Don't Call It A Comeback

It must be the yarn embargo that hubby has imposed until post New Year...or maybe it's all the exposure to the beautiful things I have read about and seen that everyone ELSE is finishing, or it could be that my UFOs (unfinished objects) have been hanging around so long that they have evolved into intelligent beings, which can now actually call to me from my knitting bags - if that's so, this one would likely use foul language.

I present my oldest, and most sorely neglected work-in-progress-turned-wearable knit...

This cropped cardi/shrug has been on (and off) my needles since fall of 2005. It was one of the first things I brought to Knit Night at GBOY, where I got great help and advice on constructing it, which I have since long forgotten apparently because the pattern is covered now in post it notes with feverish scribblings of things I had to work out on my own.

• Berroco Cotton Twist in Color 8387 (it should be called Berroco Cotton Splits!)
• 85 yds/ball; I used about 8 balls for the Medium size (Back 19", Length 16")
• Needles - 24" US 5 circular, 24" US 6 circular, and US 6 dpns

Since I started this and re-started it as I was becoming a better knitter, I can now say that the pattern is pretty well written and easy to follow. The construction is only a little hairy when it comes to joining the sleeve to the raglan edge of the body at the armhole. My main struggle with this one was really just that the yarn would split and snag something awful if you just breathed on it hard.

I like the fit, but am still not 100% sure this cropped shrug style is for me. I think it's a little loose around the back. Also, I knit and unknit the front band/collar ribbing about 8 times, and I'm still not thrilled with that part. Something about my calculations for that were off because I adjusted the length. I also extended the sleeve length a bit too much - knit and learn.

I take pleasure in seeing it finished though. Who knows...I may just make this finishing stuff a habit (oh goodness, jinxed it already...ah well).

Thanks for looking!

Post

So, the festivities have come and gone and we all survived. Most of it can be said in pictures, but the recap is that our newest nephew was there (born the Sunday after Thanksgiving)




My not-so-little anymore youngest niece Janaya is now a gorgeous 9 month old (wearing 12-18mos clothes thank you very much) - and her mommy and daddy are engaged as of Christmas eve - Woo Hoo!!

The girls were so appreciative of their gifts this year, it made me very proud of them. I think I could get used to this stuff.


I finished my oldest niece's Debbie Bliss Cardi JUST in time...they were walking in the door and I was finishing the seam on the cuffs!( Blocking??? Who has time for blocking?!)

We enjoyed delicious traditional Jamaican dishes too, like curried goat, oxtail, goat soup, rice & peas - Too good! Yes there was turkey and stuffing and yams, and mercy just Too. Much. Food.

I hope that you had a wonderful weekend as well...on to the New Year preparations! This New Year's Eve, hub and I will celebrate 10 years of not killing each other...err marriage. I can't believe I have done something consecutively for 10 years other than live - wow. Anyhoo, if you don't hear from me until after the 1st, I'm sending you extra special HAPPY NEW YEAR vibes.

MWAH!!

In the Spirit

Holiday.

At no time is that word more deceptive than in the period leading up to December 25th if you celebrate Christmas. Actually, I imagine that preparations for Hanukkah or even Kwanzaa are no breezy stroll either. This year, I was feeling quite the scrooge since about mid-November. Already resenting the pressure I was starting to feel to make the "season" just right this year. Instead of my mind filing with thoughts of Christmas music, relaxation, good food, and most importantly the flood of family members and friends that I'm most likely to see in the next several days...all I could think about for a while was "I'll just never get those cards out in time" and "Knit! Faster!".

Now I'm not blaming anyone for this stress mind you. I'm type A. It comes naturally.
But we all know that the trend has moved quickly away from hot chocolate and caroling to fist fights at the mall and camping out in the cold for <>. I even briefly considered sending everyone on the list an E-card this year! Just to buy a little more time. :sigh:

Then, Sunday night. Hubby made that all melt away. He showed up around 9, returning from an afternoon of football watching at his brother's. He was all grins, which I couldn't figure out. After doing I-didn't-know-what for several minutes outside, he asked the girls and I to come to the door. He opened it, and there lay an 8 foot Christmas tree, just as gorgeous as you please! My holiday spirit came so suddenly at the site of that tree, it nearly knocked me over. Strange, but that small thing really gave me a huge lift! He insisted we decorate it with the girls immediately and the fun soon followed. I started blasting the carols, and we dolled it up!

That time with hubby and the girls, making sure the ornaments hung just so was a great reminder of how a little thing like family quality time can sometimes kick the snot out of a big thing like holiday stress.

I hope that whatever you celebrate, the spirit of that celebration has already started to spread it's joy around you and those you love!

Warmth On & Off the Needles

I FINALLY finished my mangled version of the Irish Hiking Scarf

No, your monitor does not need adjustment, the scarf is in fact two tone. I bought the tweedy gray/white from a yarn store that was closing at a time when I didn't know that just one skein won't usually do it (especially for a longer scarf). I got the solid color from a craft store mainly because it was the closest to the color in the tweed. I keep telling myself that when I wrap it around my neck, it's not that noticeable...humor me.

I had a great evening with KR - My CoWorker Who Knits. She took me with her to her knitting class @ the local Panera Bread (uh...YUM?). She is such a treat! Funny, easy going, and a darn good knitter! That made for a great time all around...not to mention that her teacher and fellow knitters were so welcoming. Check out the felted wine cozy she finished and the lacy scarf she has on the needles, in DB Cashmerino Aran no less!

Thanks KR!

Still missing home, but the work stuff is going really well. My new colleagues are very free with their time and information; that makes a big difference for a rookie. Got to stay positive and remember to keep my gratitude at a high.

As I Live & Breathe

Wednesday of this week marked my first official day as a new employee at VI (so it shall henceforth be named). Um...for anyone of you that track weather even in passing, you know that traveling FROM Florida TO New Jersey anytime in the last few days was a frosty adventure indeed. I actually got delayed there an extra night because of weather cancellations, etc. I was sufficiently appeased by my gift of granola bars and bottled water at the airport Marriott though. Membership and privileges, yadda yadda yadda - I'm glad to be home.

So, you would think that the smiling of the Gods upon me would only have included actually getting on the payroll and safely navigating my way through winter weather (all the wool I own wrapped strategically)...but no! I got EXTRA blessings. I got to see My Kelli! She was in town returning from a customer visit and we had dinner AND breakfast together. Here, look -
(click to enlarge)

That's her in the flesh! Just as lovely and darling and wonderful as ever. We laughed like we always do and hugged much. She did tell me that it didn't seem real that we actually get to work together again until she strolled over to my temporary cubicle. Superb timing too because she also nearly bumped into The Maddeningly Cute Sales Guy as he was exiting my boss' office. Ahem! I digress...

I must admit that I did VERY little knitting (and I mean a # of rows that you could count on one hand). To make up for it, I did find some crocheters and a knitter in the office!! You know we can spot each other a mile away. I was even treated to some crochet show & tell by one of the fabulous front desk receptionists. Extra blessing here was that My Knitting Co-Worker invited me to her class next Tuesday night! Oh...did I mention I'm going BACK to the frozen north for another week?! Mercy. Functional/practical fiber lust now has a whole new relevance in my life.

My current project is the Irish Hiking Scarf, which I'm making in Patons Classic. After a visit to a friend today, it looks like as soon as I finish this one it will be out on loan for their Christmas trip to Canada. Love it when it all comes together for good.

Holla at me dahlings! Miss gabbing with ya! MWAH!

These Are the Good Old Days

*Sigh*

With relief - in the past 2 weeks, many things have happened that have caused me to drop my shoulders, breathe out and say "Phew! Thank God." And left me with the giddy anticipation of what's next!

My best friend has married the best guy:

Photo slideshow here


I have a new job! I have accepted an offer with a company in New Jersey, and in the way of all things cosmically wonderful, I'll be working with My Kelli again! It would have been hard for any other company to compete with that really.

I'm still knitting away, and since the thermostat in the house is hovering near 68 (that's subzero in Florida), I'm often wearing no less than 3 of my own handknits at once.
Recently I made a wonderfully snug Malabrigo hat (I'm in love with these colors), and a nearly done pair of socks for my NEW nephew (Diallo Linder, born Nov 24th to my SIL).

I've missed you all out here, but the time is short before I'm back to the grind (and hopefully a more regular blogging schedule - such a good release from the corporate commotion, you know?). For the next 2 weeks, I'll be working a little on some side gigs, and lovin on my loved ones.


Job details sometime soon - maybe after my first couple of weeks in December, when I'm sure I'll have some interesting co-worker stories to share.

Waving at you from here!! (With my fingerless gloves pulled on tight!)

Who Am I to Argue?

What Kind of Knitter Are You?

You appear to be a Knitting Guru. You love knitting and do it all the time. While finishing a piece is the plan, you still love the process, and can't imagine a day going by without giving some time to your yarn. Packing for vacation involves leaving ample space for the stash and supplies. It can be hard to tell where the yarn ends and you begin.http://marniemaclean.com
Take this quiz!








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Though that doesn't look much like me, I'm quite flattered at that outcome from the list of questions. I was expecting something more along the lines of "obsessed Knitter" with recommendations for cutting up of credit cards and small fiber-less rooms. This is much better.

HI!!
I've missed you, of course. I find that not writing regularly does make me feel that something pretty significant is missing. That feeling has only lasted for nanoseconds at a time though because as soon as the blogging space opened up in my Daily Craze I call a life, 14 other things slide right in to fill the void. The job hunt is looking up, up, up - literally. I was in VA for a face-to-face on Friday, and I'm heading to NJ in 2 days to do Le Song and Le Dance for another company. I won't bore you (or myself) with the details of each, but suffice to say that I feel ultra blessed to even have more than 1 person considering rescuing me from unemployment. Shame they'll have to compete with the fact that I'd actually rather spend all the time I'm not with the girls in a yarn store. Hmph...Next life maybe.
Many, many thanks to those of you who have sent me good luck wishes and prayers and just thoughts of general concern, I'm so grateful.

What have you been up to? I'm doing my best to make the blog rounds. I'm sure I'm missing some probably great news and new things and wonderful happenings. But even if I am, may they continue and even double until I get around to sending a "Woo hoo!" your way.

MWAH - more as time allows! This weekend is my birthday and my best friend's wedding - what greater gift could I request? Pictures soon I promise.

Ta ta!

Pause

Hello darlings!
It's been a while, and I'm posting now to say...it's going to be a while!

I found out late Friday night that my "real" job is closing our division and my services (and that of several others) are no longer needed. Now...I'm in no way freaked out by this (yet), and I have been through this a time or two before, so I consider this just another detour on the journey, with new things to see and do on the next route.

I do have to minimize some of my online activities though, mostly because hours of job searching can just suck the fun out of being in front of the computer. Also, since my time will be split between job hunting and working part time at my local yarn store (yes, you read that right), I won't be blogging regularly for the next few weeks.
I have projects on the needles to tend to though, and a wedding coming up...so I should have some nice photos to share when this little hiatus is over.

I'm thinking of you, and I'll be visiting with you in the cybersphere and otherwise whenever I can. But in the mean time - BE WELL!!

My Best Friend's Wedding (Part 1)

(Because I'm sure to be writing about this again when it actually happens)

I hosted and attended my best friend Neicey's Bridal Tea this past weekend. Such a great afternoon at a lovely Tea Room called Tea at Lily's, complete with antique decor, country charm, and a sweet British proprietor who treated us like the group of sophisticated and cultured women we are (mostly). Fine china, finger sandwiches and rich desserts, we had it all! And most importantly, we made many a toast and tribute to my dearest friend.

On November 18th, she will be marrying Mark...a person I have quickly grown to love; at first his appeal came mostly from the fact that he makes Neicey SO happy, but then he stepped up to become part of our family in his own right. He and hubby get along really well too, and you know that always helps when us girls want to sneak away and talk about the really juicy stuff - like...um them, for example.

The highlight of an already amazing afternoon was to see so many other people honoring someone I already admire so much. A very close second though was her reaction to my gift. Typical Neicey, she was browsing in Marshalls and found something she thought I would like and immediately bought it for me. It's the book Hollywood Style Knits by Suss Cousins. Ultra hip, and not to complex patterns in there. Neicey pointed out the Funky Purse pattern as something she really like. I just giggled to myself - visions of a gauge swatch already dancing in my head. I knit the purse and lined it with some Chinese Silk fabric and added a flower and some bamboo handles. I added the Airy Scarf from Last Minute Knitted Gifts (I really *heart* that book), and WAHLA! She opened it and gasped, and I even heard someone say she was getting teary-eyed, but I can't confirm that. Suffice it to say that I was SO pleased that she liked it, and that for once I was able to keep something a secret until just the right moment. Her appreciation made every loving stitch (and every needle prick) worth it.



Love you Neicey! Can't wait to get my dancing shoes on and stand next to you on W Day!

Vacation Photos

I have the pictures back from our trip!

I have included them here as a Flickr Slideshow so you can browse them at your leisure. Thanks to everyone who already left comments. You guys make me blush (though it may be hard to tell..hee hee).

Our trip highlights included a trip to Hershey, PA to be surrounded by all things chocolate (even the ketchup, I kid you not); cool nights on the patio with the Tylers and TOO good wine; watching the cutie pies get along like they've always been friends with Rayna; climbing around the rock outcrop in Central Park; strolling through Hershey Gardens; the crunch of colorful leaves underfoot; and of course - the joy of being right there with my little ones during the take off of their first flight!


Have a great week everyone! I have an afghan to work on, so my posting may be limited (I need to be mostly done with it in less than 1 month - don't you just love my delusional knit schedules???).

MWAH!

MY NEW BUTTON (and some bonus beats)

Good morning fine people!!

I have the pleasure this morning of featuring the talents of one of my very very good friends, lovingly knows as Mr. 'Sheed(a dapper young man, but if you'd ever met him, you would know that the "Mr" is well-deserved). I have seen some of his graphics work over the years and he continues to blow me away (he writes poetry too ladies *swoon*). He's a fellow Rattler and just a generally great person. I was thrilled when he agreed to create a button for my blog. Now...I wish I still had the original email request I sent him to do this for me because it would really show you how he took my very random instructions and made them into art. It went something like this ..."Ahhhh...I want it to include some color, and...um, maybe it should combine the things that I'm into, mostly knitting and yoga..and...errr... it should be small, you know...button size?" Sheesh. Well, he's a natural, so he came up with this

Don't you love it??

It's yours for the taking darlings! (just save to your own server please). Post it, share it, use it at will. If you or someone you know is in the market for some outstanding graphics work...let me know, and I'll be sure that you and Mr. Mustakeem get in touch! He promises he'll have his own blog up soon!

AND

Because we can all use a little rythmic distraction now and then, check out this little ditty. (Thanks to my also ultra talented friend Gia who first shared this with me...you ought to see what SHE can do with some drums...more on that another time.)

Vacation Mathematics

Hello All!
I'm sending just a quick update about our vacation for now...More details soon.
We arrived in New Jersey Tuesday evening, then drove over to Hershey, PA on Wednesday (yes, that Hershey...I can't even begin to tell you). We're traveling with my co-worker and his family, and he and I had actual work to do on Thursday and Friday, while hubby and the kiddies did some touring.

There are schools of thought that believe math is the basis of all things, so I thought I'd use that theme to share some vacation math with you. ..


Principle #1
The number of Fritos remaining in the bag is inversely proportional to the width of the upper thigh in inches (it also has a direct relationship to the number of completed knitted rows...knit, purl, crumb, knit, purl...)

Principle #2
The amount of joy a toddler experiences at taking their first flight is multiplied exponentially by the number of toddlers included in the equation (double your fun!)
Click here to see a video

Principle #3
The cuteness factor is also multiplied exponentially by the number of toddlers included in the equation.





Principle #4
When on vacation, the number of parents must always exceed the number of chilren under 4 feet tall by at least 1; an exception applies if the adult is "high" on crisp autumn air and lulled into taking on any challenge.




Principle #5
There is a common theory that increased absence increases the fondness of the heart, however, nearness also has it's place.






Many more photos to come (my other camera is an SLR, you know the deal)

The Year of the Blog

It's official - Happy Blogiversary to me!

Yep, approximately 365 days since I timidly started this blogging thingy. Funny how it all started, I was chatting with my friend Nancy about how to get her crafty creations out to the masses via cyberspace. Resourceful as always, she found information on these free web posting things called blogs, emailed me info on how to start one and away we went!

So...although I have no staggering news to share or prizes to give away, and no cool contests here, but reflection does have its place. Here are a few things I've really enjoyed about having a blog:

• Complete strangers have read what I have written in an exhaustive stupor and then respond with such positivity that I can't help but to grin all over myself
• Waiting in airports is not nearly as tedious when I can write about something, read comments about that thing, and then link to other very interesting (although sometimes completely unrelated) posts written by someone else...the distraction factor of blogging is paramount.
• Gone are my fears of the "blind-meetup"; the people I have met in person because of blog comraderie and following site links from my blog have just re-affirmed my faith in genuine human coolness.
• Though not everyone who visits my blog shouts out in the comments, I know somehow that they come by every now and then because they care about what's happening on my side of the planet (and to see the photos of yarn). Warm & fuzzy feelings abound.
• This blog has been a much needed creative outlet. I get excited when the itch to post hits me...and when Blogger is cooperating and I can actually load words and pictures of My Life As It Happens, I get a rush from that that my techy job doesn't always provide.
• There is a certain accountability to writing about doing something (fasting, knitting, increasing my gratitude), then knowing that once people read it, the burden is now on me to actually do it - I crave that...and I'm thankful that I've received the rewards of those things by sharing them with you!

Thanks to each of you that has been a part of this year of babbling I call a blog!

For my blog sibs out there, peeking into your worlds through your words and pictures has been a great pleasure for me - thank you for sharing! For my blogless buddies who still make time to come out here and look, thank you for your time! And to those of you that visit here consistently and inspire me with your feedback, thank you for your love and your light.

Ok, On Three........Awwwwww

As promised, Rayna's mommy and daddy sent me photos of her modeling the Girlfriend Swing Coat I made for her (thank you Tylers!!). These photos don't need much preamble, so....

I think little Rayna likes it too



I was so grateful to have the chance to knit this. It challenged me, and I came out of it alright; happy to know that someone I really like is wearing something I really made! Loverly.

One day I'll be better about writing up project stats, but for now, if you want to know anything about how this was knit, pattern, yarn, etc, nudge me in the comments and I'll gladly send you the info!

Back in Milwaukee today and tomorrow! Missing you much, but I'll be home soon - MWAH!

From The Mouth of Babes

Two really good ones this week

The Setup: Hubby has started his homeschooling efforts full scale this month. From what we've read, everyting is a learning experienc, and you must be prepared and patient to answer your little one's questions.

[I overheard this exchange in the kitchen while working in my home office]

Adachi: Daddy, why is it called a GRAND mother?

Dad: .....

Adachi (5yo): Why is it GRAND in front of the mother part?

Dad: Well...It has to do with their wisdom. They have so much wisdom that they are GRAND mothers

Mizan (3yo): NOOOOOO Dadeeeee...that's not right!!

Adachi: Let's ask mommy. She'll know. She's the smartest one in the house!

*sigh* So young and brilliant. (snicker)


The Setup: Pre-teeth brushing exchange between the girls and I (we always have some doozies standing around the sink)

Adachi: Mommy...I think that if everyone in the world was just like me, this world would be -

Mizan: Perfect!!

Adachi: Um, no Meezee. Um..Mommy, if all the people in the world were like me, they would be -

Mizan: Onterrugent (Intelligent)!

By this point Adachi and I have collapsed in happy giggle fits at the adoration of a little sister.

Goodness me! They do just make it all worth it, don't they!

Can I Get a Hoo Rah!

The Girlfriend Swing Coat is off the needles. I'm slightly off my 10-day deadline, but factor in a sudden cold virus, and, well, life, and I'd say it's none too shabby.

This is Tahki Cotton Classic Color Yarn (if you'd like more details, sing out in the comments). I took a chance and added some ruffling to the sleeves. This minor pattern modification nearly did me in though because I finished the crochet edging on the front panels with about 2 1/2 inches of yarn to spare (sheesh).



Still needs some darling buttons (and a few hours to dry a'course).
Up next, some mittens for the cutest little boys you'd ever want to meet!

Thanks to those of you who cheered me on and sent me super knit vibes! MWAH! I'm thinking of all you, dearest readers and willing that your week will be a fantastic one. And if it is, tell me about it; I do love a good story ;)

Giant Girl Doll - A Must See

I found this when blog hopping today. Don't some people just have the most fascinating professions?

Travel Tales

(A recurring feature)

Last week's work trip included a brief stop in the northern 'burbs of Illinois for a visit to HQ. Much of it went something like this - "Hello there! Yep! I still work here! Good to see you again too...uh...ummm...you hard worker you!!"

From IL, I drove up and over to a client visit in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Now I must admit, I'm rather taken with the (not so) mythical Midwest charm. Even the NON-knitters up in the Midwest are Just. Plain. Nice. And don't get me started on the knitters - oy!

So of course, I expected sweetness and light from all those I would come across in the section of Wisconsin I went to visit. However, I must share with you some of the, um, UNexpected things I ran into during my travel to The Cheese (and Badger) State:

Heading north on I-94, I stopped at a HUGE Wal-Mart-esque grocery megastore called Woodman's Markets. Aisle after aisle of all you'd expect in a grocery store, and friendly looking shoppers to boot! All the modern conveniences you'd expect too of course, with one teeny tiny little exception. Woodman's does NOT accept credit cards. Not at all. Cash or Debit or leave. Can you imagine?! Now, I'm not sure I was surprised by this because of where I was exactly, but moreso that this major establishment, a chain I assume, could subsist on cash transactions only! Hats off to you Woodman's. Hellfire for us "pay ya later" fancy pants business types who can't function if the money's not coming from the expense account credit card. As a fine consolation to having to use my personal debit card though, I did manage to find fresh baked oatmeal raisin cookies. :urp: Who said that??!

Some other noteworthy sites along the route:

• The Bong Recreation Area seemed like it was worth a stop. I'll have to plug that into the itinerary some how on my next trip up that way.
• If you can't hit the Bong (Area, hee hee), travel just a couple more miles and rest a while at Mars Cheese Planet. Considering the inevitable allergy-induced coma I would have suffered, I decided to forgo this one too. I also tried to google "cheese + Wisconsin" to give you a link for this one, but I'll let you guess how that turned out.
• Downtown Milwaukee River Walk - no jokes here, this was FABulous for strolling & viewing at night time. I took myself out for a little walk/jog to enjoy the view, and was only a little thrown by the fact that there are points along the way where you're encouraged to run THROUGH the outdoor dining area of some nice looking eateries. I stopped shy of picking up a random water glass for refreshment, and apologized for any sweat flinging into salads, etc. You know, I'm not a complete heathen.

Great city that Milwaukee. Much more of a happening spot than I would have imagined too. I look forward to a trip back there, and I'll let you know what else I uncover.

Monogamy & Mojo

Tee Hee - that's a good one for any web search hits, eh?

Just a quick progress post. Apparently when I decide to work on just ONE project at a time, and I ask my darlings to send knitting vibes (and they do) mamamarce can git 'er done!

Here's the progress on Girlfriend Swing Coat as of today...

Needs sleeves and the big collar. I'm planning to do a ruffled or ribbed edge on the sleeves to give it a little flare...we'll see. Deadline stands at Thursday because next week starts crunch time for any holiday hand knits.

Besides, since I learned that (a) I actually can knit faster with my left hand, (b) my wee ones can sit through a entire 2-hour movie in a theater, (c) the lighting in said theater is just enough to knit by, and (d) I have a super human delusion that just won't quit...I think I'll actually complete all the things on my To Be Knit List. Now of course I've completely jinxed any dim hope of that by even typing such farce.

Ah well.

Thanks for your good wishes!! I'm home again for the week, and loving it! Catch you 'round the blogsphere darlings.

Close Encounters

If you've been keeping up with our adventures for the last several weeks, you know that I've started meeting other fiber fanatics in person to knit and talk and just enjoy the fact that there are wonderfully normal, nice, talented people out there. And though you didn't know each other before that split second of "Oh! There you are!", you can still spend hours together bonding over your latest work in progress and throwing in some life chat to boot.

Last Friday, I met with Jennifer and Zoe. Jennifer found me through the Meetup group I started online, and then she started visiting my blog. Soon after that we started an email conversation (thanks to her reaching out to me) and found out that we have ALOT in common, including daughters that we're just plain crazy about! Zoe is Jen's oldest daughter, a doctor now living in Boston. Zoe was visiting south Florida to celebrate her little sister Chelsea's birthday (now 21 - Happy Birthday Chelsea!). Mom and daughters have all been knitting just a short time, but they are already hooked!

We spent some time in Barnes & Noble at City Place in downtown West Palm Beach. What I really loved was how open and warm they were to the girls. Now trust me when I tell you that taking 2 toddlers to a book store and asking them to sit quietly and play nice while mommy and her new friends knit and chat is quite the risky endeavor; but Adachi and Mizan were so taken with Jen and Zoe that they behaved remarkably well! They sat at the table with us like mini grown ups, they chatted us up and kept us laughing.

Zoe didn't pull out a knitting project at the table, but she made up for that by starting a log cabin blanket from the Mason-Dixon book that very weekend - a courageous undertaking for her, but she is well on her way!

Here's a shot of Zoe & Jen together - smiles and sunshine darlings, smiles and sunshine!

My sincere thanks to both of you for affirming my faith in the beauty of a coincidental connection.

Adachi & Mizan had a ball too, I took this shot of them on the way back to our car:

Off the needles this week...the commissioned knit is DONE! I finished the Renee sweater (a Berrocco pattern) and hubby shipped it off while I was on a plane to Chicago. I hope to have pictures of it modeled by the recipient to share with you soon.



Up next on the Knit List...The Girlfriend Swing Coat from Knit & Tonic. This one is for sweet little Raina and is WAY overdue. Don't get me started...

Click here for a close up of the yarn

Here's my progress so far



I have imposed my own 10 day deadline on this one so send me super stitch vibes!

Off to Milwaukee! MWAH!

Look After Them for Me, Will You?

This week's work jaunt takes me back up to Chicago and then to Milwaukee. Promises to be a great time of knitting (yes with another KH'er - the honorable Ms. Kelly K!), working with some people I actually do like quite a bit, and of course missing those 3 up there.

Send me some good travel vibes please and thank you. And, just by smiling at that photo of my 3 darlings, you'll be sharing some of your own love and light, which will undoubtedly help to keep them safe 'til I get home, so thanks!

MWAH!

I Fancy Myself a Writer

Warning to KH'ers who've read my blog over there - nothing new to see here, but so glad you came by anyway!

My dear and faithful readers, I thought you might want to know that someone else actually took the time to read and appreciate something that I wrote. Now, this post is in no way humble, so you'll have to forgive me this moment of immodesty.

I have recently started listening to a podcast called Cast-On, created by and starring Brenda Dayne. Fabulous ear candy, whether you knit or not. It's a great way to pass an hour. I want a podcast! Anyway....she's a former US resident now living in Wales and she podcasts every Friday about all manner of things. I have learned quite a bit about a variety of things; the wool industry in the UK, historical fashions, and natural fiber dyes made with common plants like onion skins to name just a few! Brenda also showcases eclectic music and features her listeners in their own audio editorials and comments.

A few weeks ago during a production glitch, she asked her listeners to create a caption for a photo posted on her show notes site. Here is that photo and my caption:

"And with that, Hector left the rest of the herd to pursue his dream to become the world's first hooved pastry chef. "

I actually thought that a photo of a sheep barreling down a lonesome highway was hilarious all by itself, but I decided to enter the contest anyway, and I wrote the first thing that came to me. (This photo is linked to the comments page, my caption is 20 up from the bottom)

Well in Episode 34 Brenda announced that I had won the caption contest! I was so blown away, and I found out completely by surprise! Babydill and FiberGirl over at the KH Forum wrote congrats on my blog over there. What a thrill!!! But get this...the prize? FREE! YARN!

...which arrived today and inspired this post. Here is a picture of my loot the yarn from Briar Rose Fibers. Four hundred yards of lovely possibilities in the colorway called Grandma's Blessing.

So for the first time ever, I won something for just writing a sentence. Not too shabby, eh?

People Were Still Buying Perms & Cabbage

Just a quick update for those of you that were following Hurricane Tropical Storm Tropical Depression Sun Shower Ernesto and sending your thoughts of concern and hopes for the best.

We're fine!! It's raining, but the internet..err...electricity is on and working. I'm very grateful that we didn't spend more time putting up hurricane shutters and that we focused more on the important things like increasing the calorie content of the pantry.

My friend Opal made a very poignant comment yesterday to assure me that Ernesto had indeed punked out, and that we had no reason to worry. As she put it:

"Sonny's [BBQ] was jumpin, they were hanging over the rail at Bone Fish Grill, and people were moseying thru WalMart buying perms and cabbage..."

She really knows just how to put me at ease.

MWAH!

I Am Still Knitting

I think I'll reuse this post heading repeatedly...

Just to catch you up, I was able to finish the Wrist Warmers from Last minute Knitted Gifts for Kamau's birthday gift (and when I say finished, I mean that the 2nd one was bound off and wrapped about 10 minutes before he came downstairs for breakfast). Here are a few pictures, unmodeled, modeled by Mau and modeled by me mid-progress.

The neatest thing was that everyone totally humored me and complimented them. Hopefully he finds good use for them on a brisk Georgia day or on his next ski trip! (Plus, his mom is a knitter and I LOVED the opportunity to make another small connection with her - she's ultra cool).

I liked the ease of this pattern, and it gave me great experience knitting a tube on 2 circulars...much faster than the DPN method I found. I wasn't too sure about the thumb opening instructions though. I ignored them on the left hand warmer and the ribbing is great, then I forced myself to follow them on the right side, and as you see in the photo, the ribbing is off a stitch. Knit and learn darlings...knit and learn. The patterns, they can be wrong.

More pictures to share later - this time, there will be yarn.