My Wandering Mind

Cake BOSSing mom around

2012-01-28T19:24:00.000-08:00

My daughter's love to watch Cake Boss on Netflix. I should know better than to let them watch it. I mean its a pretty family friendly show, minimal cussing and it shows a close, really close, family that works hard together. However when my oldest and creative- minded daughter watches it for two or more days in a row she gets an itch to try her hand at cake decorating. Last time she got the urge We tried our hand at fondant....not very tasty and met with mixed result. This time I stuck with what I knew..... butter cream frosting and good old-fashioned food dye. We didn't even use the fancy Wilton colored pastes. I tried to show her how to hold the bag and get different effects with the different tips, but no she wants to twist the bag like the Boss does. No styrofoam cakes to practice on so she worked on an empty yogurt container and cupcakes.

These are what Banana Girl (aka the little sister did with help. The pink glob on the cupcake on the left side is suppose to be an eye (I)

The results of the Boss (y) Girl's hard work.

It was fun, minimal work and it took care of the girls creative "itch"

2012-01-13T21:11:00.000-08:00

I am full of gratitude. A couple of weeks ago my oldest returned home. He had been away from home for 2 years on a mission for the Lord through the LDS church. on someways he has changed auiet a bit in other he is still the same. He still has the same dry sense of humor that his dad my husband also has, Its a hoot but can drive me nuts.

Different in that he is very helpful he does his own laundry and will help with meals without being asked.

Regardless he left as a teen and came back as an adult I need to keep reminding my self this and am trying to give him some breathing room as he establishes a new routine.

I am happy to have him home and his younger sibling are also enjoying having around to hang on and do things with.

emotions are all over the place. Happiness to have him home, satisfaction in seeing what a fine young man he has grown into, and a lot of hoping that he is able to continue to work and that he'l have a happy life.

Traditions and Themes

2012-01-03T20:59:00.000-08:00

In a World where there is one family, four children, different years....one brave second grade teacher willing to teach them all....

We are so lucky to have the best 2nd grade teacher for all of my children. She has the ability to work with the easiest to the most difficult child. Artistic, mathematically inclined, learning issues, she can work with them all and do it in a loving kind and gentle manner. Over the years she had her students make the same snowman ornaments for Christmas. I'm so tickled that I have a complete set now. Special ornaments for each child every year has always been a tradition. I love these sorts of traditions.

Usually this time of year the some of pod-casters I love to listen to talk about their goals for the next year. This time a few of them are talking about "themes" or what they value or trait would like to build into their character/being for the coming year. I think my themes for 2011 would have been "chaos and procrastination" for 2012 I want it to be "Finishing (projects) and Balance"

This past year I feel like I spent a lot of "putting out little fires" taking each task or event as it came along not really preparing for it. I started working part time at my daughter's school 4 months ago. No I can't seem to get laundry done or meals cooked and meal planning has gone completely out the door.

I need to be able to plan better so there is less chaos in my life.

Finishing is self explanatory. I have a lot of Unfinished projects that were started in the last year that are stuffed in bag hidden in the back of my closet. over the next couple of days I'm coin through those bags and either rip them or start to finish them.

Its been a good year , interesting but good. could have done without some of the dramatic stuff, good thing is that we made it through all the trials. I am grateful for my family, the circle of friends I have in real life and on-line. I feel that the Lord has truly blessed me.

Green donuts

2011-12-03T07:14:00.001-08:00

A: Mom? You know those things? Those round things ?
Me: what round things?
A: those round things like green donuts
Me: what green donuts?
A: we see them when we walk around the neighborhood. People hang them up
Me: oh, you mean a "wreath"
A: yeah a wreath, can we get one?
This was a conversation I had with my 8yo daughter whose smile can melt the hardest of hearts. How could I refuse. A "green donut thing" now hangs on our door.

Day 15/16 because I can

2011-11-16T07:44:00.001-08:00

1988
Originally uploaded by dnaprice66

SO...yeah... I forgot about yesterday. Yesterday I was grateful for the new Clairol hair dye, you leav ion for only 10 minutes. Still smells bad and Imy hair still looks funny for a couple of days but 10 minutes is way better that 30.

Today I am grateful for my DH. When he looks at me I feel like he sees the pretty young thing he married 23 years ago, instead of the tired overweight middle aged housewife I am. He is patient kind and understanding . he still can't read my mind when he needs to but he does listen to me. I love him.

Day 14 Thanks

2011-11-14T20:04:00.001-08:00

no-cancer-sign
Originally uploaded by dnaprice66

I'm having a difficult time finding something to be thankful for today. A few days ago I got a message on my voice mail from my much loved SIL. She was diagnosed with breast cancer, today she met with the surgeon, heard the final pathology report and treatment options.
I don't like cancer and frankly am tired of it hurting my family and friends. I guess I should say I am thankful for my health and that advances in medicine have advanced so much over the years with early detection and treatments. I just know that you can never turn your back on cancer and that it doesn't play by any set of rules. I am grateful for my SIL, she lost a son to brain cancer 6 years ago. She is facing this new hurdle in her life a lot more graceful and strong than I would. She has always been a source of light, strength and joy. I am grateful for the example and influence she is in my life.

Day 12 and 13

2011-11-13T18:04:00.001-08:00

S6301380
Originally uploaded by dnaprice66

I fell off the train and need to catch up
I am grateful for sewing, that I know its something I can do and make beautiful things for people.

Day 13. I am grateful for the knowledge of Christ's redeeming love. The sacrifices He made so we may return to our Heavenly Father one day.

Hey there Delilah _day 10

2011-11-10T21:16:00.001-08:00

Hey there Delilah
Originally uploaded by dnaprice66

not very exciting to day, but I'm going for quantity not quality. I'm grateful for this particular knitting project, pattern is Oh Delilah by Sharon Dreifuss it was part of a bonus mini mystery KAL that precluded the Tuck Shawl Mystery KAL. Anyway I'm 2/3done. A lot further than I've been along on any sort of knitting project lately. Have I already said I love knitting? well I do.

Day 9 Thanks

2011-11-09T06:25:00.001-08:00

0105egp3
Originally uploaded by dnaprice66

I am thankful for old friends. My oldest bestest friend is Janett. We've known each other FOREVER. .... well for at least for most of our lives. She has seen me at my best and my worst and still loves me anyway. I've done the same for her. 25 plus years of unconditional love and support....

Day 8

2011-11-08T07:23:00.001-08:00

carrots
Originally uploaded by dnaprice66

I am thankful to be in Arizona 'specially this time of year. The weather is nice and we get to plant a veggie garden. While all my relatives and friends up north are stuck in the "blahness" of winter, my kids get to play outside and ?i can pick fresh vegetables from my garden.....tat is if I can keep the birds from eating all of the seeds. Some years the garden is better than others. Hoping I can get around to something this year.

thankful day 7

2011-11-07T06:03:00.001-08:00

clock
Originally uploaded by dnaprice66

I am grateful that Arizona doesn't go on Daylight Savings Time. No nasty adjustments to waking up and going to bed time to mess with. No need to adjust watches, clocks , etc. I just need to know so I can call family that lives out of state at appropriate times.

Day 6 "Mom"

2011-11-06T16:59:00.001-08:00

mom's bag
Originally uploaded by dnaprice66

I am grateful for my mom. she is a strong woman with a strong personality. She was diagnosed with diabetes in her 20's, went blind and required a kidney transplant in her 40's sh'ea had two hip replacements and various broken bones. like a Timex watch she can "take a lickin' and still keep tickin'. She's a great example or "enduring to the end" and not letting people push you around. With some help and mostly by watching her I learned how to knit, crochet and sew. I am grateful that the Lord saw fit to let me be her daughter. here on earth.

Mi Hermano

2011-11-05T10:04:00.001-07:00

Mi Hermano
Originally uploaded by dnaprice66

I am very grateful for my "rotten red-head older brother"
Yes he teased and terrorized me when we were kids (he did proclaim that I was his slave for life). But more important than that he protected me from the neighborhood and school bullies. He has always been able to make me laugh when life kicked me int he butt. and he has a matter of fact don't let life push you around , and no whining allowed attitude that has been a an example for me, I'm really grateful for my brother.

Day 4

2011-11-04T06:56:00.001-07:00

earflap hats
Originally uploaded by dnaprice66

I really am thankful for knitting. I haven't done much with it this year either in the way of production or learning new techniques. It has been more of a coping mechanism this year. It keeps me sane while sitting in waiting rooms, car pickup lines after school, and during children's lessons.
i can wow people with my ability to take a piece of string and turn it into a hat,shawl or mittens. Strangers will come up and talk to me to share a memory of their mother/grand mother knitting or how they would like to learn to knit,
It keeps me from snacking on things that aren't good for me and it helps me focus. Knitting brought into my life a group of friends I wouldn't of gained.
I'm really grateful for knitting

Day 3 I am thankful....

2011-11-03T07:10:00.001-07:00

103_2846_1026
Originally uploaded by dnaprice66

I am always thankful for fiber, not the kind you eat but the kind you get from plants and animals . IT get made into lovely yarn that you in turn can make into lovely hand knitted and crocheted items.

Thankful day 2

2011-11-02T07:16:00.001-07:00

DSC00276
Originally uploaded by dnaprice66

I am grateful that Halloween is over. It is not my favorite holiday. I am thankful that I finished the girls costumes and they loved them. I am grateful for their enthusiasm and energy especially when I have none.

November= 27 days of Thankfulness

2011-11-01T19:09:00.001-07:00

Nubble Light House (Cape Neddick Light Station)
Originally uploaded by dnaprice66

My son (who will be coming home from his mission in December) sent us a SD card from his camer. Is had 6 months of pics and videos of his life. There were a lot of goofy shots and some really pretty ones. This was my favorite. Actually my favorite is a picture of him in the foreground with the lighthouse in the background. I'm thankful that my son is willing to put his life on hole for 2 years to serve the Lord and others. He has grown in both spiritually and emotionally. He looks super skinny in the pictures. I can't wait to hug him and have him sitting on the couch and his legs taking up all the floor space in the living room. (he is 6'6" tall)

Now to see if I can keep this up throughout November. Consistency has not been my strength lately.

2011-09-27T19:47:00.000-07:00

"Haven't seen you in a long time......"
no excuses, just apologies and empty promises to be better.

Today should have been my nephews 12th birthday.

Almost 6 years ago he went to the hospital real sick after a month of trying to stabilize him and many tests it was discovered he had a brain tumor, a bad one. A neuroblastoma. I won't go into all the details because in the 9 -10 months from the time he was diagnosed, treated and then eventually passed away, he showed great courage, patience and love.

Tommy was a loving and fun kid. Everyone was his friend. He liked singing songs with his mom, Action figures, cartoons, riding in his dad's red car, and good food. He liked playing and hanging out with his best friend Luke. He loved telling jokes, and never tired of telling them. He adored his big brother and sister.
He loved well and was well loved.
I had the pleasure of knowing him for only (almost) 7 years. I think of him everyday, not just on days like today. I think of how he was loving and accepting of everyone, how he was quick to point out if you needed to start "being nice". Christ like qualities I need and try to implement in my life everyday.

I miss you sweetie, thank you for letting me be your Aunt and being such a wonderful joy to everyone who knew you.

Michelle Macphereson

2011-06-29T13:56:00.001-07:00

DSC00098
Originally uploaded by dnaprice66

my dd meeting Olympic Medalist Michelle Macphereson

Olympic Medalist

2011-06-29T13:52:00.001-07:00

DSC00093
Originally uploaded by dnaprice66

Olympic Bronze Medalist Michelle Macphereson came to swim team practice today. Sh along with some of the older swimmers from her club team ran mini clinics for my daughters city rec team. She gave a short motivational speech, showed the kids her medals and invited them to ask questions and look at the medals.
She was on the 1984 Canadian Swimm team and earned her medal in the Medley Relay. She also earned a 5th place in the butter fly at Olympics that year.

sorry for the abscence

2011-06-27T19:42:00.000-07:00

Oye! This year has been busy, so busy that I haven't blogged since October I got my self involved up to my neck at the youngest childs school helping the noon aides during the kindergarten and first grade lunch time. Then in the classroom and did I mention PTO hospitality committee.

It was a good and busy school year. I was so glad to see Summer break come. I haven't done

anything wonderful or creative for the children to keep them busy. Aside from the Scout Camp, Irish Dance Camp and ceramics classes, their days are filled with reading, playing games (both board and video) and hanging out in the air conditioned home.

Here we are nearly a month into the Summer Break and only a month to go before school starts again. I'm going to find a better balance in my schedule this year. I've got to. Here are a couple of pics from the last several months.

We went to the Zoo a couple of times

Some dear friends came to visit

...and we played with mentos and diet coke (the closest to an explosion I will let my children get.

the dietsoda/mento explosions wasn't as spectacular as we wanted it to be. I think in this try we used a store brand soda. We also tried sierra Mist, Root Beer and Diet Coke.

Two faces of Arizona

2010-10-15T22:11:00.000-07:00

View of the mountains just north of the valley

Last weekend my family went camping with a group of people from church. It was pretty warm in the Valley, even for Arizona it has been hot for this time of year. reaching degrees in the mid to high 90's. I was looking forward to getting into some cooler weather up on the Mogollon Rim. Well by the time we got there, just before the sun went down., it was a lot cooler. We were prepared with coats, my sleeping bag was rated for as low as the temperature got, and I was reminded that I really do like warmer weather. Saturday morning it was still cold but as soon as the sun came up it warmed up nicely. After breakfast, while we broke camp, the kids walked to the lake (with adult supervision of course). It was beautiful. I'm glad I went it had been a long time since I had been camping.

Woods Canyon Lake

Favorite

2010-09-13T21:20:00.001-07:00

IMG_2637
Originally uploaded by dnaprice66

"question of the day" posted in the She knits podcast furm today on Ravelry by mountainpurl was "what is the thing or things that someone you know - friend or family has made that you think is just amazing? " There were several things I thought of. Some bookcases built by my husband and a needlepoint done by my grandmother were a couple of items that stood out. both were labor intensive in different ways.
Then I thought of my favorite object made by me. Its my first wall quilted wall hangingthat involved fabric transfers of family photos and creative use of fabric. I really had a lot of help from the teacher of the class I took in figuring out the square size and cutting of the fabric. The seams are a little wonky and there are loose threads all over the place. It was on of my first quilts and I really treasure this wall hanging.
The center photo is a picture of my Grandfather, grandmother and Uncle Jack. PIctures included on the quilt are of my parent's wedding day
my Uncle Jack in front of a Derigable that he flew in WWII
My dad when he was much younger and had hair ;).

I love this quilt because it is a daily reminder of my heritage and of the sacrifices my ancestors made to be together and build a family.
Is there something you have made that you love despoite its imperfections?

In honor of Labor Day ( a couple of days late)

2010-09-08T20:21:00.003-07:00

Greyhound picket line 4/1990
Originally uploaded by dnaprice66

Ahh. To be young again. I always look forward to the long holiday weekend. I always forget to remeber what Labor day is about.

This pic was taken while my husband and I were visiting my dad who was on the picket line. Dad drove bus for Trailways for over 25 years, until Greyhound took over Trailways in 1987. BEcuase of some labor -law violations the union started a nation-wide strike in March 1990. It took 38 years for the labor dispute to be settled. During this time my dad worked night shift as a security guard at a local mall, got his realtors license, and tried a couple of other different jobs. All while spending some time each week on the picket line.
Driving was the career he loved. He was so happy to go back to work when the stike was finally settled and even happier when the union was able to restore his seniority and unpaid back wages.

I'm so proud of my dad and of how hard he worked to make a good life for me and my family.

I Won!

2010-08-26T11:42:00.001-07:00

Everyday Hoodie Kit
Originally uploaded by dnaprice66

Earlier this month Blue Sky Alpacas had a sweater kit giveaway on their Facebook page. last week I rec'd a message from them that I had won the random number generated drawing. I was so excited
The kit came via fed ex this morning, it included the pattern for the Everyday Hoodie, enough yarn to knit the largest size of the pattern, and a "pretty cheep" project bag with a hummingbird on it.
Even-though I don't need to start another project as soon as I get off the computer I'm going to ball up a skein and get started.

Happy Anniversary!

2010-08-26T11:35:00.001-07:00

wedding day 1988
Originally uploaded by dnaprice66

22 years ago today I got married to my wonderful DH
DH stands for dear hubby most of the time, On extremely rare occasions the "D' will stand for something else.
He is the perfect match for me. We balance each others personalities out. He is extremely, calm, loving, kinds, and patient. Extremely patient. I'm so glad we found each other when we did, and that we are able to go through this journey of life together.

New Girls in the Coop

2010-08-16T21:56:00.001-07:00

IMG_2576
Originally uploaded by dnaprice66

My sweet husband brought home some 4 new chicks home the other day. I wasn't real pleased, we still had 4 older chickens. He assured me that the feed store was willing to take in the older chickens and "find them a home". We eat chicken I know where chicken in the store comes from, but haveing taken care of those chickens the last couple of years I know we could never eat these chickens.
This weekend he and the kids took the older chickens to the feed store.....and came home with 3 more chicks. he has convincing me down to a science and his secret weapons are the kids. He has them do recon, announcing as the walk ing the door that "we got chickens mom" "They're so cute". Well the kids are cute and so excited, and the chicks are kind of sute too.How can I get upset at that. He's ruthless
We have:
3 Opringtons - brown eggs
2 Americauna- blue or green eggs
2 Welsummers- dark reddish brown eggs
They are pretty cute especially the Orpintons. Thier legs are so feathery and look like muppet legs
yep he's ruthless to parade so much cute in front of me.

My little Lamb

2010-08-16T21:41:00.001-07:00

Critter
Originally uploaded by dnaprice66

I'm posting this quite a bit late. Rec'd this fun little critter as part of the Green Critter Swap hosted by Dawn from the Knit Naturally podcast. My Swap Partner was the wonderful Tasha. This little guy came in a package with "all sorts of wonderful" Isn't he cute. My 6yo thought so too. I'm gonna have to arm wrestle her for him.

Flamingo Pie Baby Cardigan

2010-08-08T19:02:00.001-07:00

Flamingo Pie Baby Cardigan
Originally uploaded by dnaprice66

Crocheted for a friend haveing a baby this month.
Pattern: Pink Candy Cardigan
Yarn: Dream in color Smooshy
Color: Flamingo Pie

The girls

2010-08-08T18:59:00.001-07:00

The girls
Originally uploaded by dnaprice66

The DH brought home some "new" chickens. This time we have two Orpingtons ( the light brown and white with feathery legs), and two Americauna. My daughters are in love with the Orpingtons they are sweet and gentle. The Americaunas seem to be the ones with bit of an attitude.

Its always fun to get new chickens.

Where does the time go?

2010-07-10T21:46:00.000-07:00

Its been three months of busy and no blogging. Nothing exciting going on just busy. My youngest is sporting a new smile this Summer. My daughters have been participating with the city Summer rec swim team. I love it. They have a good workout in the morning and are mellow for most of the day. I also love it because while we are at team practice, I can get some quality knitting time in. I take cotton and work on dishcloths, mainly because they are "mindless knitting" and they make good housewarming gifts.

At the swim meet today I was working on a garter-stitch diagonal dishcloth and my friends 8 yo daughter was watching me, our conversation went something like this.

Her: What are doing?
Me: I'm knitting a dish cloth
Her: oh
After a couple more minutes of her watching me
Her: I don't get it....
Me: Well I like to use hand knit dishcloths, so I make them to use. They're really great.
Her: No , I mean I don't get what your doing?
Me: I'm knitting
Her: I don't get how it works, can I try?

Clearly there was a breakdown in communication on my part. I took a few minutes and showed her how to make a knit stitch, then she finished the row for me. Her stitches weren't perfect but she got the mechanics of the knit stitch really fast. I didn't have the heart to rip them out. I cast off what had been done and handed her first bit of knitting to my friend her mom.

House-guests

2010-04-11T21:06:00.001-07:00

IMG_2345
Originally uploaded by dnaprice66

Friday night was the school Spring Carnival. There were bounce houses, inflatable slides , a rock climbing wall, raffle prizes and games galore. I volunteered for an hour at he Cosmic Hair Salon, basically spraying kids hair with temporary hair dye...they loved it. My oldest daughter used up 10 game tickets trying to win a goldfish at the fishing pond, while the youngest daughter did it on the first try.
Here are their new pets. They survived Friday night into Saturday afternoon. We went and got them a slightly larger tank with a filter. They seem pretty happy in their new home.

Autumn in Spring

2010-03-22T17:22:00.001-07:00

IMG_2319
Originally uploaded by dnaprice66

After being on the needles for almost a year, I finally finished Autumn, an entrelac shawl. It wouldn't have taken me that long if I would have just kept at knitting it. but I took several breaks., and ...well you know.

Podcast Swag

2010-03-19T15:58:00.001-07:00

HFD water bottle
Originally uploaded by dnaprice66

I love to listen to podcasts while I walk, clean house,knit, sew, just about everything. I ordered this from one of my favorite knitting podcasts, The High Fiber Diet. It will be great to take walking , in the car and it fits in my project bags perfectly.

The kids have been out of school on Spring break this week and next. My exercise has suffered greatly so I took the girls on a "forced march" this afternoon. The weather was perfect breezy and the temp was in the 70's. We walked for about 2 miles stopping at the Elementary schools desert garden. I'll take pictures of it later. It has all sorts of cacti, trees and desert plans. Right now the California Poppies are in bloom carpeting the garden in yellow.

When we got back from the walk a package from Cafe Press was on the door step and in it was my new favorite water bottle. Just one more week of Spring break, Yay!

Fortune Friday

2010-03-12T21:19:00.000-08:00

Friday nights , especially if the husband is in town, is date night. Date night for us is just getting away for an hour of food and conversation. Usually we go to the food court at the mall eat Panda Express, talk , and watch the teenagers go by. MY favorite part of the meal (besides the conversation) is cracking open the fortune cookies. Tonight's fortunes were........

mine: "you bring out the best in others"

Hubby's : "A partnership shall prove successful for you"

Its been 22 years since we met, and marriage is always a work in progress, but we've been pretty successful so far and intend to continue.

Lovey Dovey

2010-02-17T15:42:00.001-08:00

S6301702
Originally uploaded by dnaprice66

I love the name of the pattern for this little baby top, Lovey Dovey. I think it came out the right size. I'm concerned that even-though the yarn is a wool/cotton blend, it will be too warm of a garment for an Arizona baby, I intended for this to go to a baby that is due to be born in a couple of weeks, The afternoon temps are up in the 70's, its only going to get warmer. hmmmmm what to do

Happy President's Day

2010-02-15T18:37:00.001-08:00

S6301687
Originally uploaded by dnaprice66

I love our city zoo. Its big , it tries to give the animals a good environment to live in. Its big. The parking lot can be filled to capacity , but there is still plenty of room to walk around on the zoo grounds. There is a huge variety of animals. Most you can see fairly well with out disrupting them too much. Today the weather was perfect. Warm enough for them to be active, but not too warm.
My only complaint is that the line for the women's restroom is always long. They need just a few more stalls...anything would be an improvement.
I still love our zoo

Olympics Cast-on

2010-02-14T22:01:00.001-08:00

IMG_2268
Originally uploaded by dnaprice66

I started Love-Dovey during the opening ceremony on 2/12. Its in the Junior Olympics category for the Ravelympics.
Yarn: Spud and Chloe Sweater in Watermelon(pink) and Grass (green) colorways I've enjoyed working with this yarn. My hands usually hurt after working with cotton content yarns. My hand's haven't had a problem so far.
Needle: Size 8 the pattern called for a size 10 I tried a 9 and it was too loose of a gauge
It is blocking tonight. Tomorrow I'll add some embroidery to the skirt of the top.

mmmMalabrigo Bucket hat

2010-02-10T18:32:00.001-08:00

mmmMalabrigo Bucket hat
Originally uploaded by dnaprice66

Knit for the daughter of a knitting friend, its modeled by my daughter. I'm really happy how the pattern turned out. I knit the brim twice in different yarns and different needles before finding the right yarn with the right needle, thrid time was the charm. Knitting is amazing and satisfying when you find the right combintation.

Off Track

2010-02-02T12:01:00.000-08:00

True confessions, as far as my new year's goals are concerned I've follow off track, haven't stayed the course, lost the vision...(what ever phrase you like to use insert here). My excuse is that that my husband was outof town for two weeks in Japan, plus we had quite the weather system go through while he was out of town. my valuable exercise time was taken away by cleaning the yard and minor home maintenance. Basically I'm a wimp and can't keep up my motherly duties, take care of the things my hubby normally does, AND expect to exercise, let alone knit and read. See I'm a whiney wimp.

I did get some knitting done.

Felted clogs for my oldest son. MY frontloading washing machine does felt wool . Next time I need to remeber to turn off the spng cycle. these turned out a little wonky

...and dishcloths also a litttle wonky, but still usable.

Now I need to get back on track with the other goals.

Goals 1st week

2010-01-11T19:53:00.000-08:00

Exercise

So far so good on the exercise. Last week I exercised at least 30minutes 4 times then I walked to pick up my youngest from school rather than ride the half mile round trip. For main exercise I dusted off and used the old nordic track ski machine that was purchased 18 years ago. Figured out the Wii Fit, got my self registered and using that also. I am feeling better my attitude and moods are also better, I have more energy during the day and am sleeping better at night.

Knitting

I am pushing through on some unfinished projects. I need to update my projects list on Ravelry to show a more honest picture of how many Works In Progress I really do have. I started with one washcloth and it is my take everywhere knitting because I don't have to think a whole lot when I knit it.

Reading the Book of Mormon by April 12th.....not doing so well on this one.

Goals (cont)

2010-01-03T13:42:00.000-08:00

One of my goals this year is to get with and be involved again with the Year Long Gift-a-Long group on Ravelry. The purpose of the group is to set goals early on for knitting/crafting gifts for Holidays, birthdays etc. . The moderators if the group make goal setting and meeting fun. There is a lot of encouragement from other members . There are quarterly Challenges in addition to making and meeting monthly goals. The Quarterly Challenge is geared toward gifts due in November/December. Generally if you complete your goals in the quarterly challenges your name is put in a drawing for a prize...the prizes are awesome (if you are a knitter).

Here is the start of my gift list for 2010
January- 5 Grandma’s Favorite Dishcloths/due December
Felted Clogs/ Jacob/due February
February- 5 Grandma’s Favorite Dishcloths/due December
March- 5 Grandma’s Favorite Dishcloths/due December
spa set mother’s day
April- start quilt for charity raffle

Dishcloths are apart of my quarterly challenge goals. i stared with this group in 2008 and completed a lot of projects for gifts for Christmas and did a lot of charity knitting that year because of the goals I set. 2009 I didn't keep up with the group or make many goals. I look forward to doing well this year.
I have the knitting goals taken care of, for personal goals here is my start:

workout/go for brisk walk at least 30 minutes 4 times a week
read chapter of Book of Mormon each day

I have a few friends who are running together in a team relay long distance race called a RAGNAR the run 200 miles in 24 hours. I don't expect to be able to do anything at all like this anytime soon but I would like to be in that kind of shape where I could eventually run something like that. Right now I would be happy not running out of breath after climbing two flights of stairs.

New favorite thing: The Knitted Spoon podcast it combines knitting and vegetarian cooking two of my interests.

New Years Day

2010-01-01T19:27:00.000-08:00

We have a sort of tradition for New Years day. If we are in town the hubby likes to drive over to the other side of Phoenix to Glendale and have lunch at Cabela's. Cabela's is an store for fishing, camping, and hunting enthusiasts. They also happen to have a pretty good cafe/grill that the kids and the husband enjoy eating at. I usually just get a drink. This store has a wonderful display of taxidermy wildlife that you have to walk by to get to the cafe. I have a hard time eating lunch with all the animals "looking" at me.

While we were at Cabela's Dave got a state and urban fishing licences so he could take the kids fishing. After we returned home from our excursion to Cabela's a couple of the kids really wanted to go fishing. Dave did some research on the urban lakes in our area and chose to take the kids to the lake at Kiwanis park. It was great the kids had a great time and best of all they didn't catch anything. Can't beat that.

I'm pretty happy with the day. I got a lot of knitting done, finished the dishcloths for my MIL, worked on a scarf for next years red scarf project and didn't have to clean any fish.

Goals

2009-12-31T18:48:00.000-08:00

This time of year many people make resolutions, or determine an action that the wish to take for the New Year in effort to improve themselves. I've never been real good at making or keeping any resolutions. Today my 9yo sat at the computer and came up with list of 9-10 "resolutions" of how she wanted to improve her behavior. They were all nice ideas a couple of therm were, "be nicer to my little sister" and "work harder at school". I told her these were great ideas but that for her to be successful she needed to focus on a couple and use measurable goals to improve the behavior....then it hit me. I sounded just like my instructors in nursing school

Every week on Wednesday we, the nursing school students, would go to the hospitals where we were doing our rotation that quarter, and pickup our patient assignment. Each assignment was generally 2 patients we would have to study their medical history, current history , disease, medications, etc. We would then have to write out a care plan for each patient identifying the potential or actual problems the physiology for the problem, include actions or nursing care that would help improve the patients situation or prevent a problem from actually occurring. Goals would actually have to be measurable; we couldn't just write "patient will be pain free" but "Patients pain level will be less than 5 on a scale 1-10".

So here I am trying to explain to my sweet 9yo that while I appreciate her wanting to be nicer to her little sister, she needs to think about, how, what actions she is going to take that will help her be nicer to her sister. She looked at me like I was a little nutty, I have that reputation with my kids. This interaction with my daughter has helped me think about what I want my goals for the year to be. When I decide on what they are going to be,I don't know if I'll post them all here it depends on how brave I'm feeling at the time.

Until then Happy 2010

2009-12-28T09:44:00.001-08:00

Its a beautiful gray and cloudy day here in the Phoenix area The girls and I all have the sniffles. I hope and tend to think they are more allergy and weather related than viral.
John had a migraine this morning. I feel bad that this is something he has to contend with in his life, but am grateful that they aren't worse or more frequent. I took the girls out to run errands for a couple of hours so John could have the quiet he needs to get over the headache.

We came home bearing donuts and lasagna (John's favorite). Hoping it will be a good day.

Knitting wise I'm going to finish the scarf started while mom was here, then start some dishcloths for my MIL's birthday present. Her birthday is a little over a week away, Think i can make 6 dishcloths before then? I would like to, we'll see.

...one more entry for the day

2009-12-27T20:00:00.000-08:00

It is two days after Christmas. We've taken down the decorations, put away the tree the only thing that remains if the fudge in the refrigerator. It was a little strange this year because my oldest was gone. He entered the Missionary Training Center a little over a week ago, to serve 2 years as a full time missionary for the LDS church. Its a pretty awesome thing to watch your son grow from a fun goofy kid into a neat young man. around 11yo going to first scout camp

19yo missionary

The three younger kids were a little sad and missing their brother, my parents saved the day, as only grandparents can, by coming and staying with us for Christmas. My youngest got a lot of snuggles from Grandma and grandpa. Em fell in love with their new dog, and John had fun playing games and going golfing with Grandpa.

My mom and I visited a couple of our favorite yarn stores and new projects were started, scarves. Mom was glad to be knitting something new. I started one just because mom wanted me to start one too. Most moms and daughters go clothes shopping or get pedicures together....my mom and I knit together.
Even though we had a great time. Thoughts of my oldest child are in the back of my mind. I know he is safe and happy, and in my mind I am giving him a big hug.

Bad blogger...no cookie!

2009-12-27T18:07:00.000-08:00

I'm a bad blogger. I've hit a major blogging slump. The history of my blogging has been all over the place.

family and friends
knitting
healthy living
cooking
crafts
my faith and beliefs
gardening

Those are pretty much my main interests. I craft all over the place too. I have a bad case a ADDOS (Attention Deficit Ooh Shiny) and frequently will put down a project to start something new. I was hoping after a year that I would get the hang of it and by now I would have and informative inspirational and witty blog that I would be proud of.

When I told my husband 9 months ago that I had a blog he asked me what was the purpose would the blog serve. For me it is a way to connect with other people and an opportunity to be able to express myself and maybe get a little feedback.

I will continue to blog about activities with family and friends, knitting and crafts, my quest live a healthy lifestyle, stuff I do around the house, and a little of my faith. My faith and beliefs are precious and personal to me and won't be a huge part of my public blog.

I want to be more organized this coming year, take care things that need to get done, and actually finish some projects. Finishing projects that would be a nice change. This week while the kids are home I'm going to examine ways to help accomplish these goals.

A belated Merry Christmas have a safe and happy New Year.

Forest Canopy Shawl (and other knitting content)

2009-12-12T21:56:00.001-08:00

I have been absent from the blog. I've mostly been busy recovering from the surgery and trying to catch up with all the things that didn't get done while I was recovering.

The first week of post-op recovery had me finishing this lovely little shawl for my mother-in-law. It is knit in Dream in Color Smooshy in the Oceania colorway. I loved working with the yarn and the pattern was fairly easy to follow even on heavy-duty pain pills

I finished a couple of hats. I really enjoyed knitting Quincy the pattern by Jared Flood from his book Made in Brooklyn I just bought the pattern as a downloadable PDF on Ravelry, I love Ravelry love how it lets me buy a pattern anytime of the day :) yes I'm an impulse shopper I knit this hat in Berroco Peruvia Quick. Its a soft warm hat I love it and since its been chilly (for Arizona), I can actually wear it and not swelter

On the home front my oldest leaves soon to enter the Missionary Training Center in Provo , UT. After being there for a couple of weeks , he will go to the North- Eastern part of the United States where he will be serving an proselytizing mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He has been a fun kid to raise we've had some really awesome talks lately. I will miss him but I am excited for him to go out into the world to grow in the gospel and in life experiences. He's an awesome young man.

written under the influence of pain pills

2009-11-15T09:05:00.001-08:00

I was planning on posting today. My brain is still a little foggy from pain meds I had surgery on Firday (the 13th) to repair an umbilical hernia. Still having some incisional pain form the surgery , but it isn't as bad as the actualy hernia pain was.
Tried knitting a bit on the Forest Canopy Shawl as a Christmas present for my MIL. Made only a couple mistakes while under the influence of pain pills . Should be able to finish the shawl the up today.
Found a great cookbook called Vegetarian Cooking for Everyone, Its a nice thick book that goes through all the basics of vegetarian and some vegan dishes. I'm excited about the recipes for making my own polenta. There are sections on using different grains, legumes, vegetables, sauces. I hope to get up and cooking soon so I can try some of them. I found the book at my Local library, but know it is availbale aon Amazon.com too.
Need to take a nap now.
Have a great day

another reason why I love Arizona in the Fall

2009-10-31T20:40:00.001-07:00

IMG_2128
Originally uploaded by dnaprice66

Generally there is beautiful warm weather on Halloween night. My children have never had to experience Trick-or-treating in cold snowy weather like I did growing up North.
As a child I remember being slightly sad that I had to wear my heavy winter coat over my costume. Whats the point of dressing up if no one can see your costume?

Its so fun to make fun costumes that the kids can run around in and show all their friends
Happy Halloween

Clue #3

2009-10-23T10:34:00.001-07:00

Mystery Sock -09 clue 3
Originally uploaded by dnaprice66

Myster sock '09 for Socktoberfest. Pattern by Kristen Kapur. Clue #4 was published yesterday, so I am just a little bit behind in the clues.

Why I love Arizona in the Fall

2009-10-23T10:32:00.001-07:00

beets
Originally uploaded by dnaprice66

...you can plant vegtable gardens! While all my relatives who live up north are cleaning out thier gardens and getting ready for winter, I get to seed my garden and plant vegetables. This year I planted
beets
beans (these haven't sprouted)
Peas
lettuce
carrots
broccoli
brussel sprouts
In my flowerbed at the front of the house I planted petunias, thew grow really well here in the winter, come February they really take off. This is my favorite time of year in AZ. It really makes up for the summer and the 100+ degree weather in early October.

Fall into October

2009-10-06T21:53:00.000-07:00

September was a pretty busy, so much so that I've neglected the blog, my knitting and home....in that order.

I have some minor health issues going on but change in diet has helped quite a bit with some of it. I've been volunteering at both daughters school so much, that I wish I was getting paid for the time so I could supplement my hobby allowance.

September was more of a hat month than sock or shawl I completed 2 baby hats, 2 Journey hats a Spring Beret, started Quincy, and finished a Booga Bag for the Chrysalis project at Tempe Yarn and Fiber. If I could have taken the the yardage and energy I used in making these small projects, to finish the bigger projects that I should have finished first. There is just something very satisfying about knitting a hat

Journey Hat

Booga Bag

The Booga Bag took just a couple of days to knit up. Tempe Yarn and Fiber is collecting these toe fill with items for a local women's crises shelter. I appreciate this LYS's efforts to provide opportunities to its customers to participate in local community service.

I'm glad to see October start. The kids have a two week fall break and I'm enjoying doing nothing but staying home and getting somethings done around here

Happy October!

Time warp back to Labor Day Weekend

2009-09-15T16:10:00.001-07:00

exploring the tidal pools
Originally uploaded by dnaprice66

Labor Day weekend we went to San Diego. Its only a five hour drive add in a supper stop in Yuma and one Border Patrol checkpoint it took us just under 6 hours.
When we got to the motel we had booked for the weekend, we were very disappointed. It was in a bad part of town, not very family friendly and the bathtub was full of cockroaches. The younger kids were crying and tired. I put a smile on but deep inside i hard a hard time thinking we could live in this place for three days.

The next morning, My dear husband negotiated our release form this motel, ( thank you hotels.com). and then he as able to check us into the Embassy Suites near San Diego Harbor Bay. It was like going form hotel heck to hotel paradise. The rest of the weekend was heaven.
We visited Sea World, saw Shamu and the Dolphin shows. Hung out a lot in the Arctic exhibit.. That night for dinner we walked to Seaport Village for dinner. It was a blast.
Sunday we attended church, had lunch back the hotel. That afternoon we went to Cabrillo Nat'l Park to explore the tide pools and see the light house.
Monday we got up early for breakfast then drove to La Jolla Shores. A very nice beach that was pretty crowded at 8 am. The dh came through and found a parking place we played in the sand, swam in the ocean and watched the surfers again it was heavenly. We had plenty of time to head back to the hotel, get cleaned up and checkout before driving home.
Next time I go to San Diego, I would like to spend most of the tome by the beach its so peaceful. It was good to spend time with the family too. I'm so blessed that the kids all get along and like each other.

My youngest had a hard time leaving San Diego. She loved it there too.

No animals were injured in the writing of this blog

2009-09-14T19:58:00.000-07:00

A couple of weeks ago I went to the doctor with abdominal pains, chest pain, just not feeling well. First thing he told me was "no animal products" he also put me on Zantac for ulcers, and anther pill for high blood pressure.

After a week of being totally "vegan", I was feeling pretty good....except for hives caused by one of the medications.

The doc then told me it was okay to "eat meat sparingly". I intend to emphasize the vegetarian aspects of the diet, and feel better if when I do eat animal products that is be very lean and only in small amounts.

Today I needed to make a treat for tonight's family time. I "googled" the words vegan cake, Google then kindly found this little gem of a recipe for Chocolate Vegan Cake. It looks like cake, it smells like cake it even tastes like cake, for the most part. the texture is ever so slightly different but not off putting. The pickiest eater in the world (my 8yo) had two pieces tonight

The recipe calls for soy milk and canolaoil, I used coconut milk and olive oil as it is what I had on hand.

Some of my heroes....

2009-09-11T02:32:00.000-07:00

I need to sleep, but I can't. Nothing bad going on just an allergic reaction to a newly prescribed medication has left my arms and legs covered in hives. Yay, for Prednisone! I don't want to gross anyone out with photo journaling this event . Lets just say that after the first dose of Prednisone I am able to comfortably knit again.

September 11th and all the meaning that goes with it has snuck up on me this year. It has double meaning for me this year.

Tommy Peterson, my nephew, is one of my heroes. Tommy, who passed away three years ago from complications of a brain tumor, is being honored on the Cure Childhood Cancer website today. September is Childhood Cancer Awareness month. Everyday Cure is honoring two children who have battled cancer. Another one of my heroes is my sister-in-lawTommy's mom. She and my brother made Tommy's last months full of love, fun and adventure. I am forever indebted to them for bringing this amazing child to this Earth and allowing me and my family to be know him and have him a part of our lives. Mysister-in-law is the one who wrote the entry honoring Tommy.

I also like to take time to remember those who lost their lives in the 9/11 attacks on America. I know that there will be many memorial ceremonies going on around the country. I hope that this is a date that continues to be a day of solemn remebrance. I am continually grateful for the men and women who have made the sacrifice to serve their country and/or community whether it is in the Armed forces or other branches of community service. Special hugs and prayers for them and their families not just today but everyday.

I took this picture during a visit to my brother's family. A friend of my SIL had arranged a trip to a local Firehouse. Station#25 in Lawrenceville, GA. These firemen were great words cannot express how amazing they were to Tommy and his family

Gift of Life

2009-08-22T21:40:00.000-07:00

24 years ago this week or next, not quite sure of the exact day, my mother received a kidney transplant. Several miracles have happened here. The first is that she received a transplant at all, the second that it has lasted 24 years and counting knock on wood.

My mother was diagnosed with diabetes sometime between the years 1962 and 1966, she doesn't like to talk about it and those are the years my brother and I were born. She tried to regulate and monitor her blood sugar levels and control her diabetes the best she could. despite that in 1983 she started to lose her eyesight. She had a few eye surgeries to try and save her eyesight and it helped slow the process down for a little bit. I don't know exactly how or when her body started shutting down. Its like it all happened slowly over the space of a couple of years. I was a senior in high school, I didn't know what to do . I tried my best to help but I know I could have done more.

She started feeling sick all the time, she went to my dads Doctor who just looked at her skin knew something was terribly wrong with her. After blood test to confirm her kidneys were failing and not filtering the impurities out of her blood. Mom started dialysis, got on a first name basis with all the nurses and doctors on the endocrinology unit at Holy Cross Hospital. Our favorite endocrinologist put mom's name in to be put on a donor list. Mom refused to use one of my kidneys to survive, she wanted one from a cadaver.

after several months of dialysis and a few hospital stays, we rec'd the call that there was a kidney available for her. Dad was out of town driving hi bus route, and I had just gotten home from work, mom and I were about to eat dinner. We had 3 hours to get mom into the hospital. I stayed with her during admission, while they drew blood for lab work. Everything had to be just right for her to get this kidney. Before they took her into surgery, she sent me home, to get some rest, she knew I had to take a final the next day. I went home. I wasn't worried about my mom any more. It was in God's hands.

I went home, ran to the neighbors house and told her the good news, She was shocked and hadn't known mom was that sick (mom was and still is a very private person). I then called my dad's dispatcher and told him to find away to let my dad know that mom was getting a "new kidney.

Next morning before I went into take my final test I stopped by the hospital to see how my mom was. She was still in the recovery room, they let me into see her. She was pretty groggy but happy. She whispered , guess what Andrea? I'm peeing! then giggled. Her sick kidneys hadn't worked for months, she was so happy to have a kidney that worked.

I looked at the statistics for the survival rates after kidney transplants on WebMD its states

that the survival rates are

92% after 1 year
80% at 5 years
54% after 10 years

I think that means out of one-hundred people who receive a kidney transplant, in 10 years just over half of them will still be alive. Mom has had her transplanted kidney for 24years. It has survived her losing her eyesight, 2 hip replacements, a broken clavicle, and foot surgery. She has been alive to see me married, to cuddle grand kids and independently support her local yarn stores with all of her knitting projects.

Here she is showing here wacky sense of humor with the kids in some hats she knit them several years ago.

What prompted this long non-knitting post was a question I read in a Ravelry Forum thread. Part of the kintsib's post asked "Are you a donor?.......if something happened to one of your kids would you donate their organs?....Have you or do you know someone who has received a n organ transplant. i could answer yes to all these questions. The blog needed to know the story too so my children, friends and extended family would know what an amazing gift life is. Mom and Dad recently celebrated their 48th wedding anniversary. I love you Mom.

Vegas Elvii

2009-08-18T12:22:00.001-07:00

Vegas Elvi
Originally uploaded by dnaprice66

I have been knitting then ripping, knitting then ripping no pictures of that. My oldest had a water polo tournament in Las Vegas. The Hubby took him and our other son to Vegas. After they had played all their games in the tournament. They drove around Vegas and saw the sights.
You can't go to Vegas without seeing Elvis in one form or another, here they saw two versions of Elivis. Elvii = more than one Elvis at the same time

Today has been a interesting day of ups and downs. My friend that had been diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis a while ago , finally got a definitive diagnosis, and the Dr. started her chemotherapy. He husband called this afternoon to see if I would be able to help give her dose of interferon. I was a nurse and it doesn't bother me to give people shots. I was happy to help my friend until her family and she are more comfortable administering the medication themselves. I am happy that my friend is willing and able to take medicine to help control the disease.

After that experience and a few others that I don' t want to share here I am even more grateful for the love and support of family and friends. I love the new friends I have made in real life and on Ravelry. I love the old friends that really know me and love me anyway. I am grateful that I can sit down and knit a sock or shawl, and enjoy the process.

Hi-ho,hi-ho its off to school they go

2009-07-30T13:11:00.000-07:00

Sorry about all the kid talk. I'm a mom its what I do. This week marks the first week of school in out district, The two girls are very excited and happy for the start of school. The oldest girl Who from here on out shall be called Quitealot (because she can be a bit dramatic and when she is interested in something she get obsessive about it.) Quitealot tested into the gifted program and gets to ride the bus to the school! She feels so lucky to be able to do this. I hope the enthusiasm last throughout the year.

Banana Girl started Kindergarten, not one for frills and a ton of pink, she opted for the blue lunch sack and Camouflage backpack. I stuck a purple crocheted flower on the lunch box just to "girl" it up a bit.

The 12yo son, complained some but that is his nature. He started Jr High and while the first day was a little overwhelming for him the rest of the week has gone pretty well.

Some recent stash acquisition from Ravelry friend and local Arizonians etsy shop Gecko Yarns. I think the colorway is called Barcelona Nights. I think it will make a lovely Ishbel scarf.

With my oldest child graduating from High school and my youngest just starting the process. I am reminded of of Robert Fulghum's "All I Really needed To Know I Learned in Kindergarten" . A fun essay that reminds me to keep life simple and basic, be nice, learn to say I'm sorry when I hurt someone and "When you go out into the world, watch out for traffic, hold hands, and stick together"

My Tan Line

2009-07-22T15:38:00.001-07:00

S6301049
Originally uploaded by dnaprice66

Like my tan line? Due to the Arizona weather , I can usually wear sandals March through the end of November. The part of my foot that is covered by the sandal strap is pretty pasty looking.
The youngest dd's swimming lessons are now in the evening, at the pool where my oldest works. Its fun to watch him teach the little kids how to swim. This pool has a zero depth entry that gradually slopes to the 3-ft deep kiddie area. They manager of the pool let parents bring lounge chairs up to the edge of the Zero Depth area and so we can stick our feet in the water...All I have to do is close my eyes, smell the chlorine and pretend I'm somewhere exotic instead of a neighborhood city pool. Oh yeah, I can knit while I wait too.

Irish Dancing-Celebration of Kids

2009-07-16T21:18:00.001-07:00

Irish Dancing-Celebration of Kids
Originally uploaded by dnaprice66

My youngest had her first dance performance tonight. All 15 seconds of it. She had been taking a begining Irish dance class through the city for the last 6 weeks. She did pretty well. The girl that dances just after her has been doing it for a couple years, she started tha same time as my older daughter.

It was a fun evening, all the kids were adorable.

Sewing Lessons

2009-07-13T13:38:00.001-07:00

My 12yo son is mechanically inclined. When I sew, he watches with fascination trying to figure out how the machine works. The last couple of months he has been asking for lessons on how to work the sewing machine and to teach him how to sew.........I am not a patient woman and therefore not a very good teacher. I found a Kwiksew pattern for men's pajama bottoms, picked some fabric from my stash (yeah i have a fabric stash too)
Today we got started he learned:

how to cut out a pattern
reading pattern instructions
winding a bobbin
threading bobbin and machine
pressing
seaming
finishing edges
SAFETY first
you cannot watch TV while sewing a seam with a sewing machine.
Putting in a button hole

We got all the way through to one of the side seams in the leg
He just has three more leg seams, a waistband to turn under and seam finishing then he will be done. After working for three hours though, I thought we both needed some lunch and a break.

His general response while sewing was, "Cool!" "Look at that!"
Now his sisters want a turn at the machine..........must relax first.

Huggable Triplet Hedgehogs

2009-07-11T16:56:00.001-07:00

hegdehog010
Originally uploaded by dnaprice66

I visited Tempe Yarn and Fiber to pick character from “familytree” of Nimmy Edefedd TiggyWinkles for the Ronald McDonald House. Was Drawn to aunts the Pinko Triplets. Started these June 26 Finished and returned them to Tempe Yarn and Fiber on July 7th.

I named them after My Grandma and her two sisters she was closest to. Presenting Rita, Grace and Drucilla the Pinko Triplets. It was fun to knit them. I had to get them over and done with as quickly as possible; if I had thought about it too much I would have become overwhelmed. They're done and in the store and waiting for the "family reunion" in October before traveling to their new home.

Monsoon?

2009-07-04T18:58:00.000-07:00

Before I moved to Arizona I always thought that a "monsoon" Was a tropical storm in southeast Asia. Here in Arizona they have something called the monsoon, the season starts mid-June"ish" and usually goes well into August. The University of Arizona Website can explain it better than I can. It has to do with temperature fluctuations , humidity and winds. All I can say is that it can get pretty awesome, with dust storms, thunder and lightning.

Last evening we were visiting friend on the south side of town, they live as far south as you can go before you get to the Gila Indian Reservation. On our way home We saw this

Here is the wind kicking up the dust from the reservation side of the road.

This is looking the down the road to our left. The storm is just rolling in, you can't see the blue sky that is right of what I took a picture of.

Soon we were driving in this. Rain. My kids live for rainy days, like some kids live the first snowfall of the winter. It doesn't rain here much. We splash in puddles whenever we can. To avoid the heavy downpour we turned the car north and were soon driving in a light sprinkle and saw this:

and this

The storms here tend to be pretty localized. Where it might be raining over my house, less than a block away it can be bone dry. There was no rain at our house but we when we looked towards the South the dark cloud and lightning display was impressive. This storm pales in comparison to most of our "monsoon" storms. but it was the first of the season for me. I know storms can be dangerous but these storms have a certain beauty to them that I love.

Happy fourth of July!

Summer, swimming and science

2009-06-26T13:33:00.001-07:00

I can't keep up the five word only posts. I thought that limiting myself to five words a post would allow me to be creative and post more frequently. I found out my brain doesn't have the bandwith to be that creative.

Here is what we've been up to this week

Swimming lessons and Swim team practice. : I while waiting for kids I finished a Circle cloth and worked on socks. I liked the finished product of the wash cloth. but my hands were sore after knitting it. The pattern has you slipping a stitch for seven rows, brutal on my hands, but I loved the effect. The yarn used was Sugar and Cream Stripes.

I also worked on a sock i think it just a Fancy rib from Knitting Vintage Socks by Nancy Bush, in Corwn Mountain Farms hand spun "Sock Hop". Let me just say I love this yarn. It feels good toknit with, a pleasure to touch. I was so glad that I bought some on their last Sock Hop sale, especially whe I found out they weren't going to be selling it this summer online. I rec'd an e-mail newsletter from Crown Mountain Farms saying that they were saving all of their Sock Hop yarn for the Sock Summitt. Lucky for people attending the SS, too bad for the rest of us because I lo-o-o-ve this yarn.

Science experiments:

The kiddos learned about living cells (yeast), what they need to be active (water, warmth, and sugar), and what they produce (carbondioxide)

Then we experimented on which sugary liquid does the yeast react with best.

L-r Sprite (I know the bottle says Diet Coke), Gatorade, and Honey. Honey did the best., the Gatorade was a little to cold to help the yeast grow any.

Back to knitting. One of my favorite LYS Tempe Yarn and Fiber is spearheading a project for the local Ronald McDonald House. Author Tim Logan created background stories for members of a family of hedgehogs. I went to the shop saw what characters were left and chose a set of aunts called the Pinko Triplets. I finished knitting and fulled the first one yesterday and started the second one this morning. The pattern is Huggable Hedgehogs from Fibertrends, a well written pattern much and easier than the clogs I knit last year. I will post photos of my progress later.

Happy Summer! and Happy Birthday Coggietm!

2009-06-23T19:59:00.001-07:00

Five word blogging is difficult

2009-06-22T17:07:00.000-07:00

Summer vacation half over, YAY!

2009-06-21T17:01:00.001-07:00

Happy Fathers Day sweetheart and Dad.

2009-06-20T18:57:00.000-07:00

Yarn and needles, pure bliss.

In 5 words (not including title)

2009-06-19T20:53:00.000-07:00

Son comes home tomorrow, YAY!

hmmmm

2009-06-13T19:50:00.000-07:00

I saw on the morning news today that the Webby Awards recently took place. It looked like a fun awards banquet with several famous an d semi-famous people attending and accepting the bed spring-like trophy. The funny thing was that the acceptance speeches had to be 5 words, no more just 5 words.

Jimmy Fallon's speech was "Thank God, Conan was promoted!"

What would I say if I had the limit to limit it to 5 words. Hmmmmmm might be a new thing to try for the blog.

The winner of best Culture/Personal blog is 1000 Awesome Things the description of it on the site says

"1000 Awesome Things is just a time-ticking countdown of 1000 awesome things. Launched a few months ago and updated every weekday."

It is pretty awesome and takes a look at the everyday things that make life enjoyable.

Mammoth Sunflowers and Why I shouldn't be allowed to bake cookies

2009-06-12T21:25:00.000-07:00

The sunflowers have grown and threaten to take over the place. The Mammoth Sunflowers are approximately 13' across once the petals dry up. Last night i cut two of the flowers off to try and save some of the seeds from the birds. The other large sunflowers are not as big in diameter but they have grown much taller than the 6' cinder block wall. Our bedroom windowlooks out into the garden. Its fun to watch the little birds play around the sunflowers, not so fun to watch one of the chickens try and wrestle a ripe tomatoe of the vine.

This afternoon. Littlest sister was bothering the big sister and friend. I invited the littlest one to help me make cookies. My dh has perfected the chocolate chip cookie recipe, so I stay away from making those. I was in the mood for Snickerdoodles. Butter,eggs and flour rolled in more sugar and cinnamon. Yum!

We had every ingredient except we were shy 1 tps. of Cream of Tartar. IT all mixed up and looked right. We made our doughballs rolled them in cinnamon and sugar. An tremor of epic proprtions must have occured in the oven because this

Became this:

That blob on the lower right side is just a sad glob of dough that didn't even want to try for cookie greatness. They tasted all right. The Littlest one my darling daughter ate three of them tonight.

Woo Hoo, Summer!

2009-06-11T15:44:00.000-07:00

When I started this blog it was with the intent to have a place to talk about my favorite hobbies, family and whatnot. I feel like I haven't had much time to work at the hobbies or even think about the whatnot. I guess that is why I renamed my blog. My mind wanders and wonders quite a bit these days

The last month has been kind of hectic. The oldest child graduated from High School, and the other kids had the usual end of the year concerts and awards stuff.

I've crocheted some super soft baby washcloths for baby gifts. The pattern is by Teresa Grant and super quick to crochet , and well received by the mommies -to be.

My first Ball band dishcloth from Mason Dixon knitting

I test knit a blanket for Coggietm 's Operation Cuddle project

and some booties for and expecting fellow Raveler

and am slogging my way through the UFO's so I can knit along with the She-knits Mystery Bag KAL

I'm glad its summer. i was looking forward to getting lots of projects done with my kids. So far I have spent most of my time shuttling them around in the car to classes, camps, and conferences. What happened to carefree days of a child's Summer? I know it my fault I'm the one who logged on the computer and signed them up for classes. Individually they are not super busy but by the time you take three children and three summer school classes/science camps along with swimming lessons it gets chaotic. Just a couple weeks of this. It will be fine. I hope friends and family are enjoying their summer as well.

Happy Birthday buddy!

2009-05-23T17:46:00.000-07:00

My newly 12yo son loves mechanical things. Today he and my dh made a hover disc for a birthday celebration.

Happy birthday sweetie!

Like music to my ears.

2009-05-14T12:41:00.000-07:00

Happy Thursday! Today has been busy. Number 4 child had an end of session program for pre-school. (I refuse to call it graduation because they're only 5-years old .) There were tropical themed decorations. The kids all had on grass skirts and they "yell-sang" really The basic pre-school songs with such style. Face it 3-5 year olds are just hilariously cute.

My birthday will be in a few days. I don't mind getting older, its fun. To a point. My hormone levels feel like they are all over the place and I find myself crying over silly things, like my "baby" losing her first tooth, and my oldest getting ready to graduate HS.

I was checking out a swap partners blog, she follows Crazy Aunt Purl. It had been so long since I had read that blog. I went and had a peek. Crazy Aunt Purl's blog lead me to this video. It made me laugh and cry at the same time. Some days i wish life could really be like a musical. With people breaking out in song and dance, sharing the joy of music and life. I hope you enjoy it too.

Id forgotten how much I love reading that blog. She seems to find joy in everyday.

My swap partner in the Manic Purl kit swap has not received her package from me. I am going to give it until tomorrow. Then start putting together another package to send out. I feel bad and should have mailed things out earlier in April. I had no idea that it would take a month to get to Argentina. I feel bad . Hopefully the second package will get to her.

Happy day after Cinco de Mayo!

2009-05-06T21:45:00.000-07:00

Always a day late and a couple dollars short. Yesterday was Cinco de Mayo , the 5th of May. This holiday commemorates the Mexican Army's victory over French forces at the Battle of Puebla. It is not a state recognized holiday in Arizona, most fair and celebrations occur the weekend before. In my dd's grade school they taught the kids about the significance of the day. they even taught the kids how to may the tissue paper flowers....guess what my craft -driven creative daughter wanted to do last night? Now my kitchen has all different sizes of colorful tissue flowers all over. I usually go all out and make an American style Mexican dinner, I wasn't organized this year and kind of bailed out on the idea.

I was listening to the Doubleknit podcast today , and Jessica mentioned a funny Twilight parody called Twilight Cheeseburgers.

I showed this to my 18yo son. After dealing with Twilight crazed girls at school all day, this provided some good comic relief.

I recently started a couple of new projects, some baby items for friends and this

The Featherweight Wrap from Crochet Today Spring 2008

I got this far on my first attempt at crocheting this a couple months ago. This time the yarn is softer and the hook is bigger. I feel good about it.

Spring Garden

2009-04-21T22:21:00.000-07:00

Now is a peak time for gardens in the low-desert gardening. especially the Phoenix area. We've been picking radishes and carrots for a couple of weeks. Tomato and pepper transplants are continuing to grow as are the Sunflowers and watermelon from seeds. It looks great. My only concern now is that the average daily temperature is starting to hit 100 degrees. I am hopeful that we will get some tomatoes before it gets too hot.

the entry about a friend , nothing about knitting

2009-04-15T19:26:00.000-07:00

I went to visit a friend tonight. She has been in pain for years and never have been able to find relief or a Doctor that has been able to diagnose a definite illness. She has been told to lose weight, exercise more, and just deal with the pain.

In the last few months she started to lose her balance, experience numbness down her left leg. She found a Doctor that listened and she was able to get into a neurologist. She is being tested for Multiple Sclerosis, the Doctor is 90% sure that's what it is , but more test need to be done for a definite diagnosis.

I love my friend, and will be there for her as much as she and her family will let me. I just wish it wasn't her being the one diagnosed with a degenerative disease. After leaving her home tonight, I thought of another friend, of my mom and my nephew, people whose' bodies have failed before they were "supposed to". People who despite adversity and trials have carried on and done their best to live live as well as they could. I know no mater what I do for them it can't make up for the examples they are to me.

I've tried to be there to help when they've needed a smile, encouragement, a trip to the doctor's office, even a silly stupid joke now and then. I know I can't take away the pain, and I can't take her place. I just wish I could.

My friend is okay with the diagnosis, a little discouraged that the first round of treatments didn't show a huge improvement in her life . I am grateful that after so many years of suffering and going to doctors that there is an answer and a treatments for her. I am glad she is still here and is my friend.

Spring Flowers

2009-04-07T09:08:00.000-07:00

For the short period of time that we actually have "spring-like" weather (its supposed to be in the 90's today). I really enjoy the fact that I can have flowers in my flowerbeds year round.

Here is what started blooming yesterday.

Because Bams' did...

2009-04-03T08:41:00.000-07:00

...i will too.
I just finished reading the blog of a Ravelry friend BammerKT, she is funny and a wicked good spinner and knitter. In her latest post she admitted she hadn't posted a lot lately. Yet there she did. I haven't posted much of anything lately, mostly because of time, I'm tired and forming a complete thought is nearly imporssible let alon writing down a good paragraph with pictures. Because Bam's will take the time to post something. I should be able to do it too.

On the needles :

Autumn Shawl- Entrelac Shawl in Jojoland Rythmn for this I have figured out how to knit backwards.

Cluaranach scarf -Anne Hanson Pattern

Super secret baby project for a friend

Spring break ended last week. This is the kids first full week of school. We had a great break just relaxing and getting things done around the house. We did take a trip to the Zoo. Because it was just me tand the three younger kids, we went in the afternoon and stayed until closing time. It was FUN. The kids rode a camel and pet the stingrays.

Saying good-bye to Winter

2009-03-23T22:10:00.000-07:00

Okay full disclosure I haven't really had to experience "real" winter weather for an extended period of time since we moved the family to Arizona 16 years ago. If we are lucky it might rain alot during February but this winter I didn't have to put on anything heavier than my well worn acrylic sweater from Target...until the Chirstmas trip to Utah but that was only a weeks worth of coat wearing.

I joined the "Say Goodbye to Winter Swap" hosted by the High Fiber Diet Podcast. I had drawn Lorrieu for my partner and had a great time picking out some fibery treats for her.

My upstream partner was Kim from GA. She spoiled me greatly :

Thank You notes
seasonal pens One with a cute bunny on top
Sticky notes!!!!
Project bag with springy flowers all over it from MessieCraftie
yummy salty snacks my favorite, along with a well sealed bag of Hershey Kisses…yeah!!! they didn’t melt.
mmmmmMalabrigo Sock yarn in the Caribeno colorway
Newton’s Yarn Country Happy Feet Print

it was a lovely treat and wonderful way to celebrate the first day of Spring. BammerKT mentioned on the podcast how suprised she was that the swap had brought members of the Ravelry group together. I think its great it gave us a chance to get to know each other, do some cyber sluething, and help each other with clues, It was fun to joke and tease each other too. I believe when you try to do something kind for another person , without expecting anything back from that person friendships even cyber-friendships , can be built.

I'm sure I'll think of something better to say later.

Happy Spring!

Happy Patrick's day

2009-03-17T14:00:00.000-07:00

Outake of the conversation I had last night with my 5yo daughter Banana Girl
BG: "Mom?"
me : yes Banana?
BG: "Can I wear my Sponge Bob shirt tomorrow?"
me: It isn't green, why do you want to wear Sponge Bob?
BG: "Well I love it and Sponge Bob's best friend is Patrick and tomorrow is Patrick's day."

Most of my life when the subeject of ST. Patricks day has come up I envisioned Leprechauns, Shamrocks, and people dressed in clothes the color green. After talking to my darling daughter last night all I can think about is that silly, big , pink starfish.

Knitters Unite.

2009-03-02T17:19:00.000-08:00

I'm a huge fan of NPR. One of my favorite shows is "Wait, Wait Don't Tell Me" Its one of the few things that can truly make me laugh even when I am in my darkest moods.

Two weekends a go panelist Mo Rocca made a statement regarding his "hate" of handmade sweaters an that they were itchy. After being flooded with e-mails from the knitting world and Ravelry.com. Mo issued an apology.

Go to the show's rundown page, scroll down to Panel Round Two and click on that. In true WWDTM fashion it was hilarious. Poor Mo, its not nice to upset people who carry around the pointy sticks

My backyard......and a hat

2009-02-27T20:36:00.001-08:00

Now is my favorite time of the year to be living in Arizona. Its been sunny and bright, so much so that when there is a gray and overcast day it comes as a relief from all the brightness that inhabits Central Arizona.

This time of year we are usually reaping the harvestfrom our "Winter" Garden, that we planted back in the fall. After seeding the last October, the chickens got into the garden and dined on carrot, sunflower, and peas (seeds). There isn't a lot of produce. Last week, the hubby patched the holes in the garden fence and instruced the children tothe need to keep the chickens out , and they pseeded again for a Spring/Summer garden.

For now the Lemon Tree is weighed down with lots of lemons, and is also starting to blossom for next years fruit. Lemon trees are amazing to me how they can do that all the time. We are picking the fruit and sharing it with whoever will take and enjoy free fresh lemons.

The Almond trees are blossoming:

Petunias are doing wonderfully well this year:

and our hens are giving us 4 - 5 eggs a day, this is plenty for our family an also gives us a little to share. I know there is more than 5 eggs in this picture, the children forgot to check for eggs the night before.

and there is always knitting. I knit two hats for Sydneyknits' hat drive for the oncology unit where here husband was treated.

The patterns I knit were Felicity and Odessa. Below is pictured Odessa w/o beads

Having knit this once without beads, helps me feel more comfortable with the pattern and next time I will knit it with beads.

Its Hip to be a Square

2009-02-14T17:53:00.000-08:00

I love most music. I would listen to it all the time when I was going through my teenaged- young adult years. When I was in the Nursing Progam at the college my casstte player would keep me company and help me stay awake as I drove back an forth from my home to the school and hospitals where I did my clinicals. Whitney Houstan would cry with me as I experienced my first heartache, while Huey Lewis and the News would keep my spirits up when I was feeling discouraged with school, or my mom was very sick. I loved Huey Lewis and the News, I was even asked on a date to go see the group in concert. I still love listening to their music, even when Sesame street parodies it

I have been working on some "swatches" trying different stitch patterns. I use the plural form because I made more than one less than three. These were just an experiment and will probably send them to a friend who is collecting squares to make blankets.
Both are made from Berroco Nostalgia
L: brown
Reversible cable pattern
r: Red
Stitch: Gull Lace pattern

I have also been practicing,swatching whatever you want to call it with mitered squares. I really love the Sock Blankie by Shelley Kang, would really like to make one too. I just can't seem to get the rythm of the mitered square. I'm doing better than I was last year at this time.

My First Square

made with leftovers from Unique Sheep Verve. The finished blocking size was 4"

Noro Kureyon

needles: US#1

I loved knitting with the Kureyon sock yarn...after I skeined the ball, soaked and, wound it up again. The bigger square measure approximately 6" the smaller one are 3". It took several tries to match the right needles with the right yarn to get these sizes. They are fun to make and have thrown me off course from my other goal knitting. They have been blocked and ends woven in. Theya re going to be put away until I finish some other committments.

Happy Valentines Day!

Green Tuesday

2009-02-03T16:41:00.000-08:00

Mom is a big fan of podcasts. She loves listening to Meghan over on the Stitch it Podcast. Meghan talks alot about " SPINNING! , knitting, and a few of her"favorite things" . In an effort to live a "greener" life she "dryer balls". A non-toxic way to make your clothes fluffy and static free in the dryer, and alternative to dryer/fabric softener sheets. Mom expressed an interest intyring some, but was not interester in buying the PVC ones available in the retail stores, and she really didn't feel like poutting forth the effort to make the wool ones. Enter on loving daughter who needs a good Valentines present to send to her mom. A daughter with a lot of wool who livesw in a climate that doesn't require a lot of wool.

Today I made wool dryer balls, using this tutorial It is a learning process. I am going to send the better felted ones to my mom and keep four for me, and see if they really work.

Monkey Socks and Muffins

2009-01-30T08:35:00.000-08:00

I finished my dd's pair of "Micro Monkey Socks" . It is a downsized version of Cookie A's Monkey Socks. She loves them and in fact wore them for two days in a row (ew!). These are made out of the left over yarn from the Be Mine Socks. After a couple days of wear these litle nubs appeared on one of the socks. I was happy that they weren't ruined. A little disappointed in the yarn, but also I realize that this is what wool yarn does, and it is fix-able.

I freaked a little . As I am a novice sock knitter, little things like this do that to me. When I got brave i clipped the pills off. The fabric underneath was still intact, Phew!

I needed 2 dozen muffins for a children's activity tomorrow at the church building. Being the addicts we are in this family, blueberry or bannana-nut was going to do. I knew that I needed to make Chocolate-chocolate chip muffins. I found this recipe on the food network web-site. I think they turned out rather well, better than I evermade with a mix. i doubled the recipe and ended up with 2 dozen regular sized muffins, and 2 dozen mini-muffins.

Yum!

A Kind of Whine

2009-01-29T10:18:00.000-08:00

I don't know what is is about "Winter" here in the southwest. The weather has been beautiful, with clear blue skies for most of the week. Still I feel "antsy".

This morning I baby sat and looked at afghan square patterns. While I did this I downloaded new episodes of my favorite podcasts (see side bar for some of them). After 'synching" my i-pod, I started to listen toe Doubleknit, it stop just a few seconds in to the episode. SO I started listening to Knaked Knits, same thing. Trashed and then downloaded the episodes again., re-synched my ipod. I check my i-pod.....no podcasts on there at all. I'm an addict, I need my podcasts, I have to have them.

Cut to the end. I had to reset my ipod and then go through the long process of reloading my stuff.

I should quit whining. At least I have an ipod that works, the sun is out and its a beautiful day today.

"I'll wear it my way".....

2009-01-24T17:29:00.000-08:00

I had started this sweater last August. Plenty of time, I thought , to finish it for A's birthday. Life and knitters add got in the way of finishing. Then the holidays. This weekend I finished it.
During the course of knitting it. I would have A try it on. At one point on the first sleeve I wanted to make sure I was knitting it long enough. A was so worried because she had one long sleeve and the other one was still short. I tried to reassure her that eventually both sleeves would be long. To model the finished item she insisted that one sleeve be rolled up. The other one was fine. I swear that these are both the same length, Silly child.
A's Bolero
Pattern: Children's Neckdown Bolero #275
Yarn: Lion Brand Cotton-ease in the Azaela colorway.
Needle US # 7 and 6

I liked the yarn my only problem with it was there were a couple of very small spots where the dye didn't take and the yarn was a little splitty. But all in all it was nice to work with , has a nice drape to it, and is perfect for the climate here in AZ .

This completes 1 of the three goals for the 2009 Year Long Gift Along group Quarterly Challenge.
The quarterly Challenge is to: The projects I have chosen for this challenge are in parentheses next to the requirements.

Finish an UFO that has been lingering (A's sweater)
Start and complete a new project (baby blanket)
Make something for myself (Mr. GreenJeans)

I love the motivation I get from the YGAL Ravelry group. I usually over commit myself, but I have been getting more items and gifts made than I have before.

First FO's of 2009

2009-01-13T07:54:00.000-08:00

Yeah! I finished a pair of socks in two weeks or less. I'm not talking about worsted weight anklet socks . No these are fingering weight, heel flap, gusseted, cabled socks. Unfortunatly I can't get them over my man sized feet...but thay are done. As part of the 2009 Sock Knit Along Group on Ravlery. The first socks of the year had to be pink or red. The specs are

Pattern: Be Mine by Melissa Morgan-Oakes
Yarn: Crash into Ewe Jewel Collection with Silver
Colorway: Pink Tourmaline
Size needles us 1.5
They are drying right now and I will take better picture later.

My 5yo dd stsrts up pre-school again today. Though not until this afternoon. I've tried explaining that it doesn't matter how early we eat luch. School still won't start until 12pm. She is dressed and is wearing her backpack already to go, with 3 more hours until it starts. sigh

A father's love...

2009-01-04T18:17:00.000-08:00

My husband is a pretty tolerant, accepting, loving man. Especially when it comes to our daughters. Let me tell you why.....

We went back home to Utah for Christmas, I call this home because it is where both my husband and I were raised and we have lots of family there. A much loved teacher overheard that we were going to visit the SLC area and she told my daughters..."Make sure you go see the school where High School Musical was filmed". The day before we left UT for AZ my dear patient husband took the younger kids to East High and took their pictures. Then he and Grandpa took them to the planetarium in SLC.

While they did this, Mom and I visted 4 of the LYSs in the SLC area. It was a lot of fun. We shopped at:
The Wool Cabin
Kamilles
Three Wishes
Unraveled Sheep
All wonderful very nice shops. They had at least some things that I can't get at my LYSs here in AZ. When I get around to taking pictures of my purchases I will share them

My mom also gave me some fiber. a few ounces of Targhee roving and a handpainted silk cap. Its lovely but I don't know how to spin silk. Time to learn something new.

Last post of 2008

2008-12-31T13:06:00.000-08:00

This is going to be a quick post with no exciting links or pics. Yesterday we returned from our trip to visit family for Christmas. I got to see my beautiful niece, I ran into a cousin I hadn't seen fro 5 years, and my kids got to play in the snow. It was magical experience for them. Actually the 18yo was plenty tired of the white stuff after he spent the good part of the day shoveling driveways abd walks for my parents and then some neighbors.

As the year winds up and I look at what things we have done as a family and me personally.

I hope that friends (cyber and IRL) and family have a happy healthy new year.

Final Knit Christmas Presents

2008-12-18T17:26:00.000-08:00

Being the lazy sort. I copied my post from the Holiday KAL/CAL and posted it here too. Okay maybe i'm not lazy, maybe I am using my time wisely....

My latest gifts.....

The Caroline Bag a Christmas present for my mother. She likes pockets so I lined the bag and added a bunch of pockets to the inside.

The Felted Clogs Are for my mother-in-law. I took this picture before I sewed the suede bottoms on. After I sewed them on I wrapped them up and forgot to take a picture of the finished project.

Having "sew" much fun

2008-12-02T07:42:00.000-08:00

Sunday evening I pulled out the sewing machine to work on a a project for the swim team. The team captains wanted the coaches names embroidered on some deck chairs, for a coaches gift. I do my machine embroidery free hand and the results are not always polished perfect,, but after taking off the cover and practicing a bit I think the chairs turned out well. They are now with the team captains ready for their presentation tonight at the awards banquet. I will try and take a picture tonight.

Between loads of laundry yesterday I was able to fit in a baby quilt. It is actually more crib size. I fell in love with the fabric when I saw it put together at my local quilt shop. After the top was put together a couple of months ago I wasn't as in love with it as I wanted to be.
My dh informed me last week that his office was going to have a baby shower for one of his co-workers. I pulled out the top dug through the stash for batting and a back. " ta-daa" a very cheery, sunny, bright baby quilt.

I most excited because I didn't have to make any trips to the store to finish it. thank heavens for the fabric stash.

Is selfless knitting selfish?

2008-12-01T11:53:00.000-08:00

Yeah its December....am I ready for the Holidays? Not quite. NEver have been cokpletely ready. As Chirstmas draws closer, iusually throw my hands up in the air and say to everyone around me, "What doesn't get done, doesn't get done and its okay."
It didn't make it to the Charity Knit Night at TempeYarn and Fiber like I wanted to. I did take in a bunch of hats for the donation box.

My contributions:

And,

My new favorite hat pattern is the Boy Hat. I'm not the fastest knitter so this is good for me.
Not pictured were two crocheted preemie hats. This charity knitting is in part due to the Year-Long Gift-A-long group on Ravelry. The Quarterly Challenge was to pick a Charity and knit for it. I chose a local chapter of Project Linus, and wanted to focus on items for preemies. There was a need for bigger items as well. I find the charity knitting to lift my spirits when I am down, and resolve to always have something on the needles for a charity.

Ravelry Purse Swap

2008-11-28T21:37:00.000-08:00

It has been a busy month and the blog is overdue for an update.

I participated in the "Holiday Purse Swap" over on Ravelry . I had sent the package I had put together to my swap partner, in Texas, and she sent me one in return

Here is what arrived at my house on Monday afternoon.

Everything unwrapped, I will admit something just seemed wrong about opening "presents" before Christmas

Thank you swap partner, I seem to get the best swap partners .

My dd had fun with the package too. "We Heart bubble wrap."

life unraveling around me...

2008-11-20T17:52:00.000-08:00

......or how Meghan from the Stitchit podcast started me down the path of reclaiming/recycling/repurposing yarn from thrift store sweaters.

It isn't very easy to find 100% wool sweaters in the thrift stores of Arizona. I imagine most people who live here are like me, they found a sweater the liked years ago and because it only gets cold enough here one or two months a year to actually wear a sweater...the sweaters hardly get used and last forever.

I did find a little gem of a sweater. A jCrew brand Cotton/ Cashmere/nylon blend. All the seams were sewn not serged, and picking the seams apart was a real dream have all but the back frogged washed and skeined up. I have an urge to knit a hat and scarf combo out of this soft stuff. Now I just need some time

Latest KAl/Cal Entry

2008-11-02T21:02:00.000-08:00

Here are some finished gifts and my latest entries into Yarn Thing and Knaked knits podcasts Holiday KAl/Cal

Top L: Frosty Morning Fingerless Gloves for my niece; R- Magical Fingerless Mitts from Sheknits.com. for #2 son
Bottom L: Cabled Footies from the book One Skein ;R- Men's Toe-up Work Sock with a Twist for my dad.

Creepy Cute

2008-10-20T10:02:00.000-07:00

I love the book Creepy Cute Crochet by Christen Haden. All the patterns are basically the same boddy , head and arms. How you detail them is what gives each creature its unique personality. I am "hooked" on amigarumi any way. Above is picture the Ninja and Cthulhu. Time permitting I am wanting to make the bride and groom.

Sign me up

2008-10-10T22:25:00.000-07:00

I'm such a joiner, now I have to wait and see if they will let me in the 2008 Holiday KAL/CAL

Off my needles #1 sock from the Ram club kit August order. The men's toe-up work sock with a twist. I am really enjoying the pattern and knitting with the yarn. YOu knit the pattern with two different yarn held together and worked as one. For a ginormous foot...it is going pretty quickly. I learned the Sewn bind off the other night as I bound off the sock...pretty cool! I'm one sock closer to completing Socktoberfest