Sunday, December 31, 2006

Happy New Year!

now that's an original title.

we're ending the year in a frenzy of Rachet & Clank Going Commando. no Dick Clark. no Times Square. just all video games all the time. i'm waiting for sean to get a cramp in his gaming thumb, lol. liam isn't playing, but he's sure dishing out the advice!

mark died 3 hours ago, lol. the "light snack" he had was too much for him, and he fell asleep way too earlier. he usually makes it until 9.

i'm going to go in the bedroom and try to listen to a little tv over mark's snores in a few minutes, but i thought you might want to see this:
Herbie's done! needle felting the nose was tough, because i could not keep enough stuffing in it to keep it firm enough to make it easy. the N was a little easier because i could pull his little tummy out and have something a little firmer to deal with. i guess herbie had been doing his crunches.

mark insists that we allow his nephew to name this little guy, but he'll always be herbie in my heart.

and we had a strange experience today. this funny white stuff started falling from the sky, and there were dire predictions of slick roads. i think it was . . . . snow?
liam was trying to juggle snowballs, lol. sean has a little tiny one that he kept putting in his mouth (ew! don't eat omaha snow!), and licking. by the time he came in, it was an ice ball. good thing he didn't throw it at anyone!

and i want to thank ina from the ABC along (i know, iw as atotal bum after I)
she sent this in the mail:
i found a small box in my mail with RAOK for a return address, then opened it to find 2 packages of lovely christmas cookies (my boys thank you!) and a sweet little card. after a difficult, tiring day, this definitely made my day. ya just gotta love knitters. they give, even if it's not yarn.

here's hoping you have a happy and safe new years, and that all your hopes, dreams & wishes for 2007 come true.

Saturday, December 30, 2006

i don't normally do this

i dont' normally talk about current events. however, the execution of Saddam Hussein has hit a nerve, and i can't ignore it. i watched a video talking about the execution, and it showed him all the way to them placing the noose around his neck. they said that some arab television was showing pictures of the body, but that they felt they were too graphic for them. in what way is this different from showing the bodies of his sons when they were killed, or the cleric they recently killed? i was seriously and deeply disturbed by this. to me, hanging is a barbaric way of doing things. however, some would argue that execution in general is barbaric. others would quote the "eye for an eye" verse in the bible. somehow, i never thought he'd be executed. it makes me wonder if he will be come a martyr for the Sunnis. something about this just strikes me as wrong.

they put mad dogs down. but humans? i don't know. I suppose part of the odd feeling i have is that he was our version of Hitler, except hitler did himself in before the allied troops could get at him. maybe that was a part of why the nuremburg trials were so crazy. we can't get the main guy, so let's take it out on his minions. except in this case, the minions have already been taking it in the shorts, and just now, the head guy gets it, too.

i don't know.

a few things

ok, if you havne't noticed, there is something in my sidebar! woohoo! i finally did it! i've joined maryellen's Year of Simple Things ring. go read. it explains it all. and yes, i am maryellen's secret pal. i gave myself away, by joining the ring. lol! at least i did better this time than when i was leanne's secret pal. blogger has a habit of leaving you signed in, and i left a comment on her blog without doing it anonymously. she figured it out pretty quickly, and it was only a few weeks after the exchange had started. i'm such a dork, lol.

now, since i've been revealed, i can finally do the 6 weird things meme that she tagged me for.

THE RULES:Each player of this game starts with the 6 weird things about you. People who get tagged need to write a blog of their own 6 weird things as well as state this rule clearly. In the end, you need to choose 6 people to be tagged and list their names. Don't forget to leave a comment that says you are tagged in their comments and tell them to read your blog.So onto the six weird things about me...

hmm..hmm..can I narrow it down to just six?

1. I have a sniffer from hell. I can tell you what you're cooking, how long it's been cooking, and what spices/herbs you used. I can even tell you what alcohol, if any, you've used, such as white vs red wine, or which type of beer.

2. I hate to dust. Seriously, terribly, horribly hate to dust, to the point that you have to scrape it off some of the lesser used objects. thank god i married a man who doesn't mind it at all.

3. I don't wear shoes. or socks. not unless there's lots of snow on the ground. for some reason, my feet don't get cold like the rest of me does. in fact, my nose gets colder than my feet do. however, my ankles do get cold, which is why i'm seriously contemplating creating an ankle warmer pattern for others like me.

4. I collect things. Everything. I have a large collection of empty boxes, because you never know when you need a box for shipping, or wrapping or such (ask miss vi what kind of box her afghan came in, lol). I also have a huge number of kitchen implements, some of my own, and some inherited from my grandma. I also came home with at least half of her household when we cleaned her house out. i'm gradually letting some of the lesser important things go. I also have a large assortment of teas, even though i haven't made any in almost a year (thank goodness for airtight sealing, lol). and we wont' discuss books or yarn. ahem. i'm a packrat (i was raised by a packrat (a depression era baby), so i come by it honestly)

5. I have very very very long hair. it's down past my tush. and it's so thick i have to use the industrial pony tail holders to hold it, the regular ones break. when i put it in ponytails or braids. i usually keep it up in clips, like an instant bun. i even knit myself hats to go over the clips! I don't usually do braids because my hair is also very fine & slippery, and doesn't stay in. if i braid it, i usually end up rebraiding it several times a day. and that's WITH hairspray, gel, mousse, what have you. (i have indian hair, i'm told. there is native american blood in my family, but we don't know what tribe or anything)

6. I have a very young looking face. even with the grey hair i have earned at my temples, most people cannot believe that 1) i'm 40, and that 2) i have children old enough to drink. lisa is 22, and steph will be 21 in january. they buy that i'm the boys' mother, nowadays, but they still don't buy that the girls are my daughters, and not my sisters, lol. this is the first year that i haven't been carded for alcohol or cigarettes during the holiday season, as i usually wear a santa hat. granted, i didn't go anywhere new, so they all know me, but still. i'll have to try new places next year and see what happens.

i could go on, but i'll stop there.

Who to tag? Who hasn't done this yet? if you do it, speak up, and i'll come read it.

and i went to personal threads again this afternoon. i have no shame. i also seem to have no inhibitions where that place is concerned, either. i bought 2 more skeins of malabrigo, a lovely skein of kathleen/bette davis, a ball of trekking (more fuel for the sock marathon!), and 3 balls of galway wool. the galway was amazingly cheap. it's normally $6 a ball for over 200 yds, but on sale it's $4.80. i may have to stock up (i can hear my credit card whimpering now). i'll get pics asap, but my camera is at mark's, and the wool is hiding here, lol.

you might be a redneck if a security camera has filmed you urinating.
. . . making your bed involves moving at least 3 animals (how about 2?)
. . . your station wagon used to be a hearse.
. . .you and your wife stay married for the sake of the dogs.
. . . you always make the minimuym payment and the maximum withdrawal.
. . . all your kids' toys came free with hamburgers (god, i have way too many of those things! and i can't get sean to start eating adult meals, since burger king started the big kids' meal. oy!)
. . . your sheriff goes by a nick name.
. . . you use your bathroom plunger every day (with a child like liam in the house, it's no small wonder! he's just now been in the bathroom for 20 minutes!)
. . . your wedding reception featured Ronald McDonald.
. . . you think "astrology" is what your grandma died of.
. . . you've ever written a check for less than a dollar (in this day of debit cards, that's not such an odd thing, maybe they need to change it to "used your debit card" instead)
. . . you think your state bird is the Pontiac Firebird.
. . . your knife is sharper than you are.
. . . you smelled manure during your wedding.
. . . you always order a water cup, but fill it up with soda.
. . . you have the macaroni and cheese cooking instructions memorized.
. . . you think "hors d'oeuvre" are those girls at the intersection downtown.
. . . you've ever used a Shop-Vac to vacuum your pool.
. . . your family tree has a tire swing.
. . . you have eight chiars on your porch and none of them is safe to sit on.
. . . the graffiti on your fence is in your handwriting.
. . . you use Wite-Out to do a French manicure (that's a teenager thing!)
. . . bill collectors carpool to your home.
. . . the collar on your dog costs more than what you're wearing.
. . . you've ever driven 10 miles with a relative on your roof rack.
. . . the original color of your car is anybody's guess (i had a car that was pink, it was so faded, so no one was quite what shade of red it was supposed to be)
i'll do patterns anotehr time, my arthritis is kicking up, and i need to knit to soothe it.

TTFN!

Friday, December 29, 2006

jack schitt

that's what i got done today. the boys were acting up all afternoon, to the point that liam pushed sean, and sean fell and put a huge hole in the wall. sigh. and mark blames me. there are days, i tell ya.

Knitting
8/1: Surveyor's Bath Mitt. this is made with surveyor's tape (the pattern used white, but i like these dayglo colors!). when i first looked at it, i'm like oooooooooo scratchy! but now that i've looked at the surveyor's tape, i can see it. this is actually kinda cool!
8/2: Stella- Poncho on the Run. this is similar to the clapotis pattern in the dropped stitch respect. kinda neat.
8/3: DragonFly & Fizz Lenghtwise Knit Scarf. non-pattern. nuff said.
8/4: Brady's Bucket O' Balls. the title cracks me up! you knit a sleeve for an ice cream bucket (and those things are getting smaller! i remember wehn they were 5 qts. now they're 4!) you also knit up balls. i could see this being a fun gift for a toddler, or, if you used high-end fiber, you could make a rather chic room ornament (if you took off the handle, lol).
8/5-6: Varsha-Girl's Tank Top. This is cute. for a smaller child (sizes 4-8). once again, wanting to fast forward 5 years to grandchildren!
8/7: Sari Openwork. this is a summery top named for the yarn. my biggest problem is a uniformity to abbreviations. what, exactly, is Yron?
8/8-9: Crazy Eights. a perfect use for left over sock yarn. anybody participating in L&V's sock marathon? use this!
8/10: Book Cover. this is for an average paperback, and it's done on a knitting machine. i don't use mine as it is, and i don't think i'd do this.
8/11-13: Striped Teen Top #4. again, very cute, but not for those who are gravity-challenged. frankly, i dont' think i'd put this on anyone over 14. it might inspire lust, and we all know what it was like in those days, dont we?
8/14: Napkin Ring. they suggest hemp or metallic thread to do this. i'm assuming because they're stiff? in that case, if you never washed them, would linen work?
8/15: Raggedy Cropped Jacket. i like the pattern, but i don't care for their yarn choice. i think i'd find another one to do it, and maybe change the closure, since this just has one tie. Dulaan, anyone?
8/16: Fan-Shaped Facecloth. this is cute, but it calls for either Sand by Classic Elite or nylon eyelash & cotton together. ew? why would i want to mop my face with EYELASH?
8/17: Abalone Silk Bag. Now there's a name! straightforward and to the point. a bag made with recycled silk yarn with an abalone button. and cute, too!
8/18: Barb's Twizzle Baby Hat. this is so cute it makes me want to SQEEEEEEEEEEEE! think liam would like it in red & black?
8/19-21: Rib & Cable Top. this is cute. i've got cotton in my stash for a tank, maybe i'll use this?
8/22: Lacy Ladies Poncho (ok here's an aside. is it spelled lacy, or lacey? i've seen both recently, and i would like to be correct (7th grade spelling champion, ya know)). this is cute, but the way it's made, it's too big for the model. she looks like she's swimming in it.
8/23: Summer. Hmmm. very, very, very basic tank. edging near non pattern for those of us who can knit these in our sleep.
8/24: Wrap Stitch Party Scarf. non pattern named for the yarn. sheesh.
8/25-27: Torbjorn Pullover. this is actually spelled wrong, as the pattern has that o with the slash through it, but i don't recall how to do it on the puter. ah well. this is DARLING. and it's got a whole plethora of sizes, too. it goes up big enough i may make it for the boys ! (right)
8/28: Beehive Hat. this is cute. particularly with the bee buttons on it. i wonder if i could send it to Dulaan? i will have to ask.
8/29: Maine Bounty Pullover. the big attraction for htis is the fact that it has a bunch of different yarns used as carry-alongs tossed in with a main yarn. otherwise it's avery simple sweater.
8/30: Opal Scarves. non pattern with opal and (shudder) eyelash.
8/31: Mock Smock. ooooooooo i like the texture of this. i could definitely do this as a sweater.

as for the red & black yarn i was mentioning earlier for liam, i went to personal threads yesterday, as they have everything on sale for 20% off through january 15. they do this every year. i bought one each red & black of baby ull for liam's hat (only one that was machine washable in a bright enough husker red), a skein of bluey malabrigo, 2 balls of noro kureyon in color 102 (orange and pink & yellow), and an olive green kid mohair to use for dulaan hats. is that it? oh yeah, size 11 addi's cuz i needed them to finish the herbie. he's drying quite nicely (i pulled out the plastic bags tonight, as he's holding his shape well), and i should be able to needle felt him tomorrow night or sunday, and stuff and wrap him for monday. mark even commented that he thought it was cute and he HATES the huskers, lol. i'll show ya pics later, i'm at my house (don't ask)

make your voice heard

Walmart is contemplating removing cut fabrics from some of their stores, and not including it in any new stores. I know a lot of you don't shop at the mart of wal, but for those of you who do, please tell them what you think of this. I've spoken up. you should too (and be nice, lol)

Thursday, December 28, 2006

i am so pissed off

see this?
this is herbie. herbie hedgehog. when he's done, he'll have a big N on his chest (since this is for a little husker fan). however, he's not done yet. you ask why? look closely at the bottom of the picture. see that dangling bit of red eyelash? yeah, that one. I RAN OUT OF EYELASH. oy. the pattern calls for 100 yards. i had over 110. not enough. i've also got over 200 yards of handspun, and the pattern calls for165 yds of the main wool. it's gonna be close, let me tell ya.Edit: I had 5 yards left! i am bound and determined to finish this little bugger tonight, so i ran to walmart and bought ONE ball of red eyelash. that was it. and i had to wait in line! at 1020! what the hell is up with that?

anyway, here's what else i've been working on this week:
this is the 5 hour baby sweater (which took me about 7 total) in the boy version, my usual hat, with some earflaps added because i was afraid it was too short, and my usual baby bootie pattern.

ok, i'll catch y'all later, i've got a herbie to finish.

here ya go!

a lady from the limenviolet message board asked me for the copy of the Canadian Flag Dishcloth. this is such a lovely idea, that i think once i'm done with this year, i will go through it and offer up any patterns i don't like/want. anybody who speaks up can have them. i may even go through 2005 as well, lol.

let's make this quick.

you might be a redneck if your 7/8th grade show and tell is your wedding ring. (you could take that two ways, pardner)
. . . your license plate frame mentions fishing.
. . . you think the last four words of the national anthem are "gentlemen, start your engines."
. . . you've cut down a tree so you could watch the neighbors better.
. . . there are cuss words in your answering machine greeting.
. . . you think you're from a "broken home" because the a/c and shower never work (ew!)
. . . your dentist has described you as "the worst-case scenario."
. . . you had to change the baby during your wedding.
. . . you consider turkey calling a second language.
. . . you've belched during a job interview (this while liam is burping while he's in the bathroom, there's just something so WRONG about that.)
. . .your midwife asks for an ashtray.
. . . mechanics ask you to sit down before giving an estimate on your car (good thing i WAS sitting down!)
. . . tourists have ever photographed your truck.
. . . you've taken a "velvet Elvis" for an insurance appraisal.
. . . you have a "system" for choosing lottery numbers (yeah, it's called quick pick!)
. . .more than two of your children have been banned for life from a day-care center.
. . .everyone you know has the middle name "Wayne."
. . . you've ever sunk a rental paddleboat.
. . . you've ever driven across a state line to go to a yard sale (cb is NOT that far away!)
. . . every time you brake sharply, four dogs end up on your dashboard.
. . . yout kids' trick-or-treating covered three counties.

now, some crochet reviews.

7/17-20: Fairy Filet. this is SO COOL! and that someone was willing to put this in a calendar just absolutely ROCKS! it gives instructions row by row, as well as a chart. WOOHOO!
7/21: Wire Cup. This looks like it's made with some fluffy fuzzy stuff as well as copper wire. kinda cute, but wire is not my bag. i have enough trouble with regular stuff, i think wire would send my arthritis through the roof.
7/22-24: Cat Tracks. very cute, very solid. perfect for most of my projects, specially as it's 13". i could use it for Dulaan, maybe? or A4A if i used wool (oh wait, i can use acrylic for that, woohoo!) this is a Dude square.
7/25: XOXO Afghan Square. This is cute, too. and not too many holes. it might just work!
7/26-27: Hemp Belt. This is very retro. really cute too, if you're skinny. mine would be so long they could use it to lasso cattle!
7/28: Water Bottle Carrier. this one is a wee bit different, as it incorporates a drawstring to draw tight around the top of your bottle. good idea!
7/29-30: Carousel Square. this is cute. it uses a lot of bullion stitch, but not very many holes. a new possibility!
7/31: Rosette Belt. this, i think would be interesting, but i'd definitley use a different color scheme. it's in black & cream, and made with. . . rick rack. hmmmm. another retro belt, for sure.

well, i gotta run! i gotta go to several stores before mark gets home, and then i'm off to S&B! woohoo!

Wednesday, December 27, 2006

i'm tired

and the kids are driving me crazy. is it january 8th yet? however, i now know i have definitely married the right man, because when he came home from work at 3, he looked at me, who was frazzled, and angry, and about to blow a fuse, and said "go spin. take the truck now, and go!" and i had just been thinking "i need a break. remind me to tell mark i'm gonna be gone for a little bit." what a guy.

ok, it looks like things are not absolutely fantastic with the van, but they aren't horrid either. unfortunately, i was lied to when i bought my warranty. "this will cover everything that could go wrong with your car, barring standard maintenance (which to me is oil change, battery, and tires). HAH! apparently i need new motors for my sliding doors, at $700 a piece (there's 2), and i need a new cabin filter at $98, and i need a new tire (i will definitely take care of that) at $135, and i need new frameworks for the middle seats, at $450 a seat (two of those, too). none of which is covered by my warranty. about the only good thing is that my deductible is only $100. it was the starter, which is covered. also, my power outlet needs rewired, which is covered. and my rear windshield wiper motor needs replaced, which is covered, however the arm and blade are not ($65). so, i figger about $200 total for now. i'll deal with the door motors later, when the credit card has slightly recovered from christmas, and probably one at a time. needless to say, the boys got the riot act, because they've been messing with the doors because they're automatic AND FUN TO PLAY WITH. oy. new rule. nobody, and i mean nobody, is allowed to use the automatic door openers, unless it's an emergency, and I DETERMINE THE EMERGENCY. damned kids.

ok, i'm calmer now.

how's about a little review?

Knitting
7/17: Blues 'n Greens Teen Top #1. this is extremely similar to the others, and once again, unless the girls are defying gravity, it ain't happenin' here.

7/18: Bump City Bag. this is cute. it's made with slubby cotton, andi f you want it really slubby, you leave the purl side out.

7/19: Extended Twin Rib Dishcloth. it's funny, according to the sheet, this is recommended as an over all pattern for a sweater, cardigan or scarf. hmmmm. didn't this say dishcloth? it would work, though.

7/20: Maria's Cardigan. abo8ut the only goood thing i can say is that this is sized from small to XL. damned near a non-pattern.

7/21: Panorama Socks. these are lace socks, and they look quite pretty (if i could type! oy, backspace key is my friend!). looks like a 5x3 rib with some yo's tossed in for flavor.

7/22-23: Fresh Tank Top. another yarn-named pattern. can't someone come up with something more original, like "simple tank top" or maybe "summer fling?" it's 2x2 ribbing. blah.

7/24-25: Marika. this one is cool. you can double strand it with two yarns, or not, and it actually has two distinct versions. tres cool !

7/26: Party Necktie. named for the yarn. oy. and it looks pretty bulky under the collar too. sorry gang, not feeling the love, here.

7/27-28: One Piece Bathing Suit. this says that cascade fixation is perfect for this! news flash gang. if it's knit, it WILL sag. now, granted there are bikinis etc in naughty knits, but one, i'm not knitting any right now for this saggy flabby bit of ick, and two, i bloody well wouldn't swim in them, even if i DID have the bod for it!

7/29-30: Bluebird Ornament. wish i had known about this earlier, i would have made a few of these for christmas (hush up, i know if i had been doing these on time, i would have known earlier)

7/31: Lace in Ribs. a very pretty over all pattern. maybe i'll make a scarf with this, from some handspun i'm working on right now. tempting. i also think this would make a nice baby summer blanket.

and now, folks, i have to go back. i got supper simmering on the stove (we're having feather bones, and they gotta simmer first, to prevent toughness.) TTFN!

good blogger!

i have pics!

first off, let's do the red scarf for the red scarf project that norma has been promoting on her blog.
liam is being a dork, but that scarf is wrapped around his neck TWICE. remember, i said it was about 10 feet long?

and here's the "fringe" benefits:
the "fringe" was done by chaining 10, then slip stitching back, sc in next stitch, ch 10, slip stitch back, etc, etc. i hate fringe, but this i can deal with. it won't fray, or unravel, or tangle (too badly, anyway, lol.
i also made felted coasters for the boys' grandmother:
these were made with lion brand wool, and the "n" was needle felted with brown sheep lamb's pride. they are in a little woolen felted "box" as well. here's a shot of all 5:
there were supposed to be six, but i dropped one and didn't catch it until i was searching through hot water in the washing machine for the 6th one. she was amazed when she found out i'd made them. (you'd think she'd be used to it by now, i was married to her son for 11 years.) and here's my mom:
doesn't she look so festive? what you can't see is that she is wearing red lace up shoes, as well! yes, s he is a TINY thing. i think she's like 4'9" by now. she has scoliosis, so the shrinking that comes with age is exaggerated with her. when i was a kid she was 5'. still not huge, but still. not bad for being nearly 79, eh?

now, my tree!
funny, the lights in the star on the top are actually red! oh well, it's still pretty.

what i'm reading:
To Say Nothing of the Dog by Connie Willis
John Adams by David McCullough (book tape in the house)
Pompeii by Robert Harris (book tape in the car, when i get it back!)
Strange Candy by Laurell Hamilton (she writes the Anita Blake vampire hunter series, and this is gooooooood)
Faeries & Natural Spirits: A Beginner's Guide by Teresa Moorey
Knitting Rules by Stephanie Pearl-McPhee

whee!

and now, i'm going to go away for now.

momma said. . .

there'd be days like this, but damn! at a not so convenient time!

i got up early this morning, and got the kids up because my mother had a pacemaker check at 8 am. this involves me driving over there, the heart place calling, and doing a check over the phone. we got in the car at 735, which gave me plenty of time to get there. click click click. lights dimming. i am NOT a happy camper. i don't recall if i told y'all or not, but about a month ago, i had the same thing happen when i got ready to take liam to school. so i called mark, he came home, took liam to school, then came back so i could take the truck and buy a battery (he doesn't like going to walmart, and i don't mind as a rule). i brought it home, and mark& i put it in. no problem! until this morning.

i have a full warranty that i purchased when i bought the car, because of all the bells and whistles my little darling has, so whatever is wrong should be covered. and since i had been having a few other things go wrong, i went ahead and told him about all those, as well. such as the airbag light kicking on at odd times. the rear windshield wiper stopped functioning to the point that if i hit the button, it flopped straight down. the handle on the middle passenger seat breaking off, so i couldn't get the seat to flip up and make it easier for the boys to get in and out. silly things like that, that i could live with, but needed attention eventually. i think i have a deductible, but that's ok, as long as they fix everything.

the bad part is that Personal Threads here in town is having a sale, and a bunch of us who haunt the limenviolet message board were going to engage in secret handshaking and much credit card abuse. sigh. no can do. so i'm without wheels until mark gets home around 3. and i have a huge pile o'shit in my living room from the van. well, at least this got me to clean the van out, eh?

i'm a lazy blogger, and haven't downloaded the pics i took, so you'll just have to be patient, neh?

you might be a redneck if you think "neighborhood watch" is what your mother-in-law does on the porch all day.
. . . your engine block is cleaner than your stovetop (after christmas dinner? this is a possibility!)
. . . every time you move, the neighbors throw a party.
. . . you think "eating right" means using a knife & fork.
. . . you've used a casserole dish as afoot bath (how about a stock pot?)

that's all i've got for rednecks right now, the rest of the calendar is at my house, and while it's a nice day for december 27th, i'm not going to walk 2 miles in 40 degree weather with two whining teenagers!

i'll catch you up with more later.

Monday, December 25, 2006

the Damned Purse



there ya go, gang, the Damned Purse. it wasn't very big, maybe 6"x7". i used brown sheep lamb's pride, which i felted. i've noticed, in mark's washing machine, i get these funky ridges, which doesn't happen in my machine (let's get that sump fixed, honey!) which i don't care for. however, steph's roommate ADORED IT! her exact words "that is so damned cute!" i told you it was a damned purse! steph and i had discussed details as much as we could, as she was in the room while steph and i were talking about it on the phone. this is lined with a pretty shell pink cotton, and i got the button from Touche. considering i already had the brown sheep, this cost me all of $2.15. gotta love christmas gifts on the cheap, that still please.

it was a goooooooood christmas. i got this, and this, and this, and this, the latter 3 being from mark AND the boys, the first being just from mark ;). i also got a jimmy buffet cd. yes, i'm a parrot head. hmmm, i may just have to knit myself a parrot head hat! i think i giggled for an hour over the t-shirts!

the boys were thrilled with their gifts. since there was no room in the living room, we put sean's bicycle in the garage, and then had him do a treasure hunt. the first note was in an envelope under the tree. it sent him upstairs to look under his bed. the second note sent him into the basement to look on the washing machine. the third note sent him to the garage. he loved it! in fact, he loved it so much that when my mother got here, he lead her to the garage to show it to her!

and we gave liam a break today. he hasn't been allowed to play video games for almost 2 months, because of issues with his homework. his grades aren't horrific, but he's having big problems with turning work in on time. so the boys have been playing bionicle heros, and ratchet & clank going commando. they had the second game once before, but i made them trade it in on a new game. however, they have all 4 games for ps2, so i relented on this one. however, in the next few days, we are going to go through ALL the games, and get rid of a bunch.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Sunday, December 24, 2006

christmas meme and then some

Egg Nog or Hot Chocolate?
Hot chocolate. With whipped cream.

Does Santa wrap presents or just set them under the tree?
yes, unless it's really big, then santa gets a little devious. tune in tomorrow, and you'll see what we did to sean, lol!

Colored or white lights on the tree/house?Colored, because they're what was on sale, lol. i do have white ones for outside, but since mark doesn't have outdoor outlets, no outside lights this year :(.

Do you hang mistletoe?
No, Never have.

When do you put up your decorations?
whenever we get around to it. this year it happened last wednesday. last year it happened on christmas eve. depends on when we get to it (and the mood it takes to get that far!)

What's your favorite holiday dish?
Probably the pumpkin pie....

Favorite holiday memory as a child? when i was 12, i got my first bike. i can remember coming downstairs, and hunting for my glasses (we left them on the kitchen table, don't ask me why, lol) wondering what those weird looking things in the living room were.

When and how did you learn the truth about Santa?
I have no idea what you mean....

Do you open a gift on Christmas Eve?
the kids do. i didn't this year because i don't think mark has mine wrapped yet, lol. i know there's a box under the sofa from amazon, although i haven't shaken it yet, lol. i figure he'll wrap them in the morning, before i get up, since he went to bed around 7, lol. and steph asked if she could open one yesterday, since she wouldn't be here on christmas eve, lol!

What kind of decorations are on your tree?
A variety. since mark and i both have "collections" that we've either inherited or created (i've got several kid ornaments) we've got all kinds. however, my two favorite are the mickey/minnie mouse one that my eldest (who no longer celebrates christmas) made in 1996, and a small plastic drum with sean's kindergarten picture on it.

Snow! Love it or dread it?
there'll not be that kind of language on my blog!

Can you ice skate?
Nope, never have.

Do you remember your favorite gift?
while it wasn't my favorite, the one that stuck in my mind was an automatic electric barbie brush i got when i was 5. i think it was a hint, lol, cuz i hated having my hair brushed.

What's the most important thing about the holidays for you?
being able to give to others, whether my own, or those who have no one to give to them. this is the first year that i've not gone whole hog with donating toys (money's a bit tight this year).

What is your favorite holiday tradition?
christmas carols. it's the only time i get to sing in soprano, which is what i sang in choir.

What tops your tree?a whitel glittery star with red lights. with an antique icicle hanging off it, lol (liam put it there)

What is your favorite holiday book
i don't really have one. although when i was younger i used to enjoy the romance novels that were 4 stories in one, centered around the holidays.

What is your favorite Christmas song?Silent night. Gloria. for the same reason i love carols in general. also "mary did you know?" the line about "the lame will leap, the deaf will hear" makes me cry every time. i think about my mother, and the sheer thrill i'm sure she'd have to hear all her loved ones voices, if only once.

Candy Canes! Yummy or Yuck?
depends ont he candy cane. some are so strong the peppermint could knock your socks off! i've seen some fruit flavor ones, and the strawberry ones by starburst that i bought one year were pretty tasty. no candy canes this year, though. i just can't get into it, and i'm sure jimi would try to steal them, lol.

and now, i got steph's roommate's purse done! well, i thought i ws gonna post a pic! blogger keeps eating it! oh well, i'll show ya later. it turned out quite cute! i'll wrap it in the morning, i need to go hide sean's treasure hunt cards, and go to bed!

Friday, December 22, 2006

ummm

yeah, quite the erudite title, eh?

so, i don't have the camera here at my house, so i will take the software with me, and then dl the pics there.

sean is thrilled, told his teachers, and everybody else he could tell. definitely a happy dance going on there!

and he's going to ADORE christmas. we got him a schwinn sting ray bike for christmas, and i'm going to be evil. mark's living room is very narrow, and we'd fall over the bike, so i'm making sean do a treasure hunt (i've been listening to treasure island too much!). there will be a card under the tree, with a cute little note (i've already figured out what i'm saying), then off to the bedroom to find another note, then down to the basement, then into the garage, where the shining beauty will be hidden. there's no worry about him going in the garage, there's nothing in there to interest him, and he has no clue. it's been hiding in its box in my bedroom for now (oy, no room in there either!). mark is going to take it over to a friend's saturday morning to try to get it put together, cuz he tried to do it tuesday, and that was a disaster. mark is very mechanically inclined, but the forks on this bike are a bit odd. soooooooooooooooooo. . .

liam is getting a big box full of bionicles for his big gift. i know he'll be thrilled.

now toa little review, eh?

Crochet
7/1-2: Microspun Poncho. it's kinda pretty, but i can't stand microspun. it's horridly splitty stuff.
7/3: Hot Sauce Bottle Covers. this is supposed to be uncle sam, but i think i need to call stitchy in on this one (shudder)
7/4: Katie's Bliss. the designer created this square in honor of her daughter's engagement. i likes it verily, and think will use it often.
7/5-6: I Love a Parade Square. it's a regular square, with a heart in flag style sewn to the outside. ok, i suppose. not a big fan of squares like this, though.
7/7: Scissor Holder. this is cute, but i think you'd have to use tiny scissors. otherwise they would be banging into the chesticles the entire time. unless you hung it somewhere, and what's the point in that?
7/8-10: Textured Treasure. a nice enough doily, but popcorn stitches? that's as bad as knit bobbles to me, ugh.
7/11: Jerrah. this is a nother DUDE square. i likes. nice and solid, but with some interesting texture.
7/12-13: Inspired Scarf. this is pretty. very lacy, and scalloped. it would make a nice gift.
7/14:Universal Cell Hugger. it's cute, but with all the different cell phones out there, i'm sure it's hard to adapt to some of them.
7/15-16: Braggadocio. another dude square. kinda holey though. i think this would be better for ships support or such, it's too holey for kidlets.

and now, i must hie me to mark's house, as i have another gift to finish. oy, does it ever end?

TTFN!

Thursday, December 21, 2006

kilt worm

tonight was gift night. the super secret projects i was working on? this is one of them:
miss lime has been talking about kilt boy & kilt worms forever, so, i decided she needed a kilt worm she could take out in public! and i'm NOT telling you what's under the kilt.

the other super secret project? well, miss vi was having some serious issues in september, so i decided it would be a good idea to make a comfortghan for her. i emailed miss lime, who concurred, and then set out to contact as many active members of the board as i could to see if anybody wanted to help. did they ever! i got all the squares, and then started to go through them and block them as needed. i knit 2 and crocheted one myself, and goosed a few locals about it to get a few more, and assembled it this week. we gave it to her tonight at S&B. needless to say, kleenex was a must.

the good news? i found my camera! it had been in a backpack in my bedroom for months, and when liam's backpack gave out, i gave him that one. he found it in a side pocket looking for pencils! so there are pics. however, the software is at my house. so i'll download the pics of the presentation tomorrow!

and thanks to all so far for the congrats on sean coming home. it is, indeed, the best present i could have.

i'll be home for christmas

and so will SEAN!!!!!!!!
we met with sean's new case worker (yippee!) and the foster care specialist supervisor and sean's foster dad, and we all agreed that sean was indeed ready to come home. when we told him, he just beamed! he knew we were thinking at semester break, which is jan 11, but he's done so amazingly well, that we decided he could come home now.

ok, hang on, i need a tissue. HONK!

it's been a long, hard slog for all of us, but i'll tell you what. sean's fosterdad is a very amazing man. he took a child who was out of control, no matter what we or his previous foster family did or said, and helped him to turn it around so completely that everyone is stunned at the change. sean was argumentative, hostile, controlling manipulative, and felt like he was battling the world. now, he's agreeable, and loving, and best of all, willing to accept constructive criticism and consequences when he knows he's wrong. i don't know what this man did, but i don't know how to thank him. we are, however, going to get him a doozy of a christmas present. and the best part? he wants to remain a part of sean's life. and we want him to. while sean is being discharged from regular theraputic foster care, we are leaving him at agency based foster care as a "just in case." what this means is that while we are adjusting to having sean here 24/7, if anything goes wrong (which i don't think it will), he can go back to the foster dad if needs be. the caseworker asked the foster dad if he would be willing to take sean as a traditional foster child, if needs be, which pays less than either agency based or theraputic, and he looked at her and us, and said, "for sean, you bet." i almost cried then, and i need a tissue again! HONK!

anyway, there's more good news. stephanie had been working as a seasonal temporary at OTC, with the hope that they would hire her as a permanent. well, she called me today, and while she's not happy with the schedule they gave her (she has to work saturdays), they did offer her a job. and with starting in the busy season, her wait time for benefits will be minimal, so she will be getting benefits, soon! like a grown up! we talked a little about it, and i advised her to get into the 401K, even if it was just a little bit. wow, i'm advising my child about retirement!

she will start again on Jan 2. she will be off for approximately 2 1/2 weeks, which will be a bit of a pinch for her, but she should get caught up soon.

to have the two kids i worried about the most get things straightened out is a load off my mind, particularly at this time of year. i don't need any better christmas presents. (i know better, though, lol, mark's been getting boxes in).

ok, how about a few laughs?

you might be a red neck if most of the stuff in your garage doesn't belong to you (i actually had this happen once!)
. . . your best shirt has ten jokes on the back.
. . . your favorite restaurant is open twenty-four hours.
. . . the seat covers in your car are two old t-shirts.
. . . all your neighbors have electric fences.
. . . defending your sister's honor is a full-time job.
. . . your last medical checkup was on board a UFO (and we don't mean unfinished object!)
. . . there are more kids than groceries in your shopping cart (been there, done that!)
. . . every dog in the neighborhood is related to your dog (DADDY!)
. . . you dump your boyfriend because your husband has been paroled (and he's gonna KILL that sucka!)
. . . you wait in the car while your wife changes a tire. (or is that just weenie?)
. . . you ever opened a beer while making love (now that would be a mood killer ! pssst!)
. . . you have to wiggle wires under the dash to get your headlights working (or jiggling the switch! i guess that makes steph a redneck!)

ok, i've got 2 gifts to get done by tonight, and neither is done. what the hell am i doing here! tootles!

Monday, December 18, 2006

at what cost?

this was shocking. go on, read it, i'll wait.

i hadn't seen cashmere sweaters in target or wal-mart, but i won't buy them now.

and it makes me question. lion brand yarns has a new cashmere line. debbie bliss & her cashmerino yarns. where are they getting their cashmere? i will be questioning that. and i may just forgo cashmere.

all for money. i don't think so

and away we go, yo ho ho!

sorry, i've been listening to treasure island, lol.

well, life has been interesting. we've yet to make it to the zoo to see the lights. i've had this pass all year, and we've still not made it to the zoo. sigh.

i've made good progress on both super secret projects. you'll find out more about those after thursday, lol. the vanilla socks of doom have been washed. however, i'm unable to find my large sock blockers, so i don't know if i'll block them, or just find a wire coat hanger, lol. the paws have been knit, and the arms & legs sewn on the hedgehog, however, i found out yesterday that it won't have to be done until new years. whew! room to breathe! i've decided to skip the fingerless mitts for my FIL, mostly because i need a gift from the boys, and, well, if i knit those, they would obviously not be from the boys, lol!

money is a wee bit tight, so there's been several home-made gifts. i'm giving my BIL & SIL a quart of that blasted green tomato salsa (liam and mark both say it's good, i just can't stand jalapenos, if you remember that post) and some home-made toffee. those of you who were at S&B thursday can attest to how tasty my toffee is, lol.

so now, on to reviews once again, lol. i'm determined to get through these by the new year (and the new calendars, eek!)

Knitting
7/1-2: Canadian Flag Dishcloth. This is cute! I may just save this and use it for my Canadian friends (hear that, gang?)
7/3: Oh Canada! Bag. Another Canadian pattern. this one looks like it could be felted, if you made it big enough.
7/4: American Flag Decoration. this is interesting. they show it hanging from a door knocker. it's a thought.
7/5: my apologies here. it's a dog sweater that is flag styled, but it's at mark's house, cuz i'm going to make it for my SIL's dog, Star. oops, lol!
7/6-7: Sassy Summer Anklets. This looks cute, and you know, i actually HAVE the sockyarn this calls for! i had originally intended to use it for my SIL, because she's allergic to wool, but this yarn has wool, as well as cotton. poo. the socks are cute though, maybe i'll make them for myself when i HAVE to wear shoes, lol.
7/8-9:Simple Elegance. it's very simple and made with a microfiber ribbon. however, with reverse ease, i'm not making it til i lose some weight!
7/10:Necktie Scarf. ummm, non-pattern. it's seed stitch, with ribbing in the middle to make it narrower there, and it's lopsided so you can actually tie it like a tie. bit emphasis on the yarn. blech.
7/11: Stuff Tank Top. this actually looks cute. it's named for one of the yarns, but i think i could skate by with the cotton i bought for a tank last summer when i was engaging in retail therapy.!
7/12-13: Lacy Vest. this one is very pretty, too. hmmm, it calls for worsted weight, but i bet i could adapt it to sport weight, and then it would be a little tighter, and maybe i wouldn't have to wear something under it. contemplation ensuing.
7/14: Miniature Pullover. this is quite cute. i think it could be used for an ornament, or maybe in a doll house? made on 0's though. oh boy.
7/15-16: Asymmetrical Turkish Stitch Poncho. this is cute. would have been great with the cotton i had bought for a poncho for steph. alas, she never mentioned it again, so i gave it up in a yarn swap (i think my bridal one!)

What I'm reading:
Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson(booktape at my house)
The Old Man and the Sea by Ernest Hemmingway (booktape in the car)
John Adams by David McCullough (booktape at mark's house)
Faeries and Nature Spirits: A Beginner's Guide by Teresa Moorey
Angels & Demons by Dan Brown
The Fairy Godmother by Mercedes Lackey

ok, i'm off like a herd of turtles! i've got those projects to work on, not to mention presents to wrap!

Friday, December 15, 2006

here ya go!

this is the yarn i got from jen's wool. it's not as soft as merino, but it definitely spins up pretty!
it's a little bit lighter than this, but not by much. still, quite nice.

and now, since the redneck calendar is over here:

you might be a redneck if any dog can follow your scent. (eww!)
. . . you carry more than one spare tire (does that count the one around the middle?)
. . . your wife's boss paid for her boob job (cue sleazy strip music)
. . . your wife serves Cheetos as a vegetable.
. . . you have a time-share on a Trans Am (that's not redneck, that's desperate!)
. . . you've paid for a car with quarters.
. . . you've had your dog photographed at Glamour Shots.
. . . your favorite dessert is Rolaids.
. . . your truck won't fit through the bank's drive-thru.
. . . there's no mirror in your bathroom (that could also qualify you as a vampire, ya know!)
. . . you think "showing a girl a good time" means letting her bait the hook.
. . . you get a speeding ticket while towing another vehicle.
. . . your wife knows how to operate a backhoe (gee, does she have 40 acres, too?)

ok, i'll let y'all go back to your lives now. i'll be torturing you later.

yes virginia. . .

there is a santa claus. however, he's not doing me any favors, i've still got mad knitting to do.

i took on one more project that i can't talk about here, and i need to have it finished by next thursday. the super secret project needs to be done by next thursday. ACK! i have to have the felted coasters done by next saturday. i still haven't washed the vanilla socks of doom. and the hedgehog is progressing, as i got the brown spun up for the paws. hey JEN! i used the wool she gave me, when she thought it was way too greasy to spin on her wheel. she was right, it was too greasy, but i washed a hank of it, and while it felted slightly, it most definitely spun up quite nicely, and the VM was easy to pick out. one thing i did notice when i washed this stuff; it wanted to float away. i had to be very gingerly with it, but it did stay together. woot!

i'll post a pic later, before i start stitching the little guy's paws.

what i'm reading:

well, i've been going through book tapes like mad lately, so here goes

Praisesong for the Widow by Paule Marshall. i got the recommendation for this book from Crazy Lanea. it's very good so far!
John Adams by David McCullough (booktape at mark's house)
The Snows of Kilimanjaro by Ernest Hemmingway (booktape in the car)
The Fairy Godmother by Mercedes Lackey
Faeries & Nature Spirits: A Beginner's Guide by Teresa Moorey
Angels & Demons by Dan Brown

there's no book tape here at my house mostly because i finished off Dragon's Fire & Call of the Wild yesterday, and since i've only got a few short books left on tape, i'm not bringing one in here til i get to the library.

How's about a few Crocheting Reviews?

6/20: Spiral Flower. very nice. i could see this as an embellishment on a hat or purse, or maybe even done on floral wire in a vase for something kitschy (hush, stitchy mcyarnpants is NOT going to put me in her latest book, lol)

6/21: Morningstar Dishcloth. oooooooooooooo. i like this. it uses up those nagging bits of cotton that you didn't get used up cuz you wanted your dishcloth to be square (but it's always rectangular after you wash it, lol!)

6/22: Morningstar Towel Topper and Coasters. ok. while i like the dishcloth & the coasters, the towel topper is running into stitchy's territory again. hmmm. will have to contemplate that one.

6/23: Serendipity. this is another Crochet Dude square. it's very nice, but also very open. hmmm. maybe a summer blanket? but not for little ones, they'd get their fingers stuck.

6/24-25: Ripple Afghan. this is very nice except for one small detail. actually it's a huge detail. Bobbles. I. CAN. NOT. GUT. BOBBLES. *shudder*. make it without, and it's very nice. nuff said?

6/26: Lacy Kitchen Towel. i don't know what to think about this. it's interesting, but it's perilously close to stitchy material. it's not a towel topper, it's an entire towel. hmmmm. lots of thinking to do this weekend, i can see.

6/27-28: Body Scrubby. from what i can garner, you start with sisal twine as the center of the bit you would use to scrub yourself with. not alot, just 4 rounds or so. then you switch to some silky ribbon yarn. i don't know what to think. isn't sisal pretty scratchy?

6/29-30: Goose Bride. for those of you who have bought the goose to dress, this is perfect. for the rest of us? OH stitchy! it is kinda cute though, and at least they didn't use expensive yarn on it, lol.


and on that note, i must flee. i've got 2 30% off coupons from borders burning holes in my pockets, and since the boys have both picked expensive books, i'm going to go down there while the getting is good (it's only good til the 18th!)

TTFN!

Thursday, December 14, 2006

alas, fair maiden. . .

this stinks. this reeks. this is not right. they're shutting down the renaissance faire. this striketh me as most foul!

they tried to shut the fair down 2 years ago, when iowa western community college stopped hosting it. they moved it to west fair, a concert and fair venue east of of the school. however, i had overheard a conversation while the fair was still at IWCC. i don't know who these gentlemen were, but they looked like they worked there. they said something about the bean counters were going to kill this. and they did. fuckers.

yes, i'm very upset. now, in order to see all the fair folk, i'll have to travel much further. i think the closest one that's any good is in near kansas city. WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHH!

i want my dragons, and princesses, and trolls, and kings, and queens, and jongleurs, and jokers, and friars.

a friend of mine was friar tuck at the fair. i'm sure he's devastated.

We biddest thee adieu, fair faire.

Monday, December 11, 2006

there is no place like nebraska

Here is what Jeff Foxworthy has to say about Nebraska...

If your local Dairy Queen is closed from September through May, you live in Nebraska.

If someone in a Home Depot store offers you assistance and they don't work there, you live in Nebraska.

If you've worn shorts and a parka at the same time, you live in Nebraska.

If you've had a lengthy telephone conversation with someone who dialed a wrong number, you live in Nebraska.

If "Vacation" means going anywhere south of GRAND ISLAND for the weekend, you live in Nebraska.

If you measure distance in squares of farm land, you live in Nebraska.

If you know several people who have hit a cow more than once, you live in Nebraska.

If you have gone from "heat" to "A/C" in the same day and back again, you live in Nebraska.

If you can drive 75 mph through 2 feet of snow during a raging blizzard without flinching, you live in Nebraska.

If you install security lights on your house and garage,but leave both off, you live in Nebraska.

If you carry jumpers in your car and your wife knows how to use them, you live in Nebraska.

If you design your kid's Halloween costume to fit over a snowsuit, you live in Nebraska.

If the I-80 speed limit is 75 mph -- you're going 90 and everybody is passing you, you live in Nebraska.

If driving is better in the winter because the pot holes are filled =
with snow, you live in Nebraska.

If you know all 4 seasons: almost winter, winter, still winter and road construction, you live in Nebraska.

If you have more hours on your snow blower than miles on your car, you live in Nebraska.

If you find 10 degrees "a little chilly," you live in Nebraska.

If you understand these jokes, and forward them to all your Nebraska friends & others, you actually have lived in Nebraska (Or any number of other "Upper Midwestern" states).

GO HUSKERS!!!!!!!!!!

a different kind of christmas poem

A Different Christmas Poem

The embers glowed softly, and in their dim light,
I gazed round the room and I cherished the sight.
My wife was asleep, her head on my chest,
My daughter beside me, angelic in rest.

Outside the snow fell, a blanket of white,
Transforming the yard to a winter delight.
The sparkling lights in the tree I believe,
Completed the magic that was Christmas Eve.

My eyelids were heavy, my breathing was deep,
Secure and surrounded by love I would sleep.
In perfect contentment, or so it would seem,
So I slumbered, perhaps I started to dream.

The sound wasn't loud, and it wasn't too near,
But I opened my eyes when it tickled my ear.
Perhaps just a cough, I didn't quite know,
Then the sure sound of footsteps outside in the snow.

My soul gave a tremble, I struggled to hear,
And I crept to the door just to see who was near.
Standing out in the cold and the dark of the night,
A lone figure stood, his face weary and tight.

A soldier, I puzzled, some twenty years old,
Perhaps a Marine, huddled here in the cold.
Alone in the dark, he looked up and smiled,
Standing watch over me, and my wife and my child.

"What are you doing?" I asked without fear,
"Come in this moment, it's freezing out here!
Put down your pack, brush the snow from your sleeve,
You should be at home on a cold Christmas Eve!"

For barely a moment I saw his eyes shift,
Away from the cold and the snow blown in drifts.
To the window that danced with a warm fire's light
Then he sighed and he said "Its really all right,

I'm out here by choice. I'm here every night."
"It's my duty to stand at the front of the line,
That separates you from the darkest of times.
No one had to ask or beg or implore me,

I'm proud to stand here like my fathers before me.
My Gramps died at 'Pearl on a day in December,"
Then he sighed, "That's a Christmas 'Gram always remembers."

My dad stood his watch in the jungles of 'Nam',
And now it is my turn and so, here I am.
I've not seen my own son in more than a while,
But my wife sends me pictures, he's sure got her smile.

Then he bent and he carefully pulled from his bag,
The red, white, and blue.... an American flag.
I can live through the cold and the being alone,
Away from my family, my house and my home.

I can stand at my post through the rain and the sleet,
I can sleep in a foxhole with little to eat.
I can carry the weight of killing another,
Or lay down my life with my sister and brother.

Who stand at the front against any and all,
To ensure for all time that this flag will not fall."
"So go back inside," he said, "harbor no fright,
Your family is waiting and I'll be all right."

"But isn't there something I can do, at the least,
"Give you money," I asked, "or prepare you a feast?
It seems all too little for all that you've done,
For being away from your wife and your son."

Then his eye welled a tear that held no regret,
"Just tell us you love us, and never forget.
To fight for our rights back at home while we're gone,
To stand your own watch, no matter how long.

For when we come home, either standing or dead,
To know you remember we fought and we bled.
Is payment enough, and with that we will trust,
That we mattered to you as you mattered to us."


PLEASE, Would you do me the kind favor of sending this to as many people as you can? Christmas will be coming soon and some credit is due to our U.S. service men and women for our being able to celebrate these festivities. Let's try in this small way to pay a tiny bit of what we owe. Make people stop and think of our heroes, living and dead, who sacrificed themselves for us.


This is dedicated to all that i love who have served. Bob & Sherril, my brother and sister in law. my uncles don & edward. my father in law. even my stinky brother mark (who probably wouldn't admit to service at knifepoint).

even for those who wanted to but couldn't (my dad tried, they wouldn't take him because of his hearing loss)

Excuse me, i have to go knit some hats for ship support

more reviews

by god, i may actually get through these by year's end!

today we'll do knitting.

Knitting

6/12: Small Knitted Bags. these are cute. but it's very generic, again. almost a non pattern.
6/13: Ribbed Shell. this is basically a vest, from the looks of it. i may adapt it for Dulaan.
6/14: Toesties-Flat Version. i think i've seen a similar pattern before, but i'd have to look it over more closely.
6/15: Rachel - Girl's Tank Top. This is cute, and very summery for a little girl.
6/16: Gemstone Wire Bracelet. it looks very cute, but the thought of knitting with wire just makes my teeth ache.
6/17-18: Thirsty: Water Bottle Holder. this one is done on two needles, that's handy (i tend to lose my dpn's, lol)
6/19-20: San Juan Islanders' Sock #2. this pattern looks fun! it's a crazy sock, but still a lot of fun. i think this is fair isle, so that should be interesting.
6/21: Itsy Bitsy Bikini. i don't think so. it's not happening. i always wonder at the people who design these things. do they know how much knitwear sags when it gets wet?
6/22: Marjaana Eyelet Crush Pullover. a very simple top, with some yummy looking yarn. it shies away from non-patternhood by actually having some variations in the stitching. it looks like maybe a broken rib.
6/23: Trio Tote Bag. this looks cute. the name, obviously, comes from the yarn chosen to do this, but i could see it being used with soemthing else similar.
6/24-26: Black Striped Teen Top #3. i don't know if i'd let my teenage daughter out of the house in this. it is cute, but a bit skimpy for a young girl.
6/27: Sun Visor Cap. this is kinda cute, although i really don't care for the color they used. it says "you may want to make more than one!" um, yeah. it's not that cute, lol.
6/28-29: Iben Dress & Hat. This is a baby set, dress & hat. looks very cute.
6/30. Lacy Diamonds. This is a good lace stitch. the pattern says that in a looser tension it would make a nice market bag. i've got some arucania cotton that has been brewing in my stash for over a year. maybe i'll do it up in this!

i was gonna say something else, but my brain has fried, and i need to scoot. i have to meet liam's language arts teacher at lunch today because he has been blowing off a lot of his assignments in that class, and i need to get back to the other house and do the dishes and some laundry.

TTFN!

Sunday, December 10, 2006

HEY CARIN!

ok, carin, are you happy now? the toe has been kitchenered on the final vanilla sock of doom!
mark and i cleaned the bedroom out today, and i found it (but not my camera, so it HAS to be at my house), and it cried at me. ok, ok. so now i gotta wash them (the other one has some mocha coffee creamer on it, lol)

however, i finished a few other things first, t oday.

i finished sean's hat! he's thrilled with it, and i think it's cute:
i did have to frog about 2 inches in the wide turquoise/teal area yesterday, because somehow i ended up picking up extra stitches, but that was quickly rectified. yes, the ties are pink. but it's a manly pink (sean agrees, lol).
i also started and finished these today:
yes, they are tiny. the AC4C project this month is for an NICU in Las Vegas, and these are 2 1/2" long along the sole. i had some baby-colored sock looking yarn, and used size 2 needles. however, i had to alter the pattern, because the way it was written, with this itty bitty yarn, they would have been 1 3/4" long. they don't put booties on preemies that tiny. they are cute, though, aren't they?

ok, i'm done. i'm tired, and i'm fighting a sock pattern. well, actually, the sock pattern looks fine so far (i'm test knitting a pattern) but i had a major brain fart, and left out two entire rows, and since i'm lousy at picking sock yarn back up, i just frogged the whole shooting match (i only had about an inch and a half, anyway).

Wednesday, December 06, 2006

it's certifiable

i'm nuts. after getting sean's approval, i cast on the hat, and i can't put it down. i'd forgotten how much i love to knit my handspun when it's decent stuff. here's a pic:
i have to be in blair by 9 tomorrow, so there's no coming home and taking a nap after taking liam to school, and then i have to pick up the boys after school cuz sean has a doctor's appointment at 3, and then therapy, and then knit night. well, at least i'll get tons of knitting in! i may finish this hat tomorrow, lol. i promised him i'd have it done by the weekend, so he's thrilled. ok, i'm going to knit until 11, and then force myself to go to bed!

oh, and go buy this yarn. miss vi is having a hell of a year, and it's capped off by finding a lump. go, read, and buy. if nothing else, lisa souza yarn is just too good to resist!

original pic

ok, mark was able to retrieve the picture i wanted, and here it is!
the color isn't completely accurate, although it's close. the blues are more teal. and i've started the hat. sean and i did discuss it this afternoon, and he decided he wanted an earflap hat, which i have started. i think i may actually submit this pattern to the knit calendar for 2008. completely made up on my own, with short row ear flaps.

how about some red neck?

you might be a redneck if most things you enjoy carry a surgeon general's warning.
. . . you've ever missed work because of chigger bites (or skeeter bites?)
. . . your last 3 cars were auctioned off by the police.
. . . the only plane you ever saw was spraying pesticide.
. . . every pair of shorts you own used to be pants (that's not redneck, that's economical!)
. . . you've ever hot-wired a motel vibrating bed (um, yeah.)
. . . you blow your nose and check your oil using the same rag (which one comes first? my engine is cringing!)
. . . you know how many dogs will fit in a Dodge Challenger.
. . . you've ever run more than a mile in ankle restraints.
. . . the key to your city is a handcuff key.
. . . police have ever opened your front door with a battering ram.
. . . your truck has 12 bumper stickers but no inspection sticker (i'm in nebraska, we don't do inspections!)
. . . the only words you say in court are "i dunno."
. . . you think "recipe for disaster" has something to do with your wife's chili (burn, baby, burn!)
. . . your kids attend your high school graduation (as an aside, i saw on the national news tonight some guy in kenya is 86 years old and attending 3rd grade! when they announced that they were going to have free public schools, he went to the school, and asked to be allowed to attend, as he had never been to school. they refused him 4 times, and when the first day of school came, he showed up in clothing approximating the school uniform. at that point they gave up, and let him attend. he says he wants to make life better for his 15 year old grandson who lives with him (and attends the same school) and he wants to get his PhD. go, man go!)

now, i'll quit talking your ear off, and go.

promised picture

mark emailed it to me as a bitmap, and did not save it to his puter. growl. so you get a pic of it balled up:
it's got a little mauvey pink, but the turquoise and the burnt orange/brick are so strong that you can't really tell it's there. i think it will turn out cute. i will confer with him tonight as to what pattern he wants.

there's also this: my secret pal sent me this lovely ball o'yarn. this color is pretty accurate. it's 80% baby alpaca and 20% ack. sooooooo lovely. dunno what i'm gonna do with it, though.

gotta scoot!

ok, ok

it seems that the picture of sean's yarn may take a bit. i asked mark to scan it for me last night, and he sent it to me in an email. however, it saved as a bitmap, which i can't use here. i'm going to have to see if he saved it on the puter (at his house, i'm on my puter right now, lol). so, no pics yet.

however, i've been busy. i'm working on a super secret project, and it's coming together nicely. i'm also making a hat for dulaan, and i found some cute sockweight baby yarn to make booties for AC4C. this month's project is a NICU unit in Las Vegas, and they need tons of preemie stuff. also in the works is fingerless mitts for mark's dad, and a dog sweater for my SIL's itty bitty. i can't remember what breed it is right off, except it's normally long haired, and sherril had it shaved because she didn't want to hassle with it.

WEBS is dangerous. you know that? i get emails from them, and normally i just delete them without opening, so i'm not tempted. well, guess what happened. i have my email set up to open the next email if i delete one, and webs popped up. i'm a baaaaaaaaaaaad girl. i ordered yarn. not too much, but still. i think i really have SABLE, and have been trying to restrain myself, but oy!

how's about some pattern reviews?
we'll do crochet this time.

Crochet:
5/26: Easy Elegance Poncho. this is cute, but i thought ponchos were so two years ago?
5/27-28: Tall Beaded Candle Cozy. this is pretty. dunno if i'd ever use it, but pretty, still.
5/29-30: Artisan Hat. this almost looks like those hats you see them wear in afghanistan or such place. i may use it for dulaan or A4A.
5/31: City Slicker Scrunchie. this uses 2 ponytail holders, and is very interesting. might be something to send to somewhere like PRR.
6/1-2: Flower Pillow. this is cute. would be nice for a girl's room.
6/3-4: Crochet Sling Chair. this is cute, and uses an interesting material to make it. it's made with kitchen cotton twine, like what you'd use to truss a bird. the tough part would be finding the chair frame.
6/5: Maggie's Square. this is one of the Dude's for his afghan. nice solid square. i could see using it for something like the project i'm working on now, so little fingers don't get caught in the holes.
6/6: Posie Motif Star. this looks like it uses bullion stitch, and is nice, but a bit too holey for most of my purposes.
6/7: Cro-Tat Photo Album. very pretty, but i don't think i'd do it myself.
6/8: Zig-Zag Dishcloth. looks very interesting. something i may have to check out.
6/9: Wedding Bell. very pretty, but kinda useless. another chatchke to collect dust.
6/10-11: Bridal Garter. another pretty pattern that i had contemplated for the wedding, but ran out of time (oy!)
6/12-13: Wandith. another dude square, and very pretty, but awfully holey.
6/14: Boy's American Flag Sweater. this is cute. might be a thought for Dulaan, except i'd leave off the stars.
6/15-16: Kauai Pineapple Lace. very pretty, would make a nice edging. there's a picture on the back with it done in different colors. very nice.

ok, i'm off like a herd of turtles.

Tuesday, December 05, 2006

taco hell

apparently, new jersey's taco bells are having issues. i don't think i'll be eating there for a while!

who needs crapy faux mexican anyway, lol.

ok, i've been extremely dilatory about my reviews of my knitting & crochet calendars. so i'll do a few, lol.

Knitting:

5/25: Summer Cloche. this is kinda cute, but i can't stand squiggle, which is the yarn it's made with. i'd find an alternative yarn for sure.
5/26-28: Young Touch Cotton Shirt. This is a knit polo. very cute. a little young for me, though.
5/29-30: Not Your Ordinary Sock. this has an entrelac front panel, and an afterthought heel. the colors used in the example are cute, (think rainbow!) but i could see this done more subltly as well.
5/31: May's Top-Down Triangle Edging. very pretty. something to keep in mind.
6/1: Sonoma Tank. simple, easy, and it calls for alchemy silk purse. yummo!
6/2: Lace Wedding Garter. very pretty. i had thought of doing this for the wedding, but ran out of time.
6/3-4: Pom Sari Cardi. i don't like the yarn they used for this. however, the pattern looks simple.
6/5: Sharon's Pixie Sweater. This is cute, but it's got eyelash in it. frou frou for little girls.
6/6-7: Ancient Mariner Socks. this pattern is very interesting, i will have to check it out later.
6/8: Felted Bowl. very cute. would be a good gift.
6/9: Baby Blanket in Summer Net. i have mixed feelings about this one. you would think a baby blanket would be machine washable, but the pattern says to hand wash, spin out in the machine, then lay flat to dry. cute "almost" pattern, and definitely a warm weather blanket, but handwashing?
6/10-11: Toad Rock Tie. the story behind this is so cute! finding ties on telephone poles, and creating a pattern to resemble those. too darling!

i'll be back later, i got sean's yarn spun, and hung, and i'll show it to you. however, i'm at my house, and mark's scanner is at his, lol.

TTFN!

Sunday, December 03, 2006

anatomy of a reuben

What i consider a reuben:

marble rye or dark rye bread

heaps of corned beef

swiss cheese (and not the processed stuff)

sauer kraut

thousand island dressing

all of this slapped together, and grilled to golden crunchy perfection


Arby's version:

light rye (huh?)

corned beef or roast turkey (and i actually said this to the girl running the drive through: "it's not a reuben if it doesn't have corned beef)

coleslaw with a mustard dressing

processed swiss/american

toasted

WTF!
that's not a reuben, that's a rachel! needless to say, i was not terribly pleased with my sandwich, and i won't be ordering that again. sigh. my quest for an inexpensive, decent reuben in this bloody midwestern town continues.


in other news:

have you ever swallowed a pill, and have it stick part way down because you didn't drink enough. i did that this morning. unfortunately it was THREE pills, one of which a honking multivitamin, and it stuck just where my gag reflex is worst. yup, you guessed it. i puked. but didn't bring up the damned pills! all i had in my stomach was spit and acid and a little milk. oy. it took 15 minutes, but i finally got the damned things down. needless to say, i took the rest one at a time, lol.

and wanna hear a shocker? i ate cereal for breakfast! strawberry blasted honeycombs. the kids love them, but i was not terribly impressed.

sean spent the weekend here, and his fosterdad called this morning and asked us to keep him until he goes to school tomorrow, because his furnace died. it's been a good weekend. he's been testing the limits a bit, but he's done well. he did lose his video games for the evening last night because he wouldn't listen, but when mark explained why, he accepted it without any arguments or faces. i think he'll be home soon.

i caved. i had started a red afghan, and with my crazy gauge, it was c oming out too small. i was at norma's blog, reading about the red scarf project, and said what the hell. i ripped out one section to get it scarf normal, and added to both ends. i'm in the process of crocheting single crochet around the edges to even it up, and will make chained fringe (i hate cutting & tying fringe, and personally think it's pretty useless, since you don't get to actually WORK the yarn, but this i can live with). it's in red heart, but the new acrylics are actually quite soft any more, and this will be machine washable. definitely a plus for someone who doesn't have a mom to go home to to do their hand-washables. Edit: it's done, and it's 10 ft long! norma had suggested turning it into 2, but not with this pattern. the afghan was a join-as-you-go pattern, and i really think i can't split it. hope they give it to someone who loves long scarves, or is really tall!

What I'm Reading:
Angels and Demons by Dan Brown
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (bookt ape in the car (i wanted to finish the rest of them before i started HBP)
Dragon's Fire by Anne McAffrey & son (i can't remember his first name, lol) (booktape at my house.
Care & RAising of Dragons
Faeries

i'm picking up the pace again, lol.

mark & liam are helping steph move a sofa, and i'm here with sean. i think i'd better get back to laundry (i only have 2 days worth of clothes for Sean, so i'd better get them washed so he doesn't go to school naked!)

TTFN!