It's A Brand New Year

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!


I always look forward to New Year's Eve as well as New Year's Day! I love the thought of a brand new year....all the possibilities.....enjoying this last holiday before the new year sets in!

We generally go out with friends for New Year's Eve, in year's past meeting at a local restaurant but this year deciding to meet for a "pot luck" dinner.....which was so nice!!! Lot's of good food and good time spent with the best of friends!!! Of course I couldn't walk in with just my portion of the food.....I had to dig out my favorite "hat" to wear!! LOL!!

The gorgeous shawl is the one that Becky brought me a few weeks ago. We missed our Christmas party this year so I was tickled to have the opportunity of New Year's Eve to wear it!!

I always like to spend the last few minutes before 2007 "officially" gets here by reflecting on the past year, both good and bad and making resolutions for the new year.....which generally contain some of the same ones each year.......get organized, lose weight.....yada, yada, yada!!! I'm thinking maybe this year I should make NO resolutions and see if I have better luck this year!! LOL!!!

I am grateful for so many things, way too many to list!!! I'm thankful for the new friends I have made this past year through this blog as well as others!!! What a wonderful opportunity!!! I look forward to 2007!!!!!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!

Christmas In Closing

Here are a couple of great books my Mother gave me for Christmas! I love the Southern Living cookbooks! I used to collect them yearly but soon discovered they took up WAY too much room, so I donated them among friends and the library and will now limit myself to collect them one every 10 years, starting with the year I was married.

Mother also gave me this GREAT knitting book! (The second knitting book she has given me that I had never seen!).....I love them all!!



I did manage to snap a pic of Max opening his Christmas present.....Gracie always gets a sparkly ball but getting a pic of her would require a video! LOL!!










AND......napping with his new toy!













I know most folks start diets in January.....come to think of it so do I.....but I allow the treat of Saturday morning Belgium Waffles with Maple Syrup (when time allows)......so I made my annual pilgrimage to Williams Sonoma for their waffle mix.....which after trying every waffle mix on the market have come to the conclusion that it is the absolute BEST.....worth EVERY penny!! The Maple syrup is really good too and I love the bottle! While I was there I picked up myself a snappy red hand mixer!! (On sale!!). I don't know HOW I have managed all these years without a hand mixer!!
















I managed to finish the Irish Hiking scarf for my husband's nephew who is in Montreal for the New Year's Holiday....knit with the Cascade 220 Tweed in a great dark mossy green color. I also knit another scarf for his friend in the Cascade 220 Tweed in a great dark tobacco/brown color. I wanted something with a pattern but quick to knit so I adapted a "warshrag" pattern and was GOING to post a pic but blogger won't allow me to post anymore pictures! I'll see if I can post later today. I also bought some really pretty, soft, pink Alpaca to make a scarf for a nephew's girlfriend to wear while walking between classes at Auburn......but I ran out of time so I'll have to get this in the mail as soon as I get it made.

AND.....I have started a pair of socks in some GREAT yarn that Tonni gave me a few months back. I'll also post that later today too......if the great Blogger will allow it!!

WAIT!! Where Did Christmas Go?

O.K............... What happened to Christmas?

WHERE did it GO?

I worked in a constant state of frenzy, choosing gifts,shopping, wrapping, baking, in general just running amok in sea of stress induced "festivities".......running to and fro, multi-tasking WAY too much!!

I didn't enjoy a single leisurely evening by the fire looking at the tree, didn't see a single Christmas movie, everything was too rushed! WAHHH! I want a "re-do"!!!!

PITY.......party of one......you may now sit down!!!

Sooooo.......on to more exciting news!!

My nephew won a scholarship to study in Spain for three months. Half way into his visit his girlfriend flew to Paris to spend a long weekend. Isn't that just the most romantic thing???? But to make it even better............he PROPOSED to her...........IN PARIS!!!!

Brent phoned her father a couple of weeks before he planned to propose......(very impressed that he was old fashioned enough to phone for her "hand" before popping the question). I'll have to verify the exact spot and post a pic at a later date. Brent loves the history of all the places he visits and had researched an appropriate place to propose......which turned out to be a particular fountain at a palace of some kind......there was a specific reason for this fountain (again, I was so overjoyed I lost some of the details).......but after a very eloquent speach, he dropped to one knee and proposed!!!! All this from the kid who is the world's biggest "ham".......who's conversations are peppered with "sweet", "dude", and "cool".....but considering how he writes I guess I shouldn't have been too surprised. Check out his blog that he started while in Spain....unfortunately internet service was the pitts so he only has a few entries.....he is going to download his pics and complete the blog in the next few weeks. His last entry is the most incredible one....check it out: http://thereandbackasemesterinspain.blogspot.com/

Back to Christmas: Brent brought me back some tea that he purchased at a Moroccan market and smells absolutely HEAVENLY.....I can't wait to try it! He also brought me some sassafrass, which is more per ounce than gold right now!! AND......some sherry from Spain!!

I have more pics to post but blogger is mad at me right now and will NOT let me post additional pictures!!!

The Christmas Mouse!

The Scene: Last night we had a small Christmas dinner party for some friends of ours......what a wonderful evening.....good food, good friends, good bottle of wine! An unusual leisurely Thursday night for us!! All the goodbye's were said, the house was "winding down", everyone was preparing for bed......except for our Cat Gracie.

You see, Gracie is insanely terrified when anyone comes to the house and was outside cowering under the porch (or so we thought).......as she typically does when we entertain. The weather is very mild here, not even close to freezing at night but still, Gracie always comes in at night to sleep with us. This evening as it had started to rain we assumed she was all snug under the porch and simply didn't want to leave her nest as we had called her for several minutes to no avail.

Unbeknownst to us, she was out front, under the bushes with............a friend. After several attempts to bribe Gracie to come inside she comes TEARING from around the corner of the house and dashed inside the house before my husband could barely get the door open.

Now, Gracie by nature isn't a very loving cat......so I'm not sure if her "friend" was one she was wanting to have play time with or had "murder" in her heart......but IN THE HOUSE WITH HER FRIEND SHE CAME!!!! We were just heading to bed as I heard Gracie going nuts in the foyer (evidenced by the incessant ringing of the bell on her collar).....I of course being the busybody that I am went to investigate......what I THOUGHT was one of those tiny little toy fur mice with the little leather tail you buy at the pet store (which come to think of it, I have never bought because of my aversion to mice of any kind) was indeed.........you guessed it........a FREAKIN REAL MOLE/VOLE......and to make matters worse.......it wasn't DEAD!!!!

Commence the screaming (me).....throwing the mole/vole out of it's I'll play dead and maybe this large hairy beast will get bored and I can make my great escape.......into his OH SH*T let me run for my life mode...........oh....and did I mention he was running RIGHT AT ME??????

My DH, who is always there to save my day (insert sarcasm here)........is hollering back to see what I want......now.......when your wife is hysterically SCREAMING your name using an inflection that to my knowledge has never been used in this house......you would think it would elicit at least a SMIDGEON of quick reaction.....

After what seemed like HOURS, my DH gets his pants on, calmly walks into the room, throws a towel, (one of my good ones at that) over the stunned little creature who by this time was "frozen" at the baseboard, me dead ahead, large harry beast to his right, large man coming up from the rear.....frozen.....absolutely frozen, probably saying his prayers as he knows death is imminent.

Said husband then calmly scoops "it" up, walked to the back door, into the yard and pitched the furry little, stunned carcas into the woods. He said it was dead but I saw his little ears sticking up and the gleam in his beady little eyes and let me tell you.......all those little Tasha Tudor stories that I USED to think were so cute????? Well Tasha can kiss my foot!!!). I don't care if it WAS a mole and was only about an inch or so long......in my head it was WILLARD and we were going to be eaten alive in our sleep!!! EWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW!!!

Much disinfecting took place around midnight, Gracie was banished to the outside (probably with glee to go on another "hunt")........I finally collapsed in bed around 1:00 into a fitful sleep.

NEEDLESS to say I didn't get my scarf blocked but as this is a gift for Saturday I'll do this later today and will post pics!

Last Minute Shopping and Gifts!!

What a DAY!!!

I have been busy, putting off shopping for those last few gifts and decided since Christmas is down to "hours" away from being here I would go out today and try to finish up......and TRY to see if I could pick up some Christmas Spirit along the way.

Tonni and I met at the local Williams Sonoma for a few minutes so I could return some needles I had borrowed, give her my swatch and a book I had ordered for her. I was so tickled when Tonni handed me not ONE but TWO presents!!! I wasn't expecting anything and was so excited I must admit!!

Tonni is a true wine connoisseur. I have had some of the MOST incredible wine while visiting her in the past and now I have my very own bottle!! What a wonderful treat and I am going to save it till after the holidays when I can have a bit of time to sit back, relax and truly appreciate such a nice bottle of wine!!

I was SOOO tickled to get this calendar!!! (Whoda thunk getting a calendar would be so exciting?). I bought the same calendar and gave as a gift......in fact almost kept it for myself but decided I could always get one for myself later on.......and low and behold I received one!!! I am going to rake off a spot on my desk and look forward to having something new every day to read!! Thanks so much Tonni! I treasure your friendship more than you'll ever know!!!

I also did a bit of shopping at Williams Sonoma, which is my MOST favorite store in the whole world!! I worked part time at WS for a few years and have never had a job that was more fun in all my life!!! Unfortunately I never made a dime.....spent every single penny I earned and then some......but I SURE did have fun!!!! I'll have to post pics of my WS loot later. Merry Christmas to me, Merry Christmas to me!! LOL!!!

Thanks for all the comments on my cable scarf......will block it later tonight and post pics tomorrow.

I ran by the LYS to pick up a skein of yarn to match one I bought a few days back (didn't look at the yardage....it was deceptively large looking)......I ended up buying quite a few skeins of half price yarn......will post that tomorrow too.

Hope everyone has a GREAT Friday night......hmmmm......what's this???? I think I may accidentally be feeling a bit of Holiday Spirit going on here!!! Either that or retail therapy! LOL!!

Ahhh....Can You Smell Christmas??

You start with 9 dozen lemon poppyseed cookies, then you make 9 dozen chocolate chip cookies (wasn't feeling the luv by then so no pic), add to that 9 loaves of pumpkin/cranberry breakfast loaves, Pecan/date/cheese bites, and last but not least orange balls (world's easiest, can't screw up, everyone wants your recipe)....goodies and some really pretty baskets (which I'll post one once assembled) and you have the makings for some nice gifts.....OH.....and I always make my sister fruitcake cookies which I'll make tomorrow, right after I finish THIS!


(Please note the scarf is being worked on in between batches of cookies!)....because you know you just CAN'T have ENOUGH stress at the holidays!! LOL!!






















Someone had the Irish Hiking Scarf posted on their site and was gracious enough to share the pattern with me.....and I am embarrassed to say I can't remember who it was at this time....Paula perhaps??? I had filed this one away to work on after the holidays until I saw a demo on Knitty Gritty and realized cables were NO BIG DEAL!!!! SO.....here I am THIS close to Christmas and I am starting projects of the unknown!! Did I mention I wanted some stress in my life???????? ANYWAY........I noticed the edge has this sort of "ruffled" thing going on......and this scarf is for a GUY.......what do I DO?????? I don't have time to start again as I have to make 2 more scarves to be given on the Saturday before Christmas......can someone offer a suggestion? The yarn is Cascade 220 tweed.

Last but not least:

Can someone PLEASE explain to me why these little fellows keep showing up on my front porch???















They aren't just visiting....they are LICKING the mortar and they keep coming back!!!!

It's Beginning To Look A BIT Like Christmas!

Between work and....well.....work....I did manage to get my tree up....(I hate I can't figure out how to use my digital camera to get a decent pic of my tree)! It really is much prettier than the pic shows....and now has "fallen" out to a really full, nice shape....sort of like me!! LOL!!

I still have decorating to finish.....I'm sure I'll be decorating down to the last few hours before Christmas! Ahhhh.....don't you love the holidays? All that stress just swirling around!! I have NO idea what I have bought or need to buy.....nothing wrapped, house not decorated completely, baking not done, last minute change in gift plans, lose 20 pounds before holiday party season....oh wait, mark that one of the list....too late!!!!!......Fa La La La La, La La La La!!!!

Check out this ornament!!! My dear friend Cindy made this!! She used tiny dowels, actually SANDED down to make the points, and tiny beads for the tips!! I should have taken a pic of the package before I opened it.....presented in a cellophane bag, tied with the same yarn as used in the ornament and a tiny little peppermint stick, dipped in chocolate called North Poles purchased from Williams Sonoma (my favorite store!!) tied to the top of the bag! So tickled to get this!!! She is so crafty!!!

WHERE has the time gone???

Sorry I haven't posted lately but I have been VERY busy working on my shawl.......isn't it GORGIMOUS?????

O.K., O.K., I confess......I didn't make it.....Becky did....and GAVE it to me....can you BELIEVE anyone would GIVE away something so beautiful????

I have been such a fan of Becky's knitting for quite sometime, we have been avid emailers and I was absolutely blown away to receive such a wonderful gift!!

Lace knitting is something that I have been fascinated by for quite some time, such intricate details!! I thought this was something that I might try some day....in maybe 20 years or so I might be good enough to tackle such a project! I hate to admit it, but I have been very intimidated by just the thought of lace knitting!!

Becky, dear that she is.....took the pattern for this shawl and re-wrote it in a way that I think that even this "newbie" knitter can figure it out!!! I am so excited!!! I am going to work on this after the Holidays are over and my sanity has returned!! LOL!!

Becky also brought her "big bag-O-yarn"......WOW.....it was like Santa opening his pack!!! She has some absolutely incredible yarn!!

I feel like I have had my Christmas!! On top of all this, she let me ask all the knitting questions I wanted to!! I had a pile of "projects" just waiting for her to help me with.....and what great tips she shared with me!! AND she gave me one of those necklace yarn cutters......I have been wanting one of those too!!!

It was a wonderful time for me, albeit a very short one....I'm looking forward to the next time.....we'll DEFINITELY have to plan a get together for 2007!

In addition to Becky's wonderful visit and working I have managed to decorate a bit. We usually spend quite a bit of time looking for "just the perfect tree"......this year it was FREEZING cold....we had no gloves, light jackets so we jumped out of the car, ran to the lot, ran up to the first tree on the lot, which was very poorly lit as they were closing and took it. I do believe it is the most perfectly shaped tree we have ever had!!

Vintage Christmas!

I have talked to Santa and told him what a good girl I have been this year......or at least I have TRIED to be a good girl!! LOL!!!

I told Santa I would love to have some lovely sock yarn, (because you can never have too much sock yarn), maybe a gift certificate to my favorite yarn stores so I can look forward to "shopping" the sales, a trip to Tuscaloosa or Montgomery are always fun!!

Who knows......we'll just have to see!

Not much knitting right now....but I DO have a surprise coming tomorrow!!!

I heard Becky is planning a trip and invited her to stop by to break up the trip....you know so she won't be so tired when she reaches her destination, and you know there is ALWAYS the possibility of a freak snowstorm in Alabama in early December and she really needed a place to stay just in case, oh and all the traffic....NEVER a good idea to drive after dark.....and....and......then there is that thing with map quest being wrong and me needing to give her detailed driving instructions so she won't end up in Podunk....instructions that just couldn't possibly be put down on an email....well......she finally said YES......oh I can't wait.....I'll have my very own knitting guru as my hostage....I mean as my GUEST.....I have already started pulling out all those projects I need "help" with!! Poor thing.....I better set the alarm before bedtime so she doesn't sneak out in the dead of night!! LOL!!!

And on closer inspection of this pic it would appear I was in my "I can cut my own bangs thank you very much phase"!! LOL!!!

The Turkey Made Me Do It!!!

O.K.

Since I did SOOO good by not going to any of the after Thanksgiving Sales, buying things that I didn't need or really want but couldn't pass up because they were priced so good, and since I didn't have my names to buy for this year just yet ......and potentially saving myself untold amounts of money....I decided to award myself by going to the local yarn store! I have never knit with these yarns and I am looking forward to giving them a try! The Cherry Tree Hill was some yarn that I had ordered and just received.

I still have 2 pairs of socks to finish using some cheaper sock yarn and then I am going to make a pair from the yarn that Tonni gave me.....THEN I can start on these!!! Ahhh...the anticipation!!

***Swatch Update*****

Swatch is now completed.....unfortunately as I am such a tight knitter I can't count the stitches to check my gauge.......will have to purchase a magnifying glass in an attempt to count the little buggers!!

Thanksgiving Reflections: I'm not sure the history behind my Grandmother's pumpkin pie but for some reason she wasn't fond of traditional pumpkin pie so she created her own recipe....not spicy at all, a custard type consistency and a staple at all our Thanksgiving meals for as long as I can remember.

Many years ago when my Grandmother was no longer able to make the pies she passed on her recipe to me and for years I was the purveyor of the pumpkin pies.

Three years ago, I invited Princess Cupcake to learn to make the pies and we now have the tradition of making pies the night before Thanksgiving......usually 6. Here is a picture of Princess Cupcake wearing her Great-Great-Grandmother's apron and showing off her first pie out of the oven.

Happy Thanksgiving!!!!

Happy Thanksgiving to everyone!!

I hope everyone has a wonderful day today filled with lot's of good food, family, friends and perhaps a bit of knitting!!

My blessings this year are too numerous to count!!!

I am most grateful for being healthy ( you know when you are pushing 50 you start thinking about such things!LOL!) and that I have my family in addition to a wonderful circle of friends!

I am still working from home which is just too good to be true and I can't believe how fortunate I am to still be pulling this off after 4 years!!

I have the most wonderful husband in the world....and he is my best friend!!!

Blessings to everyone this Thanksgiving Day!!!!!!!!

I Hate My Swatch!!

I would like to go on record right now.......I do NOT like to swatch!!!
I do not like to swatch at night, I do not like to swatch in the morning, I do NOT like to swatch AT ALL!!

!!! How BORING can you get?????

Not to mention my swatch is a slap in my face that I knit different gauge at different times of the day (aka stress level). I already KNEW (thank you very much) that I don't knit consistently!! NOW I have this, this, spitefull little block of yarn that just GLARES at me with it's different gauge!!!! Mocking me!!!

Now before you get worried that I have anger "issues".....let me just say here.......I think anger when applied correctly is a GOOD thing.....remember how mad I was at my first sock attempt? It was my anger at not letting that stupid ball of string and a handful of sticks get the best of me....and see where it got me? I am now a sock knitter.......improving with each pair!!

I got really angry when a friend was robbed while shopping at a local store and the management did nothing to insure the safety of future shoppers.....so I rallied up a group, we complained to the home office and the store was forced to hire a security guard or risk losing business......I believe the owners of the Food World chain of grocery stores received around 100 phone calls that day!!! When applied correctly anger can be a great motivator for good!! (stepping off my soapbox now).

I guess what I am saying is that I will embrace my swatch anger and put it to good use......right after I put band-aids on my sore finger tips......Love those Knit Pick needles but MAN are those points sharp for this tight, tight knitter!!!!

Update later on the swatch/sweater!!

Why YES......it IS a Sweater!!!

Can't you just SEE the gorgeous sweater this yummy periwinkle/denim blue silk tweed yarn will make??

Everyone will be SOOOO impressed!! I can just hear it now....oh Darlene....it is the most beautiful sweater in the WORLD.....where can I buy one? WHAT? You say you MADE this beautiful sweater??? You mean it is a one of a kind, original, knitted by you sweater????? M.U.S.T. have one of these most perfect sweaters......I'll pay....BIG bucks, maybe even clean your house for a year!!

Ahhh, it is such a happy little place in my head!! LOL!!!

Fact is......I am already nervous about this sweater project.

I like the short n sweet, immediate gratification projects. (Hmmm....wonder what this says about me?).

Remember my vest I posted about......oh..... several months ago? The one that I have never finished because it requires too much thinking and that I have put aside for "one of these days".......like in case of emergency and I can't get out to buy yarn for any other projects and I am FORCED to finish the vest or have nothing to knit at all??? Yep.....I have obligated myself to a sweater....with sleeves.....have I lost COMPLETE control of my mind????

Tonni showed me a sweater she made the last time I visited with her and it was SOOOO pretty, I was caught up in the moment when she told me how easy it was to make and that we should make one......that's all it took!! LOL!! Tonni even found the yarn......on CLOSE out pricing....it was fate!!! She also has a sweater wizard program and created a pattern for me based on my measurements......(which we will NOT discuss)!

Now the pressure is on! The sweater will be a "simple" (reserving judgment on this term for later) knit pattern, raglan sleeves, K2,P2 ribbing at the sleaves and waistband. Sounds simple, but I have this little problem with gauge. You would think after knitting for 2 years I would be able to knit consistently......so......we'll see how this sweater project turns out......but it will be fun and good experience!!

I'll keep you posted!!! Keep your fingers crossed for me!!! LOL!!!

It's Latetoberfest Socks!!

I believe this is the last picture I posted of my Octoberfest socks!!














Now I bring you..........drum roll please...........................
















TA DA!!!! I present my Latetoberfest Socks!!! (Previously named Socktoberfest Socks but since it is almost Thanksgiving I have renamed them)! LOL!! I actually finished these socks last weekend but just now getting around to getting them posted.

I have a mental block about doing a swatch and these socks ended up sort of loose. Last night at Chicks with Sticks I ripped out a sock that was too tight......so I'm just thinking here that there is a REASON why labels list the gauge! LOL!! I don't know WHY I have such an aversion to knitting a swatch!! Does everyone knit a swatch? Maybe I just haven't made enough pairs of socks to "know" what size needle to use to get the result I want.

I have some GORGEOUS yarn I received as a gift from Tonni that I am DYING to get started on but I think I'll make one more pair.....I still end up having to darn certain spots on my socks before I can wear them and I would like to be able to knit a PERFECT pair of socks with it!


Sock Data:
Fearless Fibers Yarn...(found on Ebay)
100% Superwash Merino Wool
Colorway: October
Knit on size 3 Knitpicks Circular needles.
Knit 2 Purl 2 Ribbing

We Interupt This Sock For An Important Announcement

WELL......pull up a chair and I'll tell you a little story of how NOT to knit a sock heel!!

So, I'm happily knitting away on my second Socktoberfest sock....(which I am now calling the Latetoberfest sock).....anyway.......you know on that simple pattern when you get to the point where you have just turned the heel and it says: Knit across the heel stitches and pick up the side stitches???

Guess what happens when you DON'T knit across that turned heel before you start picking up stitches....ahhh.....you real sock knitters already know I bet......you end up knitting INSIDE OUT!! Yessiree....that is EXACTLY what happens when you leave out that tiny little step of knitting across the heel!! And I would imagine that MOST folks would pick right up on that fact....but ME???? Oh NOOOOO.....took me 2, thats TWO times before it dawned on me!!!! I am going to blame it on the lateness of the hour factoring in extreme fatigue and hopefully not that I am a complete IDIOT!!!

SO.........while I get my Latetoberfest sock back on track tonight I bring this view from my yard! I read somewhere that Fall is God's Greeting Card.....WOW!!!

Another WOW Weekend!!

After working at "warp speed" all week and despite being tired we got up at 5:30 Saturday morning, drove to Auburn to spend the day with some friends of ours. We arrived to THIS!!

Talk about a TAILGATE PARTY PALACE!! This thing is N.I.C.E!!!! It has 1.5 baths!!! Three televisions! One large screen T.V. is on the outside (pic taken before full party set up)....AWESOME!! It was cold but they had an outdoor heater that kept us toasty warm the entire time!

















The guys went to the game while Kay and I spent the afternoon knitting! I managed to get two socks completed down to the heel flap but I left my pattern at home so I had to put that part on hold till one evening this week. We had way too much good food, good fun and the day absolutely FLEW by!! Before we knew it we were on our way home.....first we had to drive by Toomers Corner.










YEP....they still roll it!!! The last Auburn game we attended was when my sister was a Senior at Auburn.....WAAYYYYYY back in 1987!!!! No that's not a typo....it was 1987! We had so much fun we plan on going to as many games as we can next year!!

Stupid, Stupid Blog

My Blog is mad at me.....I had the audacity to make a blog title
a TAD too long and it messed up my sidebar. After much
weeping and nashing of teeth (and a tip or two from Laura
I was able to get my side bar back).......UNFORTUNATELY I
seem to have lost some of the comments from the previous two
posts. So if you don't see your comment PLEASE re-send!

Thanks so much!!!

We don't get any Trick or Treaters out here in the woods!

So......in keeping with the tradition of the season I will be watching Charlie Brown's Great Pumpkin Video followed by the original Halloween with Jaimie Lee Curtis.....oh......and eating Halloween Candy!!!!

I Bring You...SOCKTOBERFEST SOCK........(as in singular)

I bought 2 skeins of sock yarn SPECIFICALLY for my Socktoberfest socks and I had such high hopes of completing two pair of socks before the end of the month!!! But we all know what they say about good intentions!! LOL!!!

I also had the mistaken thought that one pair of circular needles were enough........WRONG.......I got "stuck" with a problem while working on my DH Blue Suede socks and there sat my needles, tied up!!! Took care of that little problem.....I now have I think it is 5 or 6 sets of Circular needles !! LOL!!!

I did finish the Blue Suede socks so I guess that qualifies for Socktoberfest!

This Socktoberfest Sock was knitted on size 3 Knit Picks Circular needles, K2,P2 rib all the way down to the toe. This yarn was hand dyed and as soon as I find what I did with the ball band I'll pass that info along too! LOL!!! I finished the toe using the Kitcheners stitch (decision made by input from my blog buddies, thank you very much....keep those tips coming!!).....It isn't terribly smooth on a couple of stitchs.....will practice a bit on some scrap yarn but I can see already I like the finished product SOOO much more than what I had been doing in the past!

I also took a few minutes this weekend between work and housework to make this!!

Please Hold Your Applause Till The End Of This Blog

Well......will wonders EVER cease??? Yes folks.....she HAS been knitting!!! LOL!!!

I FINALLY finished my DH Blue Suede socks!! HALLELUIAH!!! Please note how the stripes match??? (O.K. I admit, this was completely a fluke that they match)!

I need to do a bit of research on how to finish off the toes so they are smooth and "professional" looking but these turned out O.K.!! Thanks so much to TONNI for helping me understand where I was going astray with my heels!! I am also working on my October Yarn for my main
Socktoberfest socks and will post a pic of that tomorrow when there hopefully will be a bit more to show!

After seeing the sweater that Tonni made, I decided it was time for me to venture further into the knitting "pool" and I want to make a sweater.....we are talking committment here folks!!!! I am typically of the "immediate gratification" group when it comes to knitting.....love those "short n sweet" projects....but for some reason I feel compelled to make this sweater!! I am REALLY looking forward to this because it will mean several shared afternoon/evenings of knitting with Tonni and that is half the fun!!!

I'm not sure when we can get this project started as I have STILL not gotten over the fact that I will actually have to SHARE my body measurements with another breathing soul...(despite her disclaimer, signed in blood no less)......she IS the one with the pattern wizard so once we have that teensy little drop of blood to seal the deal we will get started!!! LOL!!!

WOW, What A Weekend!!

Ginger and her DH had two extra tickets to see CATS on Friday Night and invited Johnny and I to join them. I immediatly "nixed" Johnny going with me and asked if they minded if I brought Princess Cupcake instead! (Montana recently got her first kitten so she was especially excited to see a play about cats!!!

This was Montana's first Broadway Play and she was sooooooo excited!!! We had AWESOME seats, very close to the stage!!

Ginger has got to be one of the most genuinely thoughtful, kind people I have had the joy of knowing!!

Ginger met Montana for the first time at the play and true to her sweet spirit she presented Montana with her very own pair of kitty ears on a headband to wear......black with sequins....which matched her outfit and you would have thought she was wearing her very own "tiara"!! LOL!! Absolutely made Montana's evening!!!! (Oh Ginger if you could only hear Montana talking about you while we stood in line during intermission! You have a new fan!! LOL!!

SATURDAY, Tonni was gracious enough to share a good part of her afternoon helping me work out my latest "issues" I have had with knitting socks on circulars!!

What could be better than sharing an afternoon knitting with a good friend!!

We shared some AWESOME Wine from Tonni's collection along with some really good cheese and crackers!! Not to mention all the little "purls" of wisdom she shared with me about sock knitting.....little things I would never think about but make a big difference to the finished sock!! (I hope I can remember them all!!) LOL!! Gee.....I would REALLY hate to have to go back for another afternoon of knitting lessons!!! LOL!!!

I was so surprised and touched when Tonni gave me this gorgeous skein of Blue Moon sock yarn!!!! Aren't the colors GREAT??!! This will be my first experience with knitting with such nice yarn!! I was so tickled.....and a little embarrassed because all I brought her were some plastic bags to store yarn in!! LOL!!!

Tonni, it's very humbling to me to know I was thought of and VERY MUCH appreciated!!

I have a couple of socks to finish up and hopefully by then I'll be worthy of knitting with such nice yarn!!! Tonni knits the most incredible socks and if I can be just HALF as good a knitter as she is I will really think I have accomplished something!!! (She also showed me a sweater she knit that I absolutely loved!!! Ragland oversized sweater with a single cable down the shoulder and arm.....REALLY NICE)!!!

What a GREAT weekend!!

WANTED!!!

I am looking for a pattern like the ornaments shown above, or similar. I have seen the lace patterns and while I like the look of the lace ornaments I REALLY like these. If you know of a pattern like these or similar would you please pass on the information?

Many Thanks!!!

Socktoberfest Sock Started.....FINALLY!!!

FINALLY I have something on the needles to contribute to Socktoberfest! And to THINK I bought 3 different yarns for this KAL!! LOL!!! What WAS I thinking!!!

I should be able to finish this pair of socks by the October 31st...........hopefully!!

I have had technical difficulties with DH second Blue Suede sock......(translated means I have knit the sock to the point where I join the heel, mess it up royally, rip out, make a mess, have to rip completely out and start over........X 2)!! I really wanted to finish the Blue Suede socks before I started the Socktoberfest socks!! Also, I only had one set of needles.....but I now have another pair.....wooo hoooo.....two socks going at once!!! I'm outa control here!! LOL!!!

I now have the Blue Suede sock knitted to the the point where I have completely messed up in the past and have this little fella on hold till I can meet up with Tonni so she can give me a refresher course on this part!! I know I am doing something very simple but for the life of me can't figure out how to correct what I am doing wrong!! The first sock was a breeze!!

It is interesting how the Socktoberfest yarn is striping at an angle.....I'm not sure what makes the yarn slant rather than go straight like the self striping yarns I have used in the past.

This yarn is REALLY pretty, vibrant fall colors, although the picture looks sort of washed out. I bought this yarn from Ebay, Fearless Fibers, 100% Superwash Merino Wool, size 2 circs.

Hopefully in a few days I'll have a bit more to show!

Work has been incredibly hectic, not much time to knit....boo hoo!!!

Follow Up Post

I wanted to share the beautiful flowers that my DH sent me Monday. I guess I'll renew his contract for another year!! LOL!!!

I have so many wonderful people in my life, so blessed that I wanted to take a minute to express myself!

I can't begin to list all the dear friends in my life........I hope you know who you are!! So many old friends, new friends and friends I have not had the pleasure of meeting face to face, yet I feel close as if we lived right next door!! How was I to know just a few months ago that a "blog"....(which I had never even heard the term blog).......could bring me in contact with so many wonderful people!! Nor would I have ever thought that learning to knit would expose me to a community of such wonderful people too!!!

Gifts are fun to receive, no doubt, the cake is yummy, but the friendships and relationships that I have are by far the most precious gifts to me!!

Thanks so much to my "sneaky" friends who are some of the sweetest girls in the world!!!

Will try to knit tonight.....I do have some new yarn......ahhh......so much yarn......so little time to knit!!!

NEW Knitting Book!!!!

Look what I got yesterday! I have about 7 or 8 books in my knitting collection but this one I must admit is one of the best ones I have seen!! This book has SOOO much information in it and has great instructional pictures! I have read about Intarsia....this book has some really good, easy to understand pictures!!

The stitch library section has so many stitches I have never seen!!

Best of all? The book was a gift from my mother.....for my birthday.....which is really strange since I stopped counting birthdays 3 years ago.....(I figured 45 was a good age to be so I have decided to stick with it) !! LOL!!

We had a wonderful lunch yesterday, mother made chicken and dressing (which is the BEST in the world!) with all the trimmings and a very pretty Cake.....but since there is only a slice left over for breakfast I can't share it with you!! LOL!! Life is short....eat cake for breakfast!!!!

For my "non-birthday" My sister gave me a gift certificate to the LYS!!! (oh darn....guess I'll HAVE to buy more yarn!! LOL!!!) My mother also gave me some $$ which I am going to save toward my trip to Maine.....which unfortunately isn't scheduled until NEXT Fall.....oh well.....got to start saving now!! I also got a REALLY pretty cake plate from Williams Sonoma which I love, Philosophy bath gel and some $$ which will also be deposited in my trip fund account from my baby sister.

I will post a pic later of my blue suede sock with my black sheep of the family.......and NO it isn't a relative!!! LOL!!! I just finished the heel flap last night....I have GOT to get this sock finished.....I need the needles to start my Socktober Sock!!!

I am most grateful today for my family, I have a plethora of friends and a wonderful husband...what more could a girl ask for???

:) :) :)

Socktoberfest Questionaire

Socktoberfest Questionaire

Well here it is October 3th and I STILL don't have my socks cast on for Socktoberfest! I needed to finish the Blue Suede sockmate but I ended up with a major mistake and ripped the entire thing out.....and I have this insane desire to finish this pair before starting another pair! Somebody PLEASE stop me!!Guess this means I am going to have to break down and buy another set of circs to use for socks!!In the meantime here is a list of questions from Lolly's blog for the socktoberfest members to use.

1. When did you start making socks? About 4 or 5 months ago.

2. Did you teach yourself or were you taught by a friend or relative? or in a class? I took a class for making socks using DPN and Tonni taught me to make socks on circulars which I must admit my first sock was GREAT.....the second sock...well....in a fit of incredible stupidness I totally messed up had to rip out the entire second sock......I'm thinking I might need a refresher!!! LOL!!

3. What was your first pair? A striped pair using yarn from Knit Picks How have they "held up" over time? Well.....since I just learned to make socks this Summer I haven't actually worn them yet but I did darn all the holes pretty good so hopefully they will hold up!! LOL!!

4. What would you have done differently? Not much as they were a "learning" sock.

5. What yarns have you particularly enjoyed? All I have used is Knit Picks yarn so far but my socktoberfest sock yarn is a hand painted yarn!

6. Do you like to crochet your socks? or knit them on DPNs, 2 circulars, or using the Magic Loop method? Knit on Circulars.....Circs rock!!!

7. Which kind of heel do you prefer? (flap? or short-row?) WELL......I have only made one kind but I'm not sure what it is!!!

8. How many pairs have you made? 2 pair completed...working on my third pair!!

YIPPEE It's Soctober!!!!!

I am SOOOOO happy it is FINALLY Socktober.....I mean OCTOBER!!!!

I just love OCTOBER!!!

I love all the pumpkins, gourds, mums, all the fall decorations that spring up around town and in neighbors yards! I love to see the colors of the trees as they change....never fails to make me happy!!! I love nothing better than being outside on a crisp, cool fall day and have the wind suddenly blow creating "leaf rain"!! Visiting the local produce stand for all the great apples!!

Oh wait.....I live in Alabama and it is usually in the 80's...hmmm must be thinking of November...oh well.....STILL love October!!!!!!!!!! The temperature is cool somewhere and the leaves are turning!!!

And I can't forget my favorite holiday...Halloween!!! Even though we don't get a single trick-or-treater here in the "woods" I still enjoy it!! (One year when Princess Cupcake was younger I made a spook house in my attic for her!! But alas, she is too old for such foolishness now)! Boo Hoo!

I must admit that I watch Charlie Brown' Great Pumpkin every year and I have a copy of the original Halloween that I enjoy watching......this was the first scary movie I ever saw at the theater....and it was a drive-in at that.....especially frightening!!! Of course now it is silly, cheesy, but the campiness of it makes it all the more fun to watch!!

I am excited to be a part of socktoberfest!!!! I purchased the yarns shown above from Ebay.....took a chance. I couldn't believe something so cheap could actually be nice but I was pleasantly surprised!! The yarn is a dk weight which I think I like fingering weight better but I couldn't pass on these!! The one on the left is appropriately named "October" and the one on the right is "Autumn". The Autumn yarn was disapointing in the color but then again it was quite inexpensive and I can use it to make DH a pair of socks....you know how guys just love dull, drab colors....besides he is color blind so he'll never know the difference!! The colors of the October yarn make up for the Autumn yarn!!

I will probably only get one pair of socks made for Soctoberfest so I'll be using the October yarn, not sure if I will rib or straight knit the body of the sock (that is the only two patterns I know).....but I'm looking forward to finishing DH Blue Suede sock so I can get started on the Socktober/October sock!

Looking forward to seeing all the Socktoberfest participants contributions!!!

Don't Step On My Blue Suede Sock!!

I bring you.....(drum roll please)......DH blue sock.....created by MOI on CIRCULAR needles!!

Yippee!! My FIRST circular needle sock!! (DH was so tickled he asked could he put in a rush order for the mate)! LOL!!! I have got to work on my finishing off technique but other than that I am SOOOOO loving these circs!!!! I just don't see me ever making another sock with DPN unless there is some catastrophe and that is my only option.

I was recently diagnosed with osteoarthritis in my hands....specifically the fingers that I use the most for knitting and it really bummed me out!!! I have to admit that working with the circulars was not bad AT ALL on my hands!! When using the DPN my hands would hurt and still be sore the next day but I have not had any of these problems using the circular needles.....guess it has something to do with the way I had to hold the DPN......not sure the reason but as long as I can keep knitting and it not hurt I am all over it!!!! (Thank you Tonni so much for teaching me to make socks on circulars!!!)

We Interrupt This Blog For An Important Announcement!!

If you do not have a pair of Becky's fabulous Leggy Creations you need to stop....seriously....STOP what you are doing right now and go here....go on.....I'll wait for you!

Scroll down and click on the gallery link to see an archive of some of the sock blockers Becky has made. Becky accepts custom orders so don't be afraid to let her know what you would like!

I could NOT be more tickled with these blockers! The quality of the pictures in NO way reflects the quality of the work!! Each set is signed and numbered and has a tag attached that tells you a bit about what goes into making a pair of Leggy Creations!

The beach scene is incredible!! I'm not sure if these are from actual pictures Becky made on the beach but pretty impressive!!! Oh...and don't think for one minute they are too pretty to use!! They are completely sealed with polyurethane!!! I'm just so excited I had to let everyone in on this well kept secret!!

AND.....Becky makes these little fellas too!! Are they not THE cutest little things? What do you give the knitter that has everything? Why a custom set of Leggy Blockers and pair of sheep!!

UPDATE: Becky did make the photos used on the beach sock blockers.

Farewell Sock!

Remember this???? My pumpkin socks that I could NOT wait to finish???? WELL.....a funny thing happened on the way to casting off........

I was down to the final few rounds of decreasing the toe and I lost a needle....yep....the little sucker just pulled right off!!!!! I am a very tight knitter and despite using a darning needle I could NOT pick up all the stitchs!!! I kept S.L.O.W.L.Y. ripping back in hopes of finding a place that I was able to pick up each and every one of the *&#% stitches......but no such luck!! I just wasn't able to save the sock despite my valiant efforts!! I didn't even get a pic of it before I frogged it!!! Sniff, sniff!!........and I was SOOOO excited because this was my FIRST sock to complete (almost) that wouldn't require darning before I could wear it!! LOL!! It was the closest to perfection I have ever achieved!!!!!!

BUT......I will be casting this yarn back on as soon as I can get the blue sock off my circs (will post a pic of that sock in a day or two)......but till then I leave you this.
















Aaaa.....Waaaa Waaaa Waaaa!!! Sniff, Sniff!!!!!!!!!!!!!

BUTTONS!!!!! Get your Buttons!!

I have been wanting to make a button for my blog for quite some time but for the life of me I have not been able to create one that will work!! Oh well....put that on my "To Do" list!! LOL!!

BUT......I have joined my first official KAL and I am so excited!! Well....actually I have joined FOUR KAL's!!!!! But these are the first ones dedicated to specific items to knit.

Warm Hands This is a KAL for mittens (or gloves for those that are more advanced than I am!) This KAL is hosted by one of my favorite blog sites I stalk....uhmmm visit!!! Follow the link and check out Sandy's blog when you have time!



Knit Unto Others I think this one is going to be one of my favorites!! Although this website is dated 2005, this is a KAL that will be active for this year as well. The blog will be updated later according to the facilitator. This KAL involves making toddler socks for the CIC !

And Last But Not Least:


Socktoberfest 2006 My FIRST sock KAL!!!

Who knows.....just might get good enough one of these days to join an actual SWAP!!!

EUREKA....I Got IT...and other things!

Tonni so very graciously offered to teach me how to knit socks on circular needles awhile back and we were finally able to get together over the weekend! I took my camera but never pulled it out of my bag.....I was so excited I forgot!!! One reason I was so excited was because Tonni gave me these!!! Aren't they great???



My very own sock bags....and not just any sock bag ....but made by Tonni herself!!! I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE them both!!!!!

Tonni's daughter was celebrating her 15th birthday with a spend the night party the night I went for my lesson! All the girls came dressed as their favorite movie character.....everyone looked GREAT!! All such cute, sweet girls!! I got such a kick out of listening to them singing "oldies" at the top of their lungs.....(Oldies being the music of MY youth...UGH!!)

I also got to meet Tonni's husband who couldn't have been nicer and I am sure would have enjoyed the ballgames better if he hadn't been stuck in the bedroom having given up the LR to Tonni and I to knit! Last but not least....the fur children some of which I was able to pet and some who were not quite sure about me.....but there's always next time! LOL!!!

It took me several attempts but I FINALLY got the hang of the long tail cast on AND the circular knitting!! (Which I am now a huge fan of!!) I had so much trouble with having the cast on top of my socks not being neat and could NOT figure out why....they were "rippled" and loose looking when I was using the DPN!!! Don't have to worry about that anymore!!! The long tail cast on took care of it!! Be hard pressed to use DPN again for socks......EVER.....hmmmm wonder what I can use the DPN for now????



Tonni could not have been a better teacher or hostess....she made me feel like I was right at home and I am already looking forward to the next time we get together to knit! (I guess here would be an appropriate place to thank Emily once again, for creating a database for all the Alabama Knitters.....which is how I initially met Tonni). I would have never in a million years had the opportunity to meet and get to know Tonni, Ginger and all the other girls if it weren't for Emily and I feel like I have made some lifelong friends......some I have met in person, some I will be meeting in person when time allows!!

Going to be a crazy week, little to no time to knit.....boo hoo....I feel like a kid with a new toy now that I know this new way of making socks and I am so anxious to have the time to sit and knit!!!!