KnitOut in Austin! October 13th 2007

Hey everyone!

The Lone Star State Knitters are hosting the 2007 Knit out and Crochet too on October 13th, 2007 in Austin Texas. Here is the site for more info 2007 Knit Out


It will be held at the Borders at SouthPark Meadows and should be lots of fun! There will be free lessons for anyone who wants to learn or just come and hang out with a great bunch of ladies and bring your projects!

At this moment in time I'm not positive I will be able to make it, but I am going to try my hardest. With a trip, a move, and a couple of loved ones in bad health things are a little uncertain at the moment. If there is any way I can be there, I will!

If you aren't a member of LSSK and thinking of going email me! They are some wonderful and fun ladies and have skills of all levels. AND, hello we are talking AUSTIN! What better excuse to make a road trip!

It's a Boy!

A bouncing 82lb 4 year old! Meet Kodi...



Well...we aren't sure how hold he is exactly but are told around four or five years. He doesn't really act that old though, he can be pretty playful!

I adopted/rescued him on September 20th. My sister and I drove to meet the owner and Kodi with the intention of not bringing him home with us that day. With all the craziness that is our life right now and the possible pending funeral we just thought it would be better to wait. However, once we met this sweet boy we could tell he needed some immediate care and attention. He was well loved, but I think his owner just did not know how to take care of him. As you can see, he is entirely too skinny



Yes, he is the same breed as Bonnie my sister's dog. He is a Komondor and like Bonnie I will keep his hair short and not corded. He has a few physical issues and special needs that we are working on, but just in the short time we've had him I think he has improved. He is already fitting right in with the family, and much to my sisters dismay prefers to sleep on her couch. He will stay at my sister's through the first week in October while we are out of town, then I'll get to bring him home!

He really thinks he is a lap dog because he wants to be in your lap or practically laying on you all the time. He loves affection and can be a bit demanding if you are ignoring him! The poor guy has been shuffled around a lot in his life but he has the sweetest temperament and behaves very well considering! Hopefully he'll be very happy in his new home with me and Lady and the cats.

Yea for hand knit presents!

My package arrived this Saturday from the Knit Knack One Skein Wonder exchange! I didn't get to pick it up until Sunday morning and I admit I did tear into it in the car!

Regan my awesome exchange buddy made me these pretty wrist warmers! I love them so! I really have been wanting a pair because the ones I have were my first attempt with some cheap acrylic and got used a lot last year and they didn't hold up very well.



She also sent me a What Happens in Canada Stays In Canada t-shirt with some yummy snacks!


Thanks so much Regan! You Rock! This was a much needed pick me up this weekend!

Calm before the storm

To sum up why I haven't been posting much lately this is the best way I can describe things. I'm juggling many balls right now and they are all up in the air. At the moment they are all suspended up there and I'm just waiting for them to start dropping.

We are awaiting the birth of the newest member of the family. We are also awaiting the passing of my aunt. There is nothing else they can do for her and it's just a matter of days. It's horrible beyond words.

We (my sister and I) also have the starting of a new business. This involves much waiting and "red tape" so to speak. Relocating our current business in a VERY short period of time. Being out of the state for a week for training very soon. These things are exciting though (maybe a wee bit stressful) and I can't wait for a couple of months until we are farther along!

Oddly enough though, I'm calm. For the moment. I'm not sure why really. I guess because it won't help to be otherwise. Don't get me wrong each day can be a bit of an emotional roller coaster but over all I've been pretty calm about it all. Possibly because I know it is going to get a lot worse before it gets better.

I'm terribly behind on everything. Emails, posting, the blogs I read and not to mention knitting. I'm trying as hard as I can to catch up!

Longing for Fall

I am SO ready for fall. I am beyond tired of heat and humidity. Not to mention keeping my toes all painted and pretty for sandals and flip flops. I'm ready to be able to open my windows and break out my boots and pants and scarves! I am definitely a fall kinda girl. Which...I realize that compared to most places, Texas doesn't have much of a fall season, but I'll take what I can get. I really started noticing it about a month ago...I just start to get this...FEELING for lack of a better word and it happens every year. I start feeling the urge to craft and make things (even more so than usual) and work jig saw puzzles (a winter tradition my Mother instilled when I was young...but something I haven't done since I took up knitting). I start switching all of my scented plug-in thingy's to apple cinnamon. I want to drink coffee and tea and I start buying new creamers and flavors and it's still too damn hot to drink them!

To be fair I enjoy winter (especially the temperatures) and spring (everything growing and green and it smells sooooo nice and fresh!), but fall. I LONG for fall. In collage I always had the hardest time going to classes in the fall. I just wanted to be outside enjoying it or inside and being lazy but not in a class room. I used to decorate for fall too. The office mainly and when I sold Southern Living At Home I really went all out for fall.

SIGH. One of these years I really want to see the east coast in the fall. I will be spending a couple of weeks in the Virginia/DC area in either October or November. So hopefully I'll get to enjoy some real fall weather!

Actual FO's!!!

I have actual finished objects to show ya'll! Can you believe it?

Behold, the Seafoam Shawl from One Skein Wonders (finished but not blocked yet)



Thanks to my friend Deb for the picture assistance of holding it up for me.
Here is a close up that shows the color a little better. This shawl is for an exchange and will be getting mailed next week to its new home. Oh, and yes this is the shawl that was in my knitting bag that I made the EMT's put in the ambulance with me lol.




I've also cranked out a few of these little cell phone cozies also from One Skein Wonders


I have no idea why...I just decided I wanted to try one and it was done so fast so I started a second...and you get the picture.

I've started my first attempt at a purse/bag whatever you want to call it. Once there is a little more to it, I'll post pictures and the pattern etc...

Thanks for all the well wishes! I'm doing fine, still having a few headaches and some dizzy spells. The Doctor said that could last for up to six weeks so it's not anything I'm worried about. I do still have a knot on my head though lol.

I'll leave you with a picture of one of my house guests (Bonnie Bell). She looks a little unhappy here...I think it's because it was about a 200 degrees outside. Dixie doesn't sit still long enough for me to take a picture of her. I think they will probably be staying with me for at least another two weeks. Their Mama really misses them!

Ok...one more AWWW

No Knitting on account of Mild Concussion

What is black and blue and green and red and sore all over? That would be me. I was in a car accident this past weekend and am quite colorful at the moment. I'm ok, I do have a mild concussion so I'm still fuzzy headed and often have a killer headache. My left arm is lovely shades of black and green bruises and a HUGE welt of red. In the ER they insisted on giving me a tetanus shot, which I have had a bad reaction to. I've had flu like symptoms and fever and my arm has been red, swollen and painful. This added to the soreness from being hit by a big ass Lincoln, not so much fun. Seriously the lady's car was a boat! I don't know many details because I never saw her. Just BAM and the car was spinning and I was holding my head trying to contain the explosion going on inside it. That whole seeing stars thing? No...it's more like a huge sunburst! Then afterwards the kind people who stopped to help wouldn't let me get out of my car so I didn't see any of the damage. Probably a good thing because I was knocked senseless for a bit. Then when I came to I promptly burst into tears because I was in MY MOTHERS CAR. Her car that she just paid off 3 months ago. Yeah.

What I can't get over is how NICE everyone was. The witnesses who stopped and helped me. The fireman, EMT's, and even the police officer. Because of the huge goose egg emerging on my head they insisted I put on a neck brace in case of a neck injury and strapped me to one of those flat boards. That was not pleasant and didn't help my nerves but the EMT's were so kind and tried so very hard to get me to calm down.

Only the knitters will appreciate this: They wouldn't let me gather up my stuff except hold my purse. However I wouldn't let the ambulance leave until they got my knitting bag out of the car! Now, they didn't KNOW it was a knitting bag but still. A shawl was in there that I've been working on and is almost done, I was not letting it out of my sight! :)

So I've been resting and haven't really wanted to knit. You KNOW I'm hurt if I don't want to knit. Plus being a little fuzzy and dizzy doesn't make for good knitting.

Everyone drive safe out there and for those in the emergency field: Fire fighters, EMT's, etc...YOU ROCK!! and thanks!

M.I.A.

Just thought I would check in since I haven't posted in quite some time. Where have I been? I've been around and doing tons of knitting. Sadly I've frogged most of it but I have been knitting.

At the beginning of the month an old friend asked me to dog sit for her while she went out of town for a few days. She has never left her pup for more than 2 days and didn't want to board her. I love dogs, right? So sure! Annie is a cutie but let me tell you, this dog WORE ME OUT! Talk about energy.



After being gone for several days it was really nice to be back home. I think I was missed.

This is the cat who for at least FIVE years has had nothing to do with me. When I got home she followed me around meowing at me and when I sat down to catch up on email the stinker jumped up and plopped down on my keyboard. She even, in a very very rare moment of affection, stuck her head up under my chin and gave me a little nuzzle! I think someone has given me an Abby impostor!



Also, before you start to think I'm a bad mama and over feed this fat kitty...I do not. I feed her according to my vet, a weight loss food and carefully measured amounts. She is not loosing weight but we will be looking into switching food again soon. SIGH.

Well, it has been a crazy week in the mortgage biz...and I it doesn't look like it will be getting any better. I'm about to leave for the week though and drive my Mom up to Dallas. My aunt is in the hospital and isn't doing very well. They may be sending her home this weekend but really, I don't think she is going to be with us much longer. Her heart is very weak and they just had to shock it to get it back into rhythm again. I'm not looking forward to what is to come, but thankfully we've been able to keep her with us a couple of more years than anyone expected.

So have a good weekend! Hug your loved ones to ok?

I offer you a distraction?

In order to distract from the utterly boring blogging I've been doing lately...I offer you

Yarny Goodness!



One of those fun pinkish/orage skeins will be for my as yet undecided project for the One Skein Exchange over on Knit Knack. I have no guesses as to who is knitting for me this time. My buddy and I have a lot in common so I can't wait to start knitting for her!




And...ahhhh....say it with me. Malabrigo. Isn't it just beautiful? It's so pretty all twisted up that way I don't know if I can bare to knit it. Hehe...I'm sure I'll manage though.




It's almost the weekend!!

Loose Ends...

I have been feeling...at loose ends lately. Restless. At least, that is the best way to describe it that I can think of. When I'm home I flip through books but can't settle down to read (Deathly Hallows was the exception). I channel surf and find nothing interesting. I've stood looking at my movie collection hoping something will jump out and interest me so I can at least listen to it while I knit. I sit down to knit and...well I think you probably get the picture.

Sadly...I'm the same way at work.

Do you ever feel like this? I can't pinpoint any particular reason why I should be feeling this way. Usually when this happens it's winter and dreary and I kinda blame it on that.

Hmmm....anyone got a cure for an unexpected case of apathy?

No words...

(No worries...no spoilers here)

I started Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows at 8:30 Saturday night and finished at about 6:30am Sunday Morning. I haven't stayed up all night in years! Around 3:30 I thought my eyeballs were going to fall out and I had to break out the eye drops. I'm sure it was just from marathon reading and not crying like a loon.

It is a WONDERFUL book, and it answers many of the questions and mysteries we've been wondering about. It's funny and sad, and thrilling and just....lovely. No words I can type will do it justice.

You know, I don't do sad as a general rule. Sad books or movies. It will be a while before I can re-read the book again, it was a bit of an emotional roller coaster...at least for me.

There are two things that just amaze me. First the wide spread interest in the series of books. I was out of town on Saturday and every where I went (yarn stores, grocery stores) I heard people talking about the book. Secondly, how difficult it must have been to have written that book. The Deathly Hallows is PACKED with action, characters and giving us the answers we've been waiting for.

J.K. Rowling did it brilliantly!

Order of the Phoenix

Saw the movie last night!

If you haven't read the book there may be spoilers below. I don't normally review movies and am by no means a movie critic. There are probably good reviews out there...below are just my thoughts on the movie.

First of all let me just say that if you have not read the books but have watched the movies I think you will enjoy it. For the movie fans it is probably a good movie to go see. It's fast moving with good action and even more visually appealing than the previous movies in my opinion.

For the Harry Potter nerd or obsessive fan. This movie does one thing, it gives us our HP fix. I've heard a lot of people say the 5th book was their least favorite. I am probably in that category. It was dark and seemed to just beat a dead horse so to speak. So I was both anxious to see the movie and not so anxious to see it.

The minute the movie started and the theme started though I was so glad I was there. I can't say it was bad because...its HP and it is based on the book. Just like there isn't a bad chocolate :)

Like you may have read on other blogs...it moves incredibly fast. That, I think is my biggest problem with it. It seems as if they tried to keep the movie short and they tried to touch on almost everything...and as a result they touch on everything so briefly you don't get a good feel for the emotions and don't get the dark feel that the book had. Yes they changed some stuff. To me it seemed they changed more things in this one than the previous movies. However, to be honest I haven't seen the other movies in a while. They left out quite a bit too. There was no mention of quiditch at all or Ron making the team. No mention of Ron and Hermione being prefects. Dobby wasn't in it and wasn't the one that showed them the Room of Requirement. Some things left out were pretty plot important. For example Snapes memory of being teased at school when he was young. The prophecy is revealed to Harry and in front of others and not by Dumbledore as in the book. Dumbledore didn't explain things to Harry as he did in the book.

Despite all of that I did enjoy the movie and would even go see it again. The lady that played Umbridge was excellent. You really just want to punch her face in lol. Her office just cracked me up though, it was crazy and awesome. Actually all of the performances were wonderful. The fight scene in the end was spectacular! They did an amazing job of capturing Hogwarts and the grounds and the costumes. Visually the movie was just spectacular.

I realize the book is huge and is packed with important things. I know it can't all be included in the movie and everyone has their ideas of what should be in it or not. The best part of the night was at the end of the movie when Fudge sees Voldemort and says "He's Back". Half of the audience said "DUH!" out loud and that cracked me up.

All in all there is no way I can recommend anyone NOT see the movie.

Oh and for you knitters...they have some pretty cool knit wear! I've read a couple of blogs already buzzing about them, particularly Hermione's hoodie.

Nope, no knitting here

Not since my hissy fit Sunday night with the MS3. Honestly I haven't really had time anyway. I HAVE been thinking about knitting. I've been thinking about fast and fun winter scarves. Considering it was 90 degrees by 8:00am this morning I have NO idea why I would be thinking about scarves. Except the general consensus this week is that I've either lost my mind or I'm very close to it. I think the need to knit mindless things comes from the chaos that is going on right now. Ya'll know. Knit Therapy. At least that is what I like to call it.

Here, cute kitty picture.




Yes she is sitting in my lap and leaning back to look at me upside down. I'm sure it had nothing to do with the unlady like language coming out of my mouth. Ahem.

Peachy Keen Jelly Bean!

A rather heavy burden for a tiny tree no?



However they weren't nearly ripe enough to pick, so I left them a while longer. Then in passing my living room window I notice a cute little squirrel. Scooter scampers up into my peach tree and RIPS OFF a small limb peach and all and runs to a bigger tree to eat his prize.

Hmmm. A few hours later I see him running across the yard again with a large peach in his mouth. Now a peach here and a pear there is ok. I don't mind sharing at all. Seems to me this little stinker is getting a little too greedy though. So out I go and picked two large bowls of peaches.



Way more peaches than I expected this year since there are only two peach trees left. The rest died last year and were pulled up.



So I've been giving them away as fast as I can and last night I peeled as many as I could and bagged them up to freeze them. It doesn't look like my pears are going to make it this year. They look very sad indeed since there are NO LEAVES on the tree what so ever. Too much rain this year (which I am NOT complaining about).

The really cool part are the butterflies! There are butterflies EVERY where around the tree. Many in the tree nibbling on the peaches that have already been nibbled on by other bugs and such. They just dance and flutter all around me when I'm out there picking peaches. Very cool!


peach cobbler anyone?

Ah the sounds of summer

Outside frogs and crickets, inside the air conditioner and hairballs. Yes, it is gross but for cat owners a reality.


Meanwhile...back at the house of cat hair, we are hiding inside staying cool. My Mother, ever the optimist (that was heavy sarcasm there for those that don't know my Mother) walked down the hall of the office on Friday and proclaimed "Good News! The rain is gone but now we are screwed because it's going to be hotter 'n hell!" Which oddly is about only the third time in my life my Mother has used the word "screwed". It is just as well that is hot today. It will dry things out a bit which is greatly needed. Also it appears no one is feeling in tip top shape so we might as well stay inside. Well, ok Abby is feeling fine and letting us all know it. The rest of us...not so much. Lil Bit has had some hair ball issues so she is feeling extra cuddly today and that is fine with me. Lady isn't feeling well from her second round of heart worm treatment so we've all already had a nap today.

Yesterday I had to go to one of those pet food places where it's ok to bring your pets in. I swear there were no less than 15 people in there with new puppies. PUPPIES! I swear the puppy fever came back with a vengeance. I just keep telling myself...can't afford it, can't afford it. I still have a $600 vet bill for Lady, so there is no way I can afford a puppy. Sigh. So no puppy but I can dream about soft wiggly furballs full of energy with cold noses that like to snuggle up and sleep with you.

Meanwhile I'm seriously thinking of going back to bed to curl up with said furballs. Especially since it appears we are about to have a storm. Guess Mom was wrong about the rain lol.

Hope everyone has a lovely Sunday afternoon!

Ramblings of a Mad Knitter

Random musings while late night knitting on the MS3


1. Lace knitting with a chart and tv don't mix

2. Life lines are the coolest invention since salad in a bag!

3. Mp3 players/ipods are def in top 10 too

4. I can surprisingly concentrate on a chart while listening to music & singing along.

5. The cats have grown used to my singing. The dog...not so much.

6. I'm loving the lace knitting so far

7. When you get tired and can't focus your eyes... That would be when it's time to stop trying to read a chart.

8. What does it say when you are in the mood to listen to both sappy love songs from your teen years and salsa music. Particularly when these are not types of music normally on your play list?

9. Note to self pick up non waxy dental floss for lifelines. Thread works but is a pain in the butt.

10. I wonder if I sold both cats if I'd have enough to buy the knit picks options set? Nah probably not.

11. Why has Maroon 5 not come out with a new cd? (Which today I found out they HAVE duh)

12. I am not going to think about the fact that every customer we have has suddenly decided they want to close next week. Knit knit just keep knitting.

Lazy weekend with cats and lace

This is mostly what my weekend consisted of.



Sitting on the love seat with at least one cat in my lap or on my legs. With both cats I had to prop my chart up on the back of the couch, with one I sat a cushion in my lap (slightly on top of the cat) with my chart. I only frogged the MS3 3 maybe 4 times before getting my head in the game and concentrating.

If I did happen to get up for any reason then this occured.



No, I don't think you understand the cuteness...here have a closer look.




That right there is a brat. While she is overcoming some of her issues with being touched or looked at...she seems to be developing new issues. Such as laying next to my head in the mornings meowing loudly. There are others....but we won't discuss those just yet.

Hope Everyone had a relaxing weekend!

Lil Bit says this lace nonsense needs to stop. Mama gets mad when I head butt her while she's trying to count and that whole chart thing takes up my space in her lap!

Can you not feel the disapproval?

Helping Furry Friends and Knitters

Do you read the Yarnagogo blog? If not I highly recommend it! If you do, then you know about the amazing story of Digit and his return after four months. Dude I bawled when she thought he was dead. I bawled when he came back. I bawled reading all the comments of people donating $ to Rachael to help with Digit's vet bills in honor of their favorite kitty cats.

The story is enough to make you want to help. However, facing my own rather large vet bill at the moment I can really relate to how Rachael and Lala feel. I have so been there. Panicking because you know you don't have the money to do what needs done to save your babies. You do it anyway, because you'll do anything for them. This bill for them is going to be in the thousands...few people are prepared for that.

So if you can spare a buck or two please do so. Even though it isn't needed, Rachael is having a drawing for some lovely sweaters she has knit.

Ericka at RedShirtKnitting
is also having a drawing to help Digit! Check it out and get a chance to win your own Jane Hat!

Now I'm gonna go hug my kitty (the one that will let me) and knit on my MS3.

Hope everyone has a wonderful weekend full of love and kisses from those that you love and love you...furry or not :)

Clearly I did not think this thru...

So...joiner that I am, I too have joined the Mystery Stole 3

I ordered some Malabrigo Merino Lace weight in the Black Forest color way. It's more green than the black it looks in the online pictures but that's ok. It's lovely yummy yummy yarn. Isn't getting yarn in the mail just the coolest thing ever? I also ordered some knit picks circs since I didn't have any small circulars to knit the stole on.

What? You want to see? Oh fine



Trust me it looks oh so much yummier in person!

Now the not thinking this little project all the way through part. So I now have 1200 yards of this love lace yarn. Know what I DON"T have? A yarn winder. No problem you say? Wind it by hand? Ok first of all 12oo yards? *sigh* I suppose I could. However. Yes, HOWEVER. This oh so lovely yarn tangles and knots if you so much as breath on it heavily. Ask me how I know? So this will be a challenge. I'm guessing this means it may not frog easily either. Yikes.

The good news is that I did do a small swatch on it for the MS3. It does look pretty spiffy if I do say so myself. (sorry no pic).

So...I'm off to do some serious (but careful) winding. Wish me luck!

Still Knitting and Evil Pink Baby Yarn

See I promised a knitting post today and here I am! As long as the storm doesn't knock me offline we're all set!


So...I have been knitting. But FIRST!




My most wonderful scarf exchange buddy from the Knit Knack Scarf exchange, Karen sent me that! It is sooooo soft and cuddly! I can't wait for cold weather so I can wear it! She also sent me some yummy wool from her trip to Ireland! How cool is that??

My current drag around project is a simple garter stitch shawl made out of some crochet cotton thread. It (the color) caught my eye at my local craft store in the clearance bin. I picked it up thinking dishcloths or something. However one night I looked over at it sitting on my desk and thought. Shawl.

and then we have this...

Looks all sweet and innocent sitting there doesn't it? It's Lion Brand Baby Soft for the baby blanket I started. I'm on about row 9 (yes that is ROW nine. Not the 9th repeat). It has not started off well. It was my fault to be honest. I should have wound the yarn up into a center pull ball to start with. I didn't, however, and after much swearing and hair pulling and something that looked even WORSE than this

I thought it needed a little time out. So that ball of cute soft pink yarn is still sitting there on the cedar chest that serves as my coffee table and that pile of yarn barf is as well. We are both thinking about our actions before we decide if we shall continue or not. Pretty pink yarn is also a little on the splitty side...but it seemed to be getting a little better...we'll see.

Up next! The craze that is MS3!