Monday, January 14, 2008

Dilemma - I need knitting advice

I am bummed people.

This weekend I completed one of my swapees gift. Yeah me, no procrastination involved. However, I found out that my person received the damn gift I made this weekend from someone else. I really don't have time to knit something else.

So, what's a girl to do? Any advice. We did use different yarn and colors, but I don't want my swapee to feel like damn, I already got one of those.

HELP!!!

Friday, January 11, 2008

My neck, my back ....

My knits, just like that. Remember that crazy song (without the knits).

Anyway, Happy Friday!!! My audit is done and I am soooooo happy. I celebrated last night by getting some Sushi with the husband and I gotta tell ya, it was so dang good!!

You want to know how good. I didn't take the picture until AFTER we ate, my husband said, why didn't you get a before picture - hell, I was HUNGRY, I didn't eat lunch! And I was smart too, my hubby do not eat shellfish - the long one you see was ALL for me, because it had shrimp and scallops in it. So I had mines and I had some of his - he had spicy tuna rolls and spicy salmon rolls. Delicious - um, can you tell?



Knit News

Yes people, I have knit news. I told you gals, I started the CPH and it is a easy knit - so far. Now that I have found some replacement needles.

Sidebar - Knitpicks changeable needles are nice. I like them a lot, however, it would be nice if they had the numbers on them. I keep loosing my sizer, so I can't jump into a project sometimes because I forget which needle it is. I had to put CPH on hold because I couldn't find my sizer. I wasn't sure if a certain needle was the size 8. Well, what does a girl do in this type of situation. Look high and low for the damn thing and then give up and use other needles.

So, I am almost to the armhole decrease and I can't wait. I will have the back done. We will see.


Have a great weekend. Any plans? My plans, college basketball (I am a straight fanatic) LET'S GO HOYAS!!! Oh and the Maryland Terrapins are my second choice - gotta go with the home team. But the reason I love Basketball is because of the Hoyas, I have been a fan since I was 10, my godsister was in love with them and she made me watch with her and I have been caught up every since. Now I just love College Basketball PERIOD, better than the NBA, but I love balling anyway. So, again, what's up for the weekend.

Tuesday, January 08, 2008

It feels so, so, good

I know the world is coming to a end - today the weather in D.C. will hit 75 degrees!!!

I told someone last Thursday when I went to work that it was bone freezing cold and I would prefer the winters be winters (but not that damn cold), I would trade the occasional hot days in.

SIKE!!!

I don't know what form of crack I was smoking when I said that, because I am LOVING it. The only problem I have, is the damn Auditors that are here - my financial skills (or lack there of) are being graded - so I can't enjoy the weather except when I go to lunch. I used every got darn minute and am hoping to sneak out at 3:30, hmm is that possible, if you come back from lunch at 2:25?

Oh and what is up with that guy eating his girlfriend - parts of her or whatever - that right there is just - WOW.

Knit news - I cast on for the CPH finally, I bought the damn book a year ago to make it and have just picked it up. I am using Patons Classic Merino, I will take a picture soon, right now I am on the ribbing - ugh.

Monday, January 07, 2008

What do you get when you mix Patron & Yarn

Finished projects.

Yes people, I ended the New Year right by completing a project before the bell rang AND I completed two new projects in the New Year!!!

So, what did I knit - I completed the Ruffle Scarf and Beanie for my daughter and I completed the Shifting Sands scarf for me (of course) and I got to use some beautiful yarn for the first time - Rowan Cashsoft DK and Malabrigo.

My daughter asked me to make her the Ruffle scarf in Scarfstyle and I said okay, why not. I am glad I made it - she loves me again (for 15 min, she's a teenager)!! So, I pulled out the RYC Cashsoft and the KnitPick needles and went to work. I used two balls - I have to check the needle size, but I believe they were a size 6. I learned to do short rows which was pretty cool. I loved to see the scarf turn into ruffles. I think it took me 3 days to make.


I also made the Knitting Daily Cecily Beanie to go with the scarf. OMG, this was such a quick knit and people this was my first hat!!! I can't wait to do another, I have yarn left from the first skein, and I think I will knit her some arm warmers (I have one skein left that I have not used yet). I love the hat, but it is a little plain - so if you know of a knit or crochet beginner pattern - please let me know. So far all the knitting flowers I have seen look wilted.

This is a accurate color

Ya'll I am in love. I am knitting down my stash just so I can buy some MMMMM. I am one not to jump on the bandwagon, but let me tell you. I knit with this stuff and I am in LOVE, it is so soft.

I used Grumperina's Shifting Sands Pattern and instead of doing the wide scarf, I made a skinner scarf (which I am a huge fan of) and I love it!!! I cast on 22 stitches on size 9 needles and knit tell there was nothing left. I am not the fringe type of person (although in the 90's when the cowgirl jackets where out guess who had one - ugh - gotta get the pic from Moms).

I learned a new trick to put in my knitting bank: CABLING WITHOUT A NEEDLE, I am so stoked by this.

So three projects and I learned how to cable without a needle, shortrows and how to knit a hat. All while sipping - Gotta love it.


There is nothing like a good margarita with Patron Silver - oh and that is a shot of Patron (which I will never do again) in the shot glass.

Friday, January 04, 2008

Family Traditions

Happy Friday!!! I thought this day would never come (says the girl who went back to work Wednesday).

My daughter - Anger Management turned 14 yesterday. I am getting old!!!

I have one family tradition that I do with my kids. On their birthdays, I write a letter to them. Like an evaluation. I write how lovely they are, what they are doing right and then, I also write what I think they should improve on - loving and nonjudgmental of course LOL.

They expect the letter too, if I do not give it to them right away, they will ask for it by the end of the day. I love doing this because, it let's them know how you feel and what is expected of them. The only downside, in the last year or two I have asked them to write me the same type of letter and they have yet to do it. I have told them, if they do not write me a letter this year for my bday, they will not receive another damn thing until I get mines!!

So, I ask you - do you have any family traditions?

Have a great knitting weekend!!

Tuesday, January 01, 2008

No Christmas for you!!!

Well, how did we get out of celebrating Christmas with a 9, 13 and 18 year old.

Let me start from the beginning. I always go all out for Christmas, I never use the credit cards (I learned my lesson years ago), but I spend a lot of money on gifts. I am ashamed to say how much so I won't put it here.

Last year we decided we were not going to celebrate Christmas because we bought the house December 11th and we told the kids all the money was going towards that. However, we bought them crap anyway, I gave in, I just felt guilty even though they said they were okay with it. So, we have been working on them all year long telling them that they should receive their gifts on their birthdays instead of Christmas and they said cool, but I told them I would give them money to purchase whatever they want AFTER Christmas, because that is when all the sales were going on and they said cool. I really wasn't worried about the oldest two, I really have great kids. My oldest son, is so sweet he use to tell me when I would wake up - crust in my eyes, hair on top of my head - mommy, you are so pretty. My husband nicknamed him - kiss ass and would make kissing sounds. He is 18, but still my baby. My daughter the same way, she is really respectful and knows what she wants, she is a beautiful young lady. I really never had a problem out of them. Now, Stefon, you have read the journey with that one. He is a little different. The other two didn't question, they went a long with the program - not him, he ask why and all that (if he was first, he would be an only child - trust).

So, the whole month we bought it up again and was like you know we aren't kidding this year, we really aren't celebrating and they were like WE KNOW ALREADY. I had to go to a meeting at Stefon's school and when I met with his teacher she was like - um, are you Muslim, he told me that you guys weren't celebrating. I said, no we are not Muslim and no we are not celebrating and she said she just wondered because they had a pizza party and he said he couldn't eat the pizza because it had pepperoni on it. Okay, so the boy don't eat pork!

His godmother called and ask for his list and the oldest list and I told her we were not celebrating and she said, well, I am calling child protective service. I told her to call and if she gets him that would be cool, I'll just pay child support. Our parents think were crazy too, they always say we didn't do that to you.

So, on Saturday they got their cash and they went shopping and guess what, they all still have money even Stefon. It's amazing, when they have to spend their own money - at least, that is what the oldest one said. My godchildren and everyone else will receive gifts on their birthdays, as well.

I will do it again next year, except I will bring in a couple decorations.

Damn, Damn, DAMN!!!

Damn! I have to go to work tomorrow. My office closes for Christmas - New Years, so I have been off since December 20th and you would think I would be well rested and ready for work.....Not so much.

Well, I did get a lot of knitting done. I will take pictures and upload tomorrow - when, at work!! They have to be good for something. I will also answer how we got out of celebrating Christmas.

Anyway, I hope everyone had a Happy and safe New Year's.