...

I couldn't resist taking a picture.

Would you like to see...

2007-03-29T07:30:00.000-07:00

...just how fantastic my mama is? She booked us a night here, while we're over in Ireland next month. We may be sleeping in the Great Hall or maybe even the basement, but do we care? haha!!

...sigh...

Can life get any better than this?

2007-03-26T17:52:00.000-07:00

My cowl and some garden gnomes...sigh...

Tag...You're It!!

2007-03-25T09:36:00.000-07:00

Wow!! I've been tagged!! My very first tag courtesy of a very special someone, Debbie in sunny Ohio, who I'm so very glad to have met :) ...

Well, here you have it folks.

Seven Things To Do Before I Die
1. Go sky-diving with a parachute that opens!
2. Buy my very own spinning wheel and learn to spin well.
3. Go to Eli's graduation from Harvard...sigh...no pressure or anything...
4. Learn to speak Gaelic, because I hear that's going to be the new 2nd language in America :)
5. See a glacier...better be quick about that one...
6. Visit a redwood forest in the Pacific NW...better be quick about that too...
7. Make a quilt and actually finish it.

Seven Things I Cannot Do:
1. Watch zombie movies
2. Stop using my stupid credit cards...though I am trying...
3. Understand why I am living in Miami
4. Let someone cry alone
5. Refill the ice trays
6. Make a pom-pom with-out a pom-pom maker
7. Not question medical science...

Seven Things That Attract Me to…...Tennessee
1. My family is there
2. The Smoky Mountains
3. The fantastic hiking
4. Genuinely nice people...so unlike Miami
5. ...it's not Miami
6. It's peaceful there.
7. I love the local history

Seven Things I Say
1. Eli, that's not for you...
2. Hold on, I'm counting...
3. I'm almost at the end of my row...
4. Hold on, I'm working on a tricky lace pattern...
5. "shit."....while working on that tricky lace pattern...
6. Do you know how much I love you, Eli?
7. I'll call you right back...

Seven Good Books
1. The Mists of Avalon by Marion Zimmer Bradley
2. The Book of Five Rings by Miyamoto Musashi
3. Love is in the Earth. Not sure of the author.
4. Snowflower and the Secret Fan. Lisa See
5. Alice In Wonderland
6. Le Morte de Arthur
7. Here Be Dragons by Sharon Kay Penman

Seven Good Movies:

1) Alice In Wonderland
2) The Dark Crystal
3) Amelie
4) Chitty Chitty Bang Bang
5) Singles
6) Legends of the Fall
7) James and the Giant Peach

Seven Blogs to Tag
ok, now I have had several of you who asked me just HOW do you know if you have been tagged *laughing evil,wicked, shrills* THIS IS HOW YOU KNOW IT::::

1) knattyknitter.blogspot.com The fabulous Miss Parisa...my favorite Irishwoman...representing Boston

2) neighborknitter.blogspot.com Representing Tennessee via North Carolina...Em...the best co-host a girl could ever have...who is currently gambling away her life's savings in Las Vegas.

3) winemegup.blogspot.com Representing Texas and hosting a mysterious contest right now...the gorgeous Miss Meg

4) ifitsfiber.blogspot.com Representing new mom's everywhere! Not sure if she'll have the time for this, but couldn't leave her out, because I luvs her :)

5) knitwitties.blogspot.com Representing New Jersey and also my fabulous wonderful Secret Pal, season 9 :)

6) dharmafey.blogspot.com Representing New York and also a fellow Sock-ret Pal and Mists KAL'r whose son had THE coolest mohawk!

7) ablossomknits.com A fellow Floridian and Mists KAL'r with a well developed sense of humor, which I just love about her!

haha!! Tag, you're it!!

OK...Am I Missing Something Here?

2007-03-23T06:37:00.000-07:00

I am a member of the local freecycle.org group, which is a site allows you to post things that you are giving away or let others know what you're looking for, in an effort to keep things out of the landfill. Sooo, I was reading through the posts, and this is what I came across:

" We're having a bird problem! The doves have taken over our back yard
and our patio. I have young kids so... bird droppings all over their
toys are far from healthy! If anyone has an owl to scare them away that
they are no longer using, we'd be glad take it off your hands. Will
pick up at your convenience.
THANKS"

What the...?! Do YOU know of anyone with an extra owl on their hands... *schnort!*

Pictures For Grandma :)

2007-03-22T10:00:00.000-07:00

I took these pictures yesterday of Eli enjoying his cocoa.

It was a good day :)

He also went on his Ostara egg hunt and did quite well for himself! He found all of his eggs!

Dishcloth Swap

2007-03-21T10:26:00.000-07:00

I'm so happy!! My package from Parisa just arrived yesterday :) We're both in the Monthly Dishcloth KAL, and they were doing a swap, but we were too new to join, so we did our own! Isn't the dishcloth she knit too cool? I looooove the color of the yarn and am dying to find out where she got it. She also included the most fabulous bar of soap from Lush, called Snowcake soap. If you've never tried anything from Lush, you're so missing out. This stuff leaves you smelling so good- this soap smells like Almond Mousse...yummy! She also included a mug and cocoa (which Eli has been eyeing, mind you), and a butterfly notebook and pen, which has become my designated carry along pad of paper to keep track of my life in. Thank you so much Parisa :) It is all much appreciated and made my day a little bit brighter...no, a lot bit brighter :)

Before I go, Happy Ostara to everyone and don't forget to stop in at Dunkin Donuts for your free cup of iced coffee today! Woo-hoo for free coffee!

It's Coming Along Nicely :)

2007-03-18T10:16:00.000-07:00

I'm in love with this yarn!! It is such a pleasure to work with. :) Not much to post about, just wanted to share some photos :)

St. Patrick's Day Lore- Kidnapped by Pirates!

2007-03-17T12:18:00.000-07:00

Happy St. Patrick's Day everyone! I just wanted to share a little history behind the day with you. I thought this was pretty interesting! Excerpted from "The Apple Branch" by Alexei Kondratiev:

"There is no arguing that St. Patrick has become the preeminent Irish saint, to the point of eclipsing the achievements of all other Irish saints in history. Yet, this is a fairly recent development. Starting in the late seventh century, the Roman church, eager to reestablish it's hold over Irish Christian communities, began to strongly promote veneration of Patrick, who saw it as one of it's own, a bishop of Roman lineage representing Roman authority. Ironically, the historical Patrick who evangelized Ireland in the 5th century had not been highly thought of by his Roman superiors. A native of Cumbria, kidnapped by pirates and kept as a slave in Ireland, he eventually escaped to the Continent and pursued his ecclesiastical career in Gaul. When the fiery soldier-bishop Germanus of Auxerre was dispatched to Britain to deal with the Pelagian movement there, Patrick accompanied him as part of his entourage. Clearly he was thought to be lukewarm in his opposition to Pelagianism when Christians in Ireland requested that a bishop be sent to them, he was only the Church's second choice, despite his unique Irish experience, and was sent to Ireland only after the departure of his predecessor Palladius. He did not, as modern popular tradition suggests, singlehandedly bring Ireland to Christianity; he found many well-rooted Christian communities already there, and probably did not cover all of Ireland in his missionizing. Once the writers Muirchu and Tirechan had, by conflating the events recounted in Patrick's own "Confessio" with a variety of unrelated saint-legends, established the outline for the saint's official biography, the stage was set for the spectacular growth of his reputation throughout the Middle Ages. Paradoxically, however, despite his having been the chosen vehicle for Roman authority, Patrick developed into an idealized model of native Celtic spirituality- heroic, adventurous, and filled with faith- simply because he had absorbed the stories of so many other saints who had exhibited those traits. And because those saints had absorbed the roles of many local deities, aspects of the older pagan heritage also came to be associated with Patrick's persona- as when, echoing the Lord of the Harvest who subdues the Fomorian Dragon of the Land, he became, in some traditions, a dragon-slayer. This is certainly the origin of the bowdlerized modern story, which has him " driving the snakes out of Ireland" (the version according to which the "snakes" are really druids is, of course, a recent Neo-Pagan development)."

...and there you have it! Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Mists of Avalon Project

2007-03-16T07:11:00.000-07:00

I thought it was about time I posted some knitting related stuff, so I whipped out the camera last night for an impromptu photo shoot of the WIP for the Mists of Avalon KAL. I've decided to use the yarn that Cary sent me, because I wanted to go natural, no dyes, and this stuff is right off the sheep and rabbit's back! No animals were harmed while making this yarn :) I've decided to make a cowl, and I've also decided to make it without a pattern...could get interesting... This is my first shot at designing, so I'm not so sure what it's going to turn out like, but I am enjoying the creative process and going into the unknown. For the upper edge, I'm doing a simple lace pattern with the tan Shetland Wool. When that's done, I'm putting in a few rows of eyelets, so that I can weave ribbon in and out of it, then I'll switch to the white angora/corriedale mix for the body of the cowl. I'll work in another lace pattern there. I'm not sure about the bottom of it just yet. I'll have to see when I get there!

I've also been working on a bunch of sock project knitting bags and this is my latest. I LOVE this fabric. I think I'll keep one of these for myself :)

Miami-Dade County Fair

2007-03-15T11:47:00.000-07:00

Eli and I made a little field trip to the fair today. It was really cool, because we got in for free with a Stay-At-Home Mommie group. If it's free, it's for me!! :P

Out of all of the rides, games, kids, exhibits, etc., Eli had the best time with the soda vending machine buttons and working on his extensive leaf collection...

He also enjoyed his $20.00 bottle of water..just kidding. It wasn't that bad, only $2.00.

We did manage to get him on a ride. He was crazy for the cars that go around in a circle ride. The pictures may not look like he's enjoying himself, but trust me, he was! Note the intense tongue of concentration. He didn't want to get off!

This is my favorite picture of the day. I love how his shaggy little head of hair is blowing in the breeze. I'm not sure if anyone has seen the movie High Spirits, but his hair is reminding me so much of Liam Neeson's character in the movie! If you haven't seen the movie, put it on your list- it's a classic ghost movie from the 80's with Darryl Hannah, Liam Neeson, Peter O'Toole and Steve Gutenberg...remember Steve Gutenburg anyone? I just totally dated myself...

Sweater Made From Cat Hair...

2007-03-12T07:52:00.000-07:00

...now how cool is that? While working this morning, I was glancing occasionally at The Today Show, and they had this lady on who made a sweater out of her cat's fur!! She collected it for over 6 years!! I found the link- if you have time, check it out... you'll need to scroll down to the Pet Health Video section and it should be at the top. The cat's name is Smokey...

Cat hair sweater :)

Now she would be the perfect candidate for the 2007 Stash-A-Long with Renee... *grin*
I wonder what else she has in her closets?

Birthday Pics from La Casa La Raton...

2007-03-11T10:19:00.000-07:00

Please forgive my horrible Spanish...I try...here's some photos from yesterday's adventure to Chuck E. Cheese's for Eli's birthday celebration. I tried sooo very hard to get him to pose, to sit still for one millisecond...but alas, he is 2 and that equals energy in motion...Kinetic...

Wooly Woolness

2007-03-09T05:17:00.000-08:00

Hooray for March! I'm loving this month so far. Things are getting back on track and I'm knitting again! I'm diligently working my way through my dishcloth for Parisa, and can't wait to finish it for her and put her package in the mail. We decided to do our own dishcloth swap, because we fell under the membership deadline for the Monthly Dishcloth KAL swap, so we went out on our own :) I'm also getting back to my shawl and finishing up the socks for my Sock-ret Pal.

I also need to say thank you to Cary, my Sock-ret Pal, for sending me the most divine assortment/sampler of her yarn...from her very own sheep at Serenity Farms. The brown is 100% Corriedale, the pale tan is Shetland, the grey is Corriedale and Angora and the white is also Corriedale and Angora. It is GORGEOUS! I'm thinking of making some sort of Fair Isle tam/beret out of it. I love the natural tones- so very pretty. Thank you again Cary. *BIG smile*

Tomorrow is Eli's 2nd birthday...OMG...where does the time go? I'm thinking we'll be making our pilgrimage to Chuck E. Cheese to celebrate...we must love him, to take him there on a Saturday!!

Welll, I'm off to make some more bags- I've become addicted to sewing lately...love the sound of that little engine whirring right along with me...

Happy Birthday Mom and Holy Crapola, Thank God It's March.

2007-03-01T10:12:00.000-08:00

Today is my mom's 29th birthday and she is off celebrating in Vegas for the rest of the week. I hope she's having a fabulous time and winning at the slots :) She called me last night to report on the outrageous cost of everything out there. She found THE perfect t-shirt for me, went in the shop to buy it, and it was priced at $180.00...what the....?!

I'm so happy to see March. It's a new month, a fresh start. The past few weeks have been trying, including a short stay in the hospital with Eli for his esophagus problems. It started with a trip to the ER and ended a few days later with another scope and dilation. They still haven't found the problem, but think it's extra cartilage at the top of his esophagus. We're now waiting on a scheduled CAT-scan (sp?) followed by another surgery, and we're all hoping that will solve the problem.

Then, not even 2 days after we were discharged from the hospital, I had to take him to the Urgent Care Center for stitches above his left eyebrow. He slipped in the bathtub and caught his eye on a sharp edge...OUCH!!! Stitches are no fun obviously, but having to help the doctor give your two year old stitches has got to be up there on the Worst Things To Do In Life list.

I'm trying to get back to normal now, do some work, knit, etc., but am having a hard time finding the groove again. Lately all I want to do is lie around on the couch, and that simply won't do.

Promises to self:

1) Knit at least once a day (isn't horrible that I have to make myself do it?!)

2) Get back to my work.

3) Get off the damn couch!!!

4) Stay focused.

Hmmmm...OK. Here's to a new month!

I Was Abducted By Aliens...

2007-02-14T07:07:00.000-08:00

...but now I'm back!! haha!! And what they say about the strange experiments are true...

Yes, I've been remiss in posting and I'm a baaadd baaddd person for it. I think I needed a break to recharge the ol' batteries.

Happy Valentine's Day everyone :)

Obsessed

2007-02-01T11:33:00.000-08:00

I have been so obsessed with reading the book, The Knitting Circle, by Ann Hood, over the past few days. Every time I pick up this book, it makes me cry. I can't figure out if that's a good thing or not!! Anybody else read this yet?

Dirty Knitter Package and Avalon KAL

2007-01-29T09:27:00.000-08:00

Hooray! I received my package from my Dirty Knitter swap partner and this is what I found when I opened the box:

...a pair of funky little socks that say Cocktail Hour on them, A cosmo drink kit (because I aspire to be THE entertainer extraordinaire someday :), a gorgeous lace wrap and scarf patern called Estonian Garden Wrap & Scarf by Fiber Trends...and...a GORGEOUS 1460 yard skein of eggplant lace weight Cashwool by Baruffa! Wow!! Enough for the wrap and the scarf! Thanks so much Heatherly for making this such a fun swap! I hope you enjoy your package just as much!

I've been doing a bit of sewing over the past few days...

I also ordered some new fabric with wicked cool prints off of eBay: mystical horses, tattoed girls, drinking ghouls and Our Lady of Gaudalupe...sound interesting? I can't wait for them to arrive. I'll be sure to post them when they do.

I've also done some dyeing. Here's a new colorway called Rainbow Sprinkles. I simply adore it! It looks like a party! I have no idea what that means, but hey, that's what it feels like to me.

One more bit of IMPORTANT info, Em has been working hard getting the Knitters of Avalon KAL blog up and running. What is it, you ask? Well, why don't ya step on over and check it out...It's a work in progress, but I do know there will be some great prizes and it sure does look to be alot of fun. How can you go wrong: knitting, reading and prizes! You don't want to miss it!

A Day at the Zoo

2007-01-28T05:54:00.000-08:00

We went to the zoo yesterday and saw elephants:

...and monkeys...

...and alligators...

...and a rather angry Asian Bear (note the cloud of dust he kicked up)...

...and a tiger (isn't she pretty?)...

...and an octopus...no, wait...that's Eli's head!... Looking at this photo, one can't help but notice why the mullet was never a very popular Victorian hairstyle...makes a terrible sillouhette!)

...and Meerkats...all these guys need are blindfolds and cigarettes...

...we were in the petting zoo and Eli had a staredown with a turkey...

...then he made friends with a cute little black pig...

...and we ended the day in the playground area. It was a good day :)

My SP9 revealed!!

2007-01-25T09:57:00.000-08:00

Cue in dramatic music please...my SP9 has revealed herself, and let me tell ya, she was good at keeping her identity under wraps!! Her name is Dawn, she resides in New Jersey and you can find her here. She is responsible for my latest lace shawl, and I am so thankful that she introduced me to this fiber!! It is absolutely heavenly to work with. Thanks for being such a great Secret Pal and making my first Secret Pal swap enjoyable! Three cheers for Dawn!! I'll definitely be signing up if there's an SP10.

I also wanted to say a quick thank you to everyone for all of the wonderful birthday greetings! It was a lovely day- I think the nicest gift of all was the inpouring of birthday wishes- If I could count my blessings through birthday wishes, I would be considered a very wealthy woman. Thank you again for making me feel so special :) ...*tear*

I ended the day by meeting up with some wonderful individuals at Panera's for dinner and knitting afterwards. It was our first meeting. There were three of us and we were joined shortly by my neighbor, which if I might add, was very nice of her to stop in. I'm thinking (and hoping) that it will become a regular occurance, because it's so nice to find other people of like-minds. Very hard to do in this city. There's a different kind of vibe to this place...

Anyway, I've finished the lace panel for my pillowcase and have blocked it. I think I'm going to starch it a bit before I pull it off of the super expeeeeensive piece of cardboard. You know, the kind that only us professionals use...*schnort* haha!! Yeah, right...All kidding aside, I'm super happy with the results so far and hope to attach it to the pillowcase this weekend.

One more thing: Virgin births...very interesting...you should click here...

Blah-blah-ing

2007-01-23T07:59:00.000-08:00

Thanks to everyone for some great slow cooker recipes. I think I'm going to try Cary's (who just had a big cashmere score:) suggestion next week. Sounds interesting. I also found a recipe for meatloaf in a slow cooker- sounds so weird, I just have to try it! I'll let you know how sci-fi it gets :)

Not alot going on. I've been dyeing some new fibers and having a blast. I am reaaaaally loving cashmere...I just want to sleep on it, wear it, rub it against my face...I've been considering being overindulgent and making a cashmere eye pillow filled with lavender and flax seeds. Doesn't that sound divine?

This is the latest cashmere colorway called Seashell. I took a little inspiration from Miz Knotty's suggestion and added a little citrus to it.

I also came up with a new sock yarn colorway called Cinder...totally loving it- It's very bold, spicy, daring...ooh-la-la-ish.

I'm very close to finishing my project for the Knit the Classics KAL. It's been kind of secret, but I'm going to post some pics tomorrow of the progress, because I finally have the pillowcase to go with it (good guess Meg!).

Not much more going on. Looks like we'll be moving at the end of February, so I think I'll get a jumpstart on packing today. Weeeee!!

Cashmere and Chili...but NOT at the same time!

2007-01-19T09:17:00.000-08:00

The great cashmere experiment is successful! I am soooo pleased with the results :) I wish the photo could really show how luminescent it is. It practically glows in your hand...sigh...

Also thought I'd post this photo for Em...Eli is a big fan of Sweet Tart, too!

The bulk of this post belongs to a slow cooker recipe that I'd really like to share. I've made it before and am making it as we speak, for tonight's fiesta. It doesn't have a super fancy title, Slow Cooker Chili, but is tastes soooo good. It isn't very spicy hot (which is perfect for me), so I keep some tobasco on hand for the spicy fans. This recipe feeds 4 with not alot for leftovers, so if you want more, just double up on the recipe. It says it feeds 8, but not in our family!

Ingredients:
1 pound beef boneless round steak, cut into 1/2" pieces
1 large onion chopped (1 cup)
2 medium celery stalks, cut into 1/2" pieces
2 cans (14 1/2 ounces each) diced tomatoes, undrained
1 can (15 ounces) tomato sauce
3 teaspoons chili powder
2 teaspoons ground cumin
1/4 teaspoon dried oregano leaves
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 medium bell pepper, cut into 1" pieces (one cup)
1 can kidney beans (15-16 ounces), rinsed and drained
Shredded cheddar cheese if desired

1) Mix all ingredients except bell pepper, beans and cheese in a 3 1/2 to 4 quart slow cooker.

2) Cover and cook on Low setting for 6-7 hours or until beef and veggies are tender.

3) Stir in bell peppers and beans. Uncover and cook on High for about 15 minutes or until slightly thickened. Serve with cheese.

prep time: 15 minutes

Tips:
Add corn for chili con carne (mom's suggestion)
Serve with saltines or Tortilla chips
Serve with Mexican beer or margueritas
Buy steak that is cut in thin slices for nice bite size pieces
Only speak Spanish when eating it... hola!!

Holy yummy! Can't wait until later tonight! If anyone has any great slow cooker recipes that they have already tested, I would love to try them. I'm a big slow cooker fan. They make life so much easier AND portray you as a culinary genius :)

Moody and Haunting...

2007-01-17T09:51:00.000-08:00

That is the best description I've heard for yarn lately!! Em, you're too funny! I thought I'd reveal what moody and haunting yarn knits up like...

Wait!! Come back! Where are you going?! I know you've been subjected to two posts with pictures of my strange toes and now my crooked thumb, but look at the knitting, I beg of you :) I know we can all move past calling me a freak, a circus sideshow, and wondering if the carnival came to town the night I was conceived...I have feelings too, darnit! *sniff- sniff* .....Ahhhhh TOTALLY kidding, but I'm sure you knew that.

Seriously though, I'm loving this cotton yarn and am really happy with the results so far. I love the lace pattern, too. It's called Love Braid- can you see the hearts? Kind of looks like I'm making gloves, doesn't it? I think two people know what it's going to be...still keeping it a surprise!

I've recently been asked where I get my ideas for some of the colorways I do. I would love to say that I've studied at the finest dye pots in France, spent years slaving over boiling cauldrons in Tibet, but alas, the only thing I can come up with is that maybe the circus really does come to town everyday...in my head!! When I start envisioning the colors swirling together, I know I've got something. I look to nature alot and my dreams. I find the best colors there!

Ever since I read Ann's comment to my last post, I've been envisioning a colorway called "Zombie." (love the comment by the way! Total global domination- woo-hoo!) I am being totally serious here regarding the colorway, though. I don't think it will appeal to the masses, but I'm sure someone out there will appreciate it. I think it will be great for horror fans and movie monster fanatics (I have one in my house, so he'll be the guinea pig:), and of course, zombies. Just picture a zombie foot, and there you have the colors. Hmmmm...do I need to get out more? *grin*

Finally, A Use For My Helmet!

2007-01-16T05:33:00.000-08:00

Let me just say how much I love this colorway!! I can't stop looking at it! It's called Alice's Garden, but I should have named it Distracted or Insomniac, because I can't put it down! Please disregard my crazy E.T-like toes, that are painted red for the occasion. I also finally found a use for my motorcycle helmet...

As promised to Em, this is a pic of the yarn I picked up at my LYS yesterday. It's a pretty mercerized cotton that I'm using for my lace panel inset on a pillowcase I am making. It's still kind of a secret project, for what reasons, I don't know, so I' ll probably do the unveiling at the end of the month...that is, if it works out as planned. I haven't even seen the pillowcase in person, so I guessed on the matching yarn...daring...

Show and Tell Day

2007-01-13T08:30:00.000-08:00

I'm not feeling to very vocal today, but I do have some pics to share!

Here's my first FO of the year. Nothing fancy-schmancy. Utilitarian at best, but hey...I finished it :) It goes great with the soap Cary sent my way. It was the first dishcloth of the year in the Monthly Dishcloth KAL.

Here's some of my lovely ladies that I am saying good-bye to. They will be making their way across the pond to England on Monday.

I've also worked a bit on my lace shawl and am sooooo loving the pattern. It looks like falling leaves. You can't really see the detail in the photo, because it's bunched together, but trust me, it's wicked cool!

I just received this GORGEOUS, heavenly, dreamy, holy shit this stuff is soft, cashmere yarn in the mail. 800 splendid yards of laceweight yarn. I can't decide what color this will become, but I sure am open to suggestions! This stuff is so soft, you can see it's halo in the pic. Wow...

Last but not least, we have a new blogger in the land and she has recently purchased the coolest, most craziest handspun I have even seen!! You must go check it out :) I can't wait to see what she does with it :)

A Package For Me...ooh-la-la!!

2007-01-11T16:20:00.000-08:00

In the midst of my dyeing frenzy yesterday, I heard a rat-a-tat-tat on the ol' front door..."Who could it be," says one blue fingered, scrunchie wearing, mad scientist, cleverly disguised as a stay-at-home mom...

...It was none other than one of my favorite people in the whole wide world- the postman with packages for me!! I have so many going out, that it sure is nice to have a few coming in :) I immediately threw my dye against the wall and put my child in the basement...what?! TOTALLY kidding...about the dye...OK, and the basement...

Anyways, I opened up my box, which was from my Sock-ret Pal Cary, and it made me oh so very happy :)

This is what I found inside:

A really cool card made by Tree-Free Greetings (good call Cary!), an adorable pair of holiday socks with little blue sweaters on them, a divine bar of Lavender Shea soap which was made right on Cary's farm, by her own two hands- how cool is that? There was also a Co-edikit Calender that cracked me up, a skein of yummy Light Sage Green Flake Cotton made by Ironstone Warehouse (I love the texture of it), and last but certainly not least...the thing I've been petting all last night...no not that, you pervs...*grin* ...a gift from Cary's most thoughtful sheep, whom I also share a name with...roving from Brooke the black sheep!! It is GORGEOUS. It is called "Midnight Tapestry" and is a combo of wool, alpaca, angora & silk. I can't wait to spin this up. I only wish I could give Brooke a hug right now (The sheep, not myself :)

Eli also got excited when I showed him what was in the package, and made an immediate bee-line for the yarn. My cookie-faced little monster has this thing with hugging yarn lately...gee, wonder where he got that from? He's also discovered the joy of putting underwear on his head and running around the backyard, but I won't mention where he picked that up from...

Thank you thank you Cary! Hugs to you :)

Thank you so much everyone!

2007-01-11T07:10:00.000-08:00

Wow! To say that I am thrilled and honored by the overwhelming response would be the understatement of the year. Thank you to everyone who responded:) I'm going to start out with the first three: Ann will get Avalon, Sweet Tart goes to Em, and Dutch Iris will find a home with Tiffany(Sassenach- great name by the way- Outlander series fan?).

There really is no rhyme or reason to my madness, but I'm thinking that I'll shoot for 2-3 skeins per month, so I'll keep a list going and contact you when your name comes up. If you're not interested at the time, that's totally cool, mamasitas! I'll be running down the list, so keep an eye out!

OK...back to the dye pot I go...

Free Sock Yarn Anybody?

2007-01-10T12:21:00.000-08:00

hee-hee...now that I have your attention, I am looking for some kind hearted volunteers to help me on my business quest. I would really love to have some pictures of knitted socks in certain colorways of my yarn, to display alongside it. Soooo, I was thinking that maybe some of you most excellent fabulous knitters out there would be interested in some free yarn from my shop. All I'm asking for is a photo of your socks in exchange for the yarn. You get to keep your finished socks and then if you want to do more, I'll send you a new colorway. I am trying to make them myself and I simply don't have the time or hands :)

I thought this would be a great deal- free yarn for you. Great pictures that would help me immensly:)

If you are interested, please leave me a comment, and I'll start getting some yarn together to send to you. I need the following sock photos: Sweet Tart, Dutch Iris and Avalon. You can see the colors in my Etsy shop.

If you're not interested, that's OK too. I still luvs ya!

Good news

2007-01-09T16:58:00.000-08:00

I have some really awesome news. The last post I left, I was on my way to pay my last respects to my uncle, because he was at 0% chance for survival...Well, he is a miracle man. The doctor's have never seen someone recover from what he went through. He had an enlarged heart and all of the problems that accompany it. He is still in the hospital and not out of the woods yet, but he is alive :) He'll have months of rehab ahead of him, a lifetime of meds and a possible heart transplant, but he is still with us!!! What an incredible weekend.

Thank you to everyone who kept us/him in your thoughts and prayers. It worked!! I have some other great things to share, but I'm off to bed- I've been dyeing all day...tired little mama am I...

Out of Town

2007-01-05T17:18:00.000-08:00

Well, I'll be gone for a few days. I'm heading over to Naples tomorrow to pay my last respects to my Uncle Jeff. He was brought into the hospital last night and they called a code on him. His heart had stopped. They did some further exploration and discovered that his heart was enlarged. After a procedure this morning, the doctor's declared that there was nothing that they could do. I'll be meeting up with my mom and family tomorrow. Please keep us in your prayers.

A Whole Year of Projects?

2007-01-02T07:03:00.000-08:00

Well, here we are. 2007. Hmmm...OK...

I'm going to take a moment, catch my breath, and look around and see what needs to be done.

I've decided to make a list of current UFO's and this will be my resolution for the year...finish what I've started. A fellow blogger is doing a Year Long Stash-Along, a stash busting project, which I think is mighty courageous. She is vowing not to buy any more yarn until she has used up what is in her stash. Brave soul that she is, I wish her luck, even though I'm green with envy over her huge collection of yarn :P Maybe by the end of this list, I will have discovered that I too have too much yarn, and will decide to join her...

This is what I've come up with:

1) My lace shawl. This will get finished, because I've already frogged and restarted it once, so it must be good! haha! I'm using the yarn that my wonderful Secret Pal sent me :)

2) My Sock-ret pal's socks.

3) My Crush Season socks that Cary, my dear and beloved Sock-ret Pal sent me.

4) Jack's Joey Ramone doll from the Stitch N Bitch Nation book.

5) My beaded scarf, using Artyarns Silk Rhapsody.

6) 10 more preemie hats.

7)My watercolor socks.

Well, I don't think I'm quite ready to swear off any yarn purchases...maybe next year!

My Mom's Shawl

2006-12-30T05:06:00.000-08:00

Well, at last I can reveal what I have been working on pre-holiday, for my mom. This was the project that I frogged 4800 stitches on, cried about, threw things across the living room over... finally recovering with the help and encouragement of others and am so happy that I did. Not saying I'd want to do that all over again, but I did learn something in the process...Pay Attention! I mean REALLY pay attention when you're doing a lace pattern!!

Here's a few close-up shots of the pattern. The shawl is called the Stora Dimun Shawl, from the book Folk Shawls, which is a must have book for your library. I used Swish Superwash Merino from Knitpicks, the color: Red Pepper. I really enjoyed working with it, because this was my first official lace shawl, and the thicker yarn helped ALOT, while learning the new stitches and patterns. It's also soooo soft. One thing I especially liked about the pattern itself, were the shoulder shaping rows. They make the shawl sit very nicely upon her shoulders. Ok, Ok, without further ado and anymore blah-blah-blah-ing...

The bottom edge:

A shot from above while I was blocking it:

Whenever we ask my mom what she wants, she tells us anything blue, medium or chocolate. Well, I deviated from the standard this year...just a bit :) and chose to make her a red shawl. My intention being to give her something cheery to wear/look at, on those cold grey winter days. I was extremely nervous about giving it to her after we had a conversation about color (I was already half way through the shawl, post frogging) and she told me that she couldn't wear red. Oh no!! I fretted over it for a few days, Jack did some fantastic reassuring, and when the day finally did come, she was more than pleased by it :) I do believe I saw a few tears and that made eveything worth while...not that I like seeing my mom cry, but you know what I mean! And here she is!

Doesn't she look lovely?

This girl knows how to work the runway!

Ladies and gentlemen...America's Next Top Model!

Hooray! I'm happy that she's enjoying it. She called me yesterday to tell me that she was wearing it and it was keeping her nice and toasty warm :) Now to figure out next year's pressie...

Here's a few lovely's that I finished yesterday. I'm adoring the yellow dafodil one...

When I finished winding up the yarn, I turned around and this is what I saw! There's absolutely no mistaking that he's mine!!

Holiday Photos

2006-12-29T04:58:00.000-08:00

Here are some holiday photos that were taken while my mom and brother were here a few days ago. We had a great time! Always too short, but I'm sure they couldn't get out of Miami fast enough! haha!!

One word of caution: These photos were taken very early- pre-coffee early, and our hair and clothing choices must be excused...well, OK, everyone else looks fine. I'm the only crazy looking one in the tie-dye t-shirt and red knitting sheep flannel pants...*grin*

Here's Eli and his favorite gift, a lint roller. It's actually Grandma's, but he took a shine to it :) Also note our fabulous no-fuss holiday tree in the background taped to the wall. :P Good stuff!

Of course, the obligatory "bow on head" photo must be included!

Here's a photo of Eli trying to figure out why we keep wanting him to stick his hand inside a big white sock :)

Daddy and Eli opening up presents...Awwww...

Eli checking out his new toy. It's one of those cool noisy button pushing kind of gizmo's that is sure to drive all of us completely nutters one day...

And here's the afore-mentioned crazy lady opening up her FABULOUS gift from the DB...a swift!!! Woo-hoo!! Don't I just look like I won First Prize at the county fair?

If you've never seen a swift before, this is what they look like...

...kidding of course! This is my brother Joel, who was my stand-in swift, before I got the real one! He is holding the Schaefer Trenna yarn for me as I wound it up into a center pull ball. Notice the lovely hair he is sporting in the photo...well, when he got back home to Jacksonville, he headed down to the hair salon and had it cut off and donated to Locks of Love. Kudos to you little bro! Now, let it grow again, damnit!! (you must excuse me. I am so proud of him for doing it, but I am in the "everyone should grow their hair long" camp) Just a funny thing about me, I guess.

Lastly, here's a photo of me and my bubba boy. My mom and Joel are in the background.

Tomorrow will be the great unveiling of my mom's shawl, which she proudly modeled for me in the front yard. Can't wait to show you guys!

Yay! My computer is no longer sick and my Secret Pal rocks!

2006-12-28T05:34:00.000-08:00

Wow... nothing like a good virus to show you how dependant you can become on your computer. It's rather scary, to be quite honest. While my family was here, we were having a conversation about what would happen to humanity if all of the computers in the world were hit with a virus. What would we do? Things would come to a grinding halt, really fast. You see, we were forced to have these conversations, because we had no computer to waste our time on...kidding, mom!

But anyway, enough about the devilbox, let's get to the good stuff! I hope everyone out there in the real world had a fabulous holiday, ate lots of pie (Em :) and took loads of pictures to share with everyone (Parisa- we're all dying to see Ireland!!) :) I have so many pictures to post, so I'll be putting them up over the next few days.

I guess I'll start with Yule. We really didn't do anything fancy to celebrate it this year. It kind of snuck up on us, (I know...excuses, excuses) but I did get one of THE most fabulous lace knitting books from my DB as a Yule gift.

I've already started one of the shawls in the book, which I'll be posting pictures of later on. This book is full of GORGEOUS projects. It's definitely worth it's weight in gold.

On Saturday (the day my computer was really feeling the effects), I was busy cleaning, and praying and crossing all of my fingers and toes that all of the presents I ordered online would arrive (the last day the post was running). I lucked out and got all of them except for one, which was coming and is still coming, from Thailand for my brother. My postman had to make two stops at my house, and the second time that he came by, he dropped of a package from my Secret Pal. This could not have come at a better time, let me tell you!!

I opened up the box and found this box o' joy inside...

...and there was a lovely Yule card, with the most gorgeous accompanying envelope. Here's the front of the envelope...

...and here's the back...

Isn't that too cool? There was also a very thoughtful Yule Blessing inside, which is now being prominently displayed on my refrigerator, right next to my Scooby Doo magnet, underneath Dracula. After reading the card, I opened up the box, and this is what I found inside...

Wow!! What a thoughtful and completely awesome package!! There was a gorgeous lace shawl pattern (which I attempted to start and then decided to try an easier pattern from the book first...I know, I know...chicken I am). There was also a delicious bar of Lemon Verbana soap...yummmm :), a Knitting Day of the Year calender- very cool, a book thong, hand lotion (which I love), wool wash, a knitting accessory case/pouch and...drumroll please...one of THE most gorgeous skeins of dark purple/plum laceweight yarn that I have ever seen. It is exactly what I would have picked out for myself. It's 1250 glorious yards of Schaefer Trenna 50% Silk/50% Merino wool. It is so soft and shiny and yummy and elegant...I can't even begin to describe how loverly it is :) I want to pet it all day long and gaze at it adoringly... *grin* I've already wound it into a center pull ball and it's on the needles working it's way into a shawl as we speak...

Thank you thank you Secret Pal!! I know you said you were worried I wouldn't be happy with the package, but I am so happy and thankful and realize how much thought you put into it! I can't wait to find out who you are, oh evil one... *grin*

Last but not least, I joined the Monthly Dishcloth KAL that Em and Parisa are in, and I finished this dishcloth, which was put in my brother's stocking, along with a bar of soap called Hippie in a Bar, which was handmade by Cottage Garden Therapies, a fellow Etsy vendor. I cannot recommend this soap enough! It smells divine and the packaging is outstanding. She really goes above and beyond.

Well, that's it for today. There's a gazillion more photos to come :)

Blogger Down!! Blogger Down...

2006-12-23T14:21:00.000-08:00

Well, I have won the computer virus lottery and am currently sitting in the good old Miami Public Library right now....grumble, grumble....but thank Goddess for them!! Why do nasty people create nasty computer viruses? I must have bad computer Karma from a past job or something, because this is the second time it's happened to me...I need a computer condom...is there a shot I can get? Reminds me of my days back in Nam...what?! Rambling, sorry....

Anyway, happy holidays everyone! Hopefully the computer doctor will be coming to my house soon. I have so many pictures to share...finished projects, Yule gifts, and my Secret Pal sent me the most bangin' package a girl could ever ask for! I said bangin, yo :) Uh-oh... I'm becoming urban....NO!!!!!

*grin*

Happy Yule!

2006-12-21T05:04:00.000-08:00

Happy yule to everyone! I'm deviating from the norm today, dedicating this post to everything Yule :) I want to give a nice overview of the meaning of Yule and some of the Lore that goes with it. I pulled this from Akasha's site (I hope she doesn't mind!) Following the Lore, I've set up some links, for anyone interested in reading more about the holiday/tradition. Some of the similarities between Christmas and Yule may surprise you...

Happy day to all!

Yule Lore (December 21st)

Yule, (pronounced EWE-elle) is when the dark half of the year relinquishes to the light half. Starting the next morning at sunrise, the sun climbs just a little higher and stays a little longer in the sky each day. Known as Solstice Night, or the longest night of the year, much celebration was to be had as the ancestors awaited the rebirth of the Oak King, the Sun King, the Giver of Life that warmed the frozen Earth and made her to bear forth from seeds protected through the fall and winter in her womb. Bonfires were lit in the fields, and crops and trees were "wassailed" with toasts of spiced cider.

Children were escorted from house to house with gifts of clove spiked apples and oranges which were laid in baskets of evergreen boughs and wheat stalks dusted with flour. The apples and oranges represented the sun, the boughs were symbolic of immortality, the wheat stalks portrayed the harvest, and the flour was accomplishment of triumph, light, and life. Holly, mistletoe, and ivy not only decorated the outside, but also the inside of homes. It was to extend invitation to Nature Sprites to come and join the celebration. A sprig of Holly was kept near the door all year long as a constant invitation for good fortune to pay visit to the residents.

The ceremonial Yule log was the highlight of the festival. In accordance to tradition, the log must either have been harvested from the householder's land, or given as a gift... it must never have been bought. Once dragged into the house and placed in the fireplace it was decorated in seasonal greenery, doused with cider or ale, and dusted with flour before set ablaze be a piece of last years log, (held onto for just this purpose). The log would burn throughout the night, then smolder for 12 days after before being ceremonially put out. Ash is the traditional wood of the Yule log. It is the sacred world tree of the Teutons, known as Yggdrasil. An herb of the Sun, Ash brings light into the hearth at the Solstice.

A different type of Yule log, and perhaps one more suitable for modern practitioners would be the type that is used as a base to hold three candles. Find a smaller branch of oak or pine, and flatten one side so it sets upright. Drill three holes in the top side to hold red, green, and white (season), green, gold, and black (the Sun God), or white, red, and black (the Great Goddess). Continue to decorate with greenery, red and gold bows, rosebuds, cloves, and dust with flour.

Deities of Yule are all Newborn Gods, Sun Gods, Mother Goddesses, and Triple Goddesses. The best known would be the Dagda, and Brighid, the daughter of the Dagda. Brighid taught the smiths the arts of fire tending and the secrets of metal work. Brighid's flame, like the flame of the new light, pierces the darkness of the spirit and mind, while the Dagda's cauldron assures that Nature will always provide for all the children.

Symbolism of Yule:
Rebirth of the Sun, The longest night of the year, The Winter Solstice, Introspect, Planning for the Future.

Symbols of Yule:
Yule log, or small Yule log with 3 candles, evergreen boughs or wreaths, holly, mistletoe hung in doorways, gold pillar candles, baskets of clove studded fruit, a simmering pot of wassail, poinsettias, christmas cactus.

Herbs of Yule:
Bayberry, blessed thistle, evergreen, frankincense holly, laurel, mistletoe, oak, pine, sage, yellow cedar.

Foods of Yule:
Cookies and caraway cakes soaked in cider, fruits, nuts, pork dishes, turkey, eggnog, ginger tea, spiced cider, wassail, or lamb's wool (ale, sugar, nutmeg, roasted apples).

Incense of Yule:
Pine, cedar, bayberry, cinnamon.

Colors of Yule:
Red, green, gold, white, silver, yellow, orange.

Links to more info:

For an interesting historical perpective, click here.

Info on the Winter Solstice, with some really great links to sites on "The Ancients"

Info on Sacaea-Saturnalia and the Sun-worshipping party-going Egyptians and Romans!

Some more tid-bits on the Scandinavean influence on Yule.

These are just a few links. There are so many out there and it's fascinating to find correlations between what is practiced now by way of the Christian tradition of Christmas and the Traditional way of the Pagan community now and hundreds of years ago.

F.O.B. #6 When do you procrastinate?

2006-12-20T09:54:00.000-08:00

Well, I have procrastinated posting this because I was busy yesterday working on something that I was procrastinating on, also!! Haha! I guess those will be my first two answers for the topic of yesterday's F.O.B.: When do you procrastinate? Good choice, Em!

7) I procrastinated putting up my post for #6, because I was working on yarn...

6) ...which I had been procrastinating doing since Eli went to the hospital.

5) I used to be famous for procrastinating during college, regarding papers that were due, but I somehow always seemed to pull it off!

4) I procrastinate changing out the garbage can in the kitchen. For some reason I'll cram trash into every square inch of the can, sometimes leaving stuff on top, before I change it out, or Jack comes along and does it because he just can't stand it!!

3) I procrastinate putting my clothes away...I'll wash them, hang them out to dry (using your dryer makes up 10% of your energy bill), fold them and then they'll sit on the end of my bed for days, waiting patiently for me to find their homes in my closet. I do believe I've seen my sweaters thumb twiddling.

2) I procrastinate sewing in loose ends/seaming almost finished knitting projects...anyone else like this?

1) I can't think of anything else at the moment, but I'm sure I'm guilty elsewhere :)

Off to check out Parisa's page to see if #5 is up...

FOB #7: What knitterly items would you most like to receive this holiday?

2006-12-18T09:04:00.000-08:00

Yay Ann!! Good list idea! Hmmm...7 knitterly things I would most like to get my hands on...and keep out of Eli's grubby little mits :)

7) A swift....oh, how I would love a swift :) I have the ball winder and I think Jack is getting tired of holding the yarn for me :)

6) The pattern that I'm still debating on...so far, 1 vote for short sleeves and 1 for long, so methinks I'll be making them both *grin*... that is, when I grow another pair of hands and my fantasy nanny finally shows up for work :)

5) I also would looove to make a pair of these funkilicious little clogs...I would look just fabulous dancing around the house in these, wearing only these- woo-hoo!! Sorry, TMI...

4) This mudflap girl t-shirt, because she is just so darn adorable and I'm tacky enough to wear it.

3) Some unspun Icelandic wool, because I am just dying to make the Feather and Fan Triangle shawl from the Folk Shawls book.

2) The book Knitting on the Road by Nancy Bush.

1) Some Socks That Rock Yarn. I love this spoingy, spoungey stuff :)

Ahhh....that was fun:)

F.O.B. #8 Knitty Cravings

2006-12-17T05:49:00.000-08:00

OK, I'm thinking that for #8, we could list 8 projects that we have either completed, are currently working on, or reeeeally want to make from Knitty's huge archive of patterns. I think some of you may have challenging "link" issues, so a list without links is OK, I think we're all resourceful enough to find them:)

For my list, I have only completed one of them and it is #8. I wanted to show a picture of mine, but it's hiding out in a box somewhere in storage-land...I used a soft chocolate brown Alpaca for the main section and a glittery tangerine and gold yarn for the accents. Here goes.

8) Tie One On. It's a really simple knit, with really nice results.

7) Nautie. Oh, how I must make one of these...

6) Clapotis. ...because this is what all the cool kids wear...

5) Shocking Pink Coif. For those days I want to rock the Amish in me :) Am I being serious? hmmm...

4) Baudelaire. These socks are gorgeous.

3) Tiptoe. I think these tulip socks are so cute. They make me feel all happy inside...*grin*

2) Pomatomus. These are just too cool, and I believe that Parisa is making them right now?

1) Lizard Ridge. Now if I could only figure out how to finance this project...21 skeins of Noro Kureyon...what?! If you haven't seen a picture of this afghan, do yourself a favor and check it out :)

And there you have it. My eye-candy contribution for zee day...

Help Me Decide Please :)

2006-12-16T15:45:00.000-08:00

I found a knitting pattern for two of THE coolest sweaters at stitchdiva.com. The problem is, I can't decide which one I would like to make. Any suggestions? The short sleeve would be more wearable in Miami, but I sooo love the long sleeves... help!

F.O.B. #9: You Learn Something New Everyday...

2006-12-16T04:45:00.000-08:00

...so why not start it off with the number 9? I was sitting around yesterday, and for some strange reason, I Googled the number 9. Yes, very strange, I know :) Anyhow, I came upon the site for Wikipedia-The Free Encyclopedia, and they have a huge page all about the number 9. I thought we could give our thinking caps a rest today and do some good old fashioned cut and paste action (hopefully this is legal in cyberland and they won't cart me off to the pen).

All you have to do is find 9 bits of info on the number 9 and share them with everyone on your blog. You can use the link above, you can do your own detective work, heck, you could make the stuff up and we'd never know (or would we? :) It's OK if you end up choosing the same answers as other people. What's important is to choose what interests you, so you'll learn something, and when someone asks you what the most prestigious sweater number in hockey is...well, you'll know the answer :P

So, here is the latest addition to my Walking Encyclopedia of Useless Knowledge:

9) Important Buddhist rituals usually involve nine monks.

8) In Wiccca there are nine sacred trees used in bonfires.

7) Norse mythology and Germanic mythology recognized nine realms of existence. Eight of the realms were embodiments of opposites: fire and ice, heaven and hell, creation and destruction, and light and darkness. These realms all converged on the center realm, where humans lived out their lives.

6) One of the most famous legends in Celtic mythology tells the story of nine magical hazel trees at the center of the Otherworld. They hang over the Well of Wisdom and drop their nuts into it, importing wisdom and inspiration to all who drink from the water or eat the salmon of the river.

5) In Thai, the word for nine, 'gao', is the same as the verb for 'to develop or progress'.

4) In urban culture, 'nine' is a slang word for a 9mm pistol or homicide, the latter from the Illinois Criminal Code for homicide.

3) In ice hockey the number 9 is one of the most prestigious sweater numbers, having been worn by legends like Maurice Richard, Bobby Hull, and Gordie Howe. It was also worn, doubled as 99, by the great Wayne Gretzky.

2) Nine judges sit on the United States Supreme Court.

1) But most important of all...9 inches is how long these gauntlet gloves are going to be from cuff to cuff when I am finished with them:)

Have a great day everyone!

F.O.B. #10: Instructions For Life...

2006-12-15T06:59:00.000-08:00

So, I was reading this book a few days ago, called Shaving the Inside of Your Skull, by Mel Ash, and I came across a great idea for an F.O.B. post. Before I get down to that though, let me tell you how great this book is! This is a short description from the back cover:

"This book offers you what you never thought to have- the balding of your brain! Crazy yet classic, it shears away the old think of consciousness, puts Christ on a pogo stick, Buddha in running shoes, and you the reader in a radical revolt from who you were."

Has that piqued your curiosity a little bit?

Well, I came across this section that challenges you to write down 10 short statements summarizing what advice you would give another person, the 10 most important lessons you've learned so far. I thought this would be a nice addition to the F.O.B.

Here goes.

10) It is what it is.

9) Always enter a room with a smile, because it puts others at ease.

8) Material items and money are essentially energy. Energy must have a constant ebb and flow, so make sure you're keeping it going. Give things to people who need them, spend money, don't be a miser (now this doesn't mean max out the old plastic, but you gotta keep it going). By keeping the flow going, you make room in your life for the things you need. Very cool concept that I have found REALLY works.

7) Stay organized. Clutter brings you down.

6) Know how to accept a compliment graciously. (I'm still working on this one sometimes)

5) If it tastes good, well, eat it.

4) Be present. Be in the here and now. Worrying too much about the future can make you miss what's happening now.

3) Try not to regret anything. It serves no purpose.

2) Take time for yourself. Recharge.

1) It doesn't matter what you do for a living. It's who you're being while you're doing it.

I can't wait to see what everyone writes for this one. I could always use some good advice!

I also wanted to share the Kung Fu of Good Deeds philosophy, since we're on the number 10.

Another excerpt from the book:

"On an episode of the TV show Kung Fu, the Master tells Grasshopper, his young student, that if someone does you a good deed, you are in turn obligated to do a good deed to ten others. These ten are then obligated to do ten good deeds apiece. By implementing this simple geometric equation, good deeds will soon flow all over the world. Next time someone does you a good deed, go and do ten more."

F.O.B. #11

2006-12-14T17:31:00.000-08:00

Today's F.O.B. is a list of 11 movies that I associate with the holiday season.

In no particular order of course :)

11) Nightmare before Christmas

10) The Grinch Who Stole Christmas

9) Scrooged

8) A Christmas Story, because "you'll shoot your eye out..."

7) The Bells of St. Mary's

6) A Wonderful Life

5) Bridget Jones Diary- you gotta love that reindeer sweater!! KAL anybody?!...KIDDING

4) National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation

3) Serendipity

2) The Wizard of Oz...what?! I don't know, maybe the munchkins remind me of elves...

1) Night of the Demons...haha!! man,, ahhhh...I'm tired!!

I'm hoping to be tomorrow's ring-master, ring-leader, Ringo Starr, whatever you want to call it, for F.O.B. #10. When Em gives me the nod, I'll post it for ya'll...well, yee-haw...

Hospital Update

2006-12-14T05:31:00.000-08:00

Hello! We're back, so I figured I give out the low-down, the skinny, the 411 on what the results are. Well, there's good news and bad news. The good news: when they went down his esophagus with the scope, they found no stricture (large amount of scar tissue) and we were all amazed, because the x-rays showed something completely different. Some more good news: we didn't have to stay overnight at the hospital, which might I add, was an absolutely FANTASTIC hospital for children- I would HIGHLY recommend it to anyone.

The bad news, well, now we have to figure out what is really wrong with him. If there is nothing blocking the passage to his stomach, then why is he having problems swallowing/holding down anything solid, that is larger than a pea? We'll be back to the doctor's at the end of the month and I guess we'll take it from there. It's such a guessing game...

I did take my knitting to the hospital and had many people ask me what I was crocheting!! Am I that bad or do people really not know what knitting looks like?! I started a pair of socks using the yarn that Cary sent me. I was going to do Jaywalkers, but then I felt like I needed something very simple and repetitive for the waitng room, so I'm making ribbed socks, for my pleasure :) They may look funny in the photo, and that's because I knit socks inside out. Don't ask me how I managed to learn that way :P Maybe it' s a hidden talent and I'll save the world with it someday *grin*

Also, thanks to everyone for keeping my little guy in their thoughts and prayers. It means more to me than you'll ever know :)

OK, I'm going to pick up on the F.O.B. on #12 "I Will Not" vows that we all make for the holidays.

12) I will not put off sending out holiday cards until the 24th.

11) I will not buy more gift wrap, because I still have 3 rolls from last year.

10) I will not try and make Eli wear a bowtie and sit on some strange man's lap for a photo, just because I think he looks adorable (Eli, not the man with the fake beard)

9) I will not peek, I will not peek, I will not peek...

8) I will not spend alot of money on my cat's stocking, even though I think he'll notice if I'm being cheap.

7) I will pretend not to notice that there is no historical accuracy to the exact date that Jesus was born. Many scholars put his birthdate in the warmer months...hmmm...

6) I will get down off my high horse when it comes to this issue :)

5) I will not be too hard on Al Roker for being such a doofus this time of year or any other....

4) I will not miss the snow, I will not miss the snow...OK, I'll miss the snow :)

3) I will not take all of the candy canes of off the tree and hoard them...I will try to remember what I learned in Kindergarten about sharing.

2) I will not watch The Grinch Who Stole Christmas more than 20 times.

1) I will not forget the main reason for me for this holiday, and that is being with my family :)

I'm the first official F.O.B. slacker...

2006-12-11T17:24:00.000-08:00

...I hope I'll be forgiven. I've been so busy getting things squared away before tomorrow's trip to Miami Children's Hospital... :( I'm more anxious than usual and am wondering why? We'll be back Wednesday. They want to keep him overnight for observation, which should be a bundle of fun.

Thank you to everyone for your well wishes. In some weird crazy cyber sort of way, and a bit beyond that, I'll miss you guys :) You have all brought rays of sunshine and joy into my life in your own special ways.

In no particular order:

Cary...why didn't I think of Charlotte in the name list?! haha!!

Parisa- I just got your card- you're an angel. Thank you for the nice surprise :) I love the candy canes (they're one of my favorite things about this time of year :)

Em- Yay!! I'm glad you got the yarn :) Now, how's it going with that omelet maker? haha!! Yup, I'm obsessed with it :)

Ann- you have great taste in names :) ...and naked orgies are good...ahem...what did I just say?!

Renee- woo-hoo for Jordis and her way-cool hair-do!! She was my fave too :)

and last, but most certainly not least, Meg- Don't fret my friend, I can make more- I do them one at a time, so it might be slightly different, but I can aim for the same colorway. I looooove Viola. She's so pretty.

Bye for now.

F.O.B #16 Baby Names :)

2006-12-09T17:35:00.000-08:00

This is a special F.O.B. for our mama-to-be, Ann. We're to come up with 8 girls names and 8 boys names. Please pardon my hippie-dippie flair :)

Girls:
1. Bliss ( a little girl who painted a flower on my face at the Further Fest)
2. Winter (a character in a novel by M.M. Kaye)
3. Belle (I think you all know of this wonderful book-reading girl)
4. Mazzy
5. Willow...hmmm...now where'd I get that from?
6. Jordis (Rockstar INXS)
7. Merilee
8. Xan

Boys:
1. Elias
2. Wolf
3. Matthias
4. Loki
5. Sebastian
6. Sydney
7. Lennon
8. they call me...Tim...haha!! (Monty Python reference for you there :)

F.O.B. #17

2006-12-09T05:26:00.000-08:00

I really like this list, from what I've read of Em's, Parisa's and Ann's. These are 17 things that you just can't live without. They have to be material objects, so... here we go...

17. My Doc marten sandals, shoes, and boots...yup I'm a Doc junkie. Even though I don't get to wear them very often, I still like to look at them :)

16. My computer, but of course...

15. My cell phone. We don't have a home phone, so I'd be cut off from civilization without this and the old computer.

14. Any and all books I've ever read. There's not one in particular, because they all act like Miracle Grow for my brain.

13. My sewing machine.

12. My finished and unfinished cross stitch pieces. I've done a few, and these are two that I've worked on. The first one is Waiting For Ships and it is finished. The second is Queen Mermaid, and I'm almost done...I'm a BIG fan of Mirabilia, as you can see :)

11. My drop spindle. When I need to feel a little bit more "connected" I pull this out and spin away. It's been awhile since I've really gotten any good spinning done, because Mr. Eli just thinks it's so much fun to grab what I'm working on and run...one of these days...to the moon!

10. My Starbucks coffee...my brother works there, so I get the ultimate coffee hook-up! Woo-hoo!!

9. Wow, I'm having a really hard time with this list...I'm in this give-away phase right now, so I'm finding it hard to think of anything else...

8. Yarn stash/needles

7. Eli

6. Eli

5. Eli

4. Eli

3. Eli

2. Eli

1. My new yarn ball winder :) No, it's not #1 on the list, but I just looked over at it while working on this list and it screamed "ooh ooh..pick me, pick me!!"

Yes, I know I totally cheated, but I really can't think of anything...I have so much stuff and this list has made me take a good look at all of the junk and clutter I have around me, that is really rather insignificant in my life...hmmm.... Time to call the Vietnam Vets for another pick-up! I think the only things that I really need are things that help me create. Without those, I'm sure I would just wither up and die.

Speaking of the aforementioned ball winder, this is my first wound ball and an accompanying swatch gauge. Isn't that just so exciting? ;P This is the yarn the my Sock-ret Pal, Cary, sent me. It's gorgeous hand-dyed superwash from a lady in Upstate NY, called "Crush Season." (the yarn is called that, not the lady :) I'm looking forward to trying my first pair of jay-walkers with this yarn. It's a treat for me to knit with someone else's hand dyed yarn :) I've just finished the holiday knitting, so now it's time for "me" knitting. Hooray :)

F.O.B. #18 and Eli's Hospital Update

2006-12-08T08:48:00.000-08:00

I think I'm a day behind, I'm not really sure, but we got caught up in Eli business yesterday. We had to take him to the hospital for his barium swallow, to x-ray his esophogus. I just got the results this morning that he does have a stricture (scar tissue that is closing up his esophogus, making it impossible to get food down), so we'll be making visits to the hospital starting next week, to dilate his esophogus again.

For those of you who do not know, Eli was born 9 weeks early via emergency c-section, weighing in just under 3 pounds. He stayed in the NICU for 7 weeks and had surgery when he was almost 4 weeks old, to attach his esophogus to his stomach. He had the condition called Esophageal Atresia without a fistula AKA pure Esophageal Atresia. In laymen's terms, his esophagus ended in a pouch right around his breastbone. Any liquid or food that he would try to ingest would stop there, because there was no connection to his stomach. He was fed intravenously for the first few weeks, then through his nose after the surgery. He now can only manage foods that have been blended/pureed and cracker-like foods. The baby on the left shows normal anatomy, which he now looks like. The 2nd one from the left shows what the atresia looked like.

In 1939, they performed the first successful surgery to correct this. I could not imagine the horror of what it must have been like to be a parent of a child with this condition before this time. They literally had to watch their babies starve to death. I'm really not trying to be morbid, it's just a thought that crosses my mind still, about how fortunate we are. So, it has been an ongoing battle to correct this birth defect...I hate those two words, so let's call it his specialness. Due to these upcoming procedures, I have gracefully bowed out of the craft fair and hope to do the next one that comes around.

Well, there's the bummer news. Now I'll attempt my list with what humor I can muster up right now.

These are 18 items that are in my kitchen, but do not belong there...

18. Sunglasses with hologram eyeballs

17. A small can of black playdough

16. One tarnished silver candlestick

15. A box of Crayola crayons

14. 2 ashtrays (we don't smoke)

13. a funnel

12. A box of latex medical gloves

11. A roll of address labels from our last address

10. A black plastic cauldron

9. Cooler full of hair dye

8. Frozen breast milk...what?! Don't worry, it's not there anymore... :)

7. Travel size shampoo

6. Bubbles

5. Tape measure

4. Styrofoam basketball keychain

3. 10 Halloween tea light candles

2. 3 dominoes

1. tweezers...ewww...in the kitchen?

That list was much, much easier :)

Happy Birthday to Jack

2006-12-06T16:55:00.000-08:00

Today is the Day That Will Go Down in Infamy...no not Pearl Harbor...Jack was born today!! Happy birthday to my DB! Don't worry, you're not getting older, just better :)

The Festival of Blogging continues on...AND we have a name for it. We've found our special purpose in life (holy Steve Martin reference) I'm hoping I can keep up :) OK, here we go...19 characters that have tickled my fancy over the years. We could draw our "people" from books, mags, movies, tv shows.

19. It's only fitting that we kick this list off with Navin Johnson (Steve Martin) of The Jerk, because he was born a born a poor black child...

18. Grommit. Need I say more...a dog who knits!! Where oh where can I get one?!

17. Shaun from Shaun of the Dead. I am not a huge fan of zombie movies, but man, this guy was great! How ingenious is it to try to bring down zombies by hurling a copy of Prince's Batman Soundtrack at their heads... "There's no I in team. But there is an I in pie...there's an I in meat pie. And meat is an anagram of team."

16. Sir Ulricht Von Lichtenstein of Knight's Tale...how cool is it that he gets down to David Bowie's Golden Years. If you haven't seen it, you really must check it out.

15. Steve Zissou...Could they have chosen a better actor to play this role? Bill Murray rocks.

14. Morgan Le Fey from the book The Mists of Avalon. She has always been painted in such a negative light, and this book, which is narrated by her, finally gives the reader a glimpse of the Arthurian Legend from the woman's point of view.

13. Alice in Wonderland. Enough said.

12. Danarys the Dragon Queen from the George R.R. Martin series The Song of Fire and Ice. It's been awhile since I've read this series, but she stands out in my memory. How could she not, with two, or was it three, baby dragons.

11. Holly Golightly from Truman Capote's Breakfast at Tiffany's. I haven't read the book, but I just adore Audrey Hepburn...I've always wanted those earplugs with tassles and the eyemask with eyes on it.

10. Tim Gunn from Project Runway. I know, I know. He's not a character, but I love him!

9. Willie Wonka, of course. Even though I love Mr. Depp, Gene Wilder will always be my Willie...that just sounds wrong... :P

8. The King of Siam (Ule (sp?) Brennar) from the movie The King and I...etcetera, etcetera, etcetera...

7. Pete from Pete's Dragon. This is one of my favorite childhood movies and I love him, well, because he's a dragon :)

8. OK- I'm sticking with movies now, because my brain is starting to sizzle...*grin* ummmm...how about....Beetleguise. How can you not love that character?

7. Frankenstein from the movie Young Frankenstein. I love the part where he's on stage with Gene Wilder singing Puttin on the Ritz...priceless!

6. Dracula, played by Gary Oldman. Simply yummy, the younger version of Dracula, that is. Not too fond of the 900 year old model...ewwwww

5. Lily Munster. She always seemed like such a nice mom :) Her housekeeping skills were lacking something though.

4. Rob Roy, played by Liam Neeson. Hooray for men in kilts!

3. Reverend Dimsdale of The Scarlet Letter. I loved the book and really liked the movie with Demi Moore and Gary Oldman.

2. Catwoman, played by Julie Newmar. She was my first version of Catwoman, from watching the tv reruns afterschool as a kid. Loved that series!

1. Rover Dangerfield. This was the animated dog, who was voice-overed by Rodney Dangerfield. It's a pretty obscure film, but he sings a song about peeing on a Christmas Tree and it's stuck with me for years...

Whew...19...that was getting tough towards the end. I like the idea that the number gets smaller as we go! Can't wait to see what tomorrow brings :)

4.

Challenge Accepted

2006-12-06T06:34:00.000-08:00

OK, I will try, key word being try, to keep up with Em on this 20 day blog-a-day countdown to Christmas. I technically have until the 21st, which is when Yule starts, but I'll play along anyway, because I'm a joiner, darnit! To start off this event, here are 20 things you didn't know about Brooke, unless you are my mother or I have carried your child...

20. My favorite smell in the world is the smell of yellowing paperback books. I am a self-proclaimed champion book-sniffer- I can tell you if a book is good or bad by it's smell alone...and I'm not kidding you on this one!

19. I learned how to drive stick/standard when I was 17 on a 1971 Volkwagon bus. I had no choice. I was the only sober one coming home from the concert.

18. During my late teens, I went on many Spring and Summer tours with the Grateful Dead.

17. Due to this, I missed too much school, had to repeat a half year and graduated late. The good news is that I got my act together, went on to college and graduated with honors from Eckerd College.

16. The day of my graduation ceremony, I met some friends for mimosa's before the ceremony and was drunk as a skunk by the time I entered the auditorium.

15. I have 6 tattoos.

14. I want more tattoos, the next one being Eli's footprints on the top of my feet.

13. I don't eat ribs...thorasic cavities freak me out. I really don't like anything off of a bone.

12. I prefer to wear long skirts, instead of pants/jeans.

11. I sometimes listen to the Willie Wonka soundtrack while dyeing yarn...the middle one bears an uncanny resemblance to schnozzberries, don't you think? :)

10. I just discovered Tegan & Sara and looooove their music!!

9. I'm a big fan of Project Runway and have been known to watch American Idol now and then...please don't tell anyone!!

8. I live 15 minutes from the beach and never go.

7. I think the Florida Panther is one of the most beautiful creatures alive.

6. I am a big believer in past lives and soul groups and really wish I could find out things "for sure".

5. I hate ironing clothes. Avoid it like the plague.

4. I think full-size vans a creepy yet very utilitarian, kind of like my last step-father. (sorry mom!)

3. I run with scissors.

2. I have a motorcycle which I haven't ridden in over two years!! It's been relegated to laundry hanger and it sits in my dining room!! You really must come over sometime! It's amusing :)

1. I am amazed everyday at how far Eli has come. This is a picture from when he was about 4 months old and still on the oxygen. I love this photo and thought I would share it with you.

OK, there you have it! 20 things you now know about me. I have no idea what the next 19 days have in store, so I'll just follow Em's lead!!

Snuggles for Animal Shelters

2006-12-05T10:55:00.000-08:00

I was talking to my mom on the phone yesterday and asked her to take a picture of the knitting project she has been working on, so that I could post it and share her story. When I was in Tennessee a few months back, I bought the book, Knitting for Peace. While flipping through the pages, we discovered that there is a need for "snuggles" at many local animal shelters. Snuggles are basically little square blankets that go into the cage with a dog or cat. They provide a soft alternative to the steel cages and hard floors, and give the animals warmth and a soft place to sleep. I think the most interesting aspect is that an animal is more likely to be adopted if it has a blanket in it's cage. Here's the photo she sent me of a few of the snuggles she has knit so far. Hooray mom!! My mom is an animal magnet/lover/stray finder/savior and I think it's so cool that she's doing this for the wee critters.

On a less heroic note, I finished another sock project bag. I know I'm not saving any animals, but it sure did turn out nice and no animals were harmed while making it :P

Dirty Knitter Swap

2006-12-04T07:05:00.000-08:00

Yes, you read correctly. The Dirty Knitter Swap is being hosted by another Brooke, who was actually one of the first bloggers to stop by and say hello a few months ago. She is collecting Brooke's Who Knit and I am in her official menagerie :P This swap looks like it 's going to be alot of fun- it's for those who love knitting and drinking... I don't really fall into the boozing knitter category anymore, but I am so fascinated by those who do! I only drank and knit once in my life, and I woke up with a horrible hangover, someone else's knitting needles in my bed, and a suspicious charge on my credit card to Jose's Palace of Pleasure...haha!! Kidding of course. Here's the link to Brooke's page. Even if you are not a drinking pirate, but a cheap date like myself, it looks to be fun. I'm not a fan of chocolate, but I am a sucker for a chocolate martini, so count me in!

On another note, I woke up this morning and some more of my babies have hatched...same mother, different fathers, can you tell? *schnort*

Pretty soon they won't need me anymore...*sniff* *sniff*