Thank you and Knitting Content

Sometimes, the thoughtfulness of others brings me to tears!!

From time to time someone will send me an EM asking about Gracie...... I don't post very often about her...(she didn't like her picture taken at ALL)! I felt the need to post yesterday.....to let folks know and for myself as well.

Later in the day I received these most BEAUTIFUL flowers and the sweetest card from Tonni!!!

Anyone that has ever lost a pet knows it is such a helpless feeling and Tonni knew just what I needed yesterday! Thank you my dear friend!!

Thank you so much for all your kind comments.....I received so many emails and calls!! What a wonderful group of friends that I have....both far and wide!!!

I did finish a pair of socks for my sister for her Birthday on Sunday. I told her to "strike a pose" and model. (I told her not to quit her day job as I don't think Milan is going to come calling for her anytime soon)! LOL!! These socks were knit with 100% Alpaca, VERY soft, plain knit stitch with a K2,P2 rib at the top. I think she was pleased with them. We both love socks!!

Again, many thanks for all the thoughtful comments, emails and phone calls!!!!! I am blessed with friends WAY beyond what I deserve!!!

Gracie Kitty

Gracie was a unique kitty no doubt, she had her "ways" about her! She was full of odd thoughts and ideas, a plethora of idiosyncrasies.

She was not a "normal" cat if there is such a thing....she was frightened of most things.....yet pawed at the door to go out in the midst of storms and would get downright nasty if you didn't do as she requested. She loved anything sparkly.....I have several single earrings that can attest to that fact.....all I had to do was say the words "sparkly ball" and she would come running...as she loved nothing better than batting around a tinsel ball around the floor.

She cared for none but me....and not even me unless it was at a time that she chose....but when she came close, she was very loving, she didn't purr until the last year or two.....but when she could get into that mood she enjoyed being loved on.

Generally, she enjoyed a bit of quality bird watching time first thing in the morning but yesterday morning there were dogs loose in the neighborhood. I got to her within moments.....rushed her to the vet, but her injuries were too severe. She died in a morhpine induced haze, hopefully chasing little moles in her mind.

She wasn't your typical cat.....she was crazy to a large degree.....but she was my crazy cat and I loved her.

Tete-A Tete Daffodils and YARN!!

On The Way to the mail box to retrieve THIS:













I saw THIS!!! Aren't they pretty? The yarn AND the flowers of course!!! I am SOOOO ready for Spring to "officially" start!!!

Buyer Beware!!

Please allow me a moment to share my thoughts regarding Best Buy. No Knitting content on this post.

If you are contemplating purchasing a desk top computer (and/or possibly a laptop).....you might want to consider buying directly from the manufacturer and NOT Best Buy!

We purchased 2 Gateway desk top computers a year ago this month from Best Buy. These computers had the most current operating system, dual large monitors, the works!! Fast forward to one year and 8 DAYS past the date of purchase and the mother board goes out on one of the systems.

I phoned Gateway tech support to see about purchasing a part and was informed that Gateway contracts with Best Buy to sell "end of life" computers with current software. These computers ARE new computers, NOT rebuilt.....but the "guts" of the system if you will is "end of life" which means Gateway no longer supports, nor does the manufacturer of the internal components.....this is NOT a software issue, but rather an issue of the unit itself.

We did not purchase an extended warranty as when put to the wall, Best Buy admitted that they do not service their own extended warranties.....but it is marketed out to a third party company.....out of state and would require us sending in our entire tower (which contains all of our work info and we were not willing to let strangers have access to sensitive account information). It is amazing what you learn when you push the sales person to "show you in writing"!!!

While I do realize that technology changes almost daily it seems like, but the physical components of a unit (i.e. boards, etc.) are not ditched and new parts manufactured daily....remember, we are not talking about the software.

I was sick to know that the SEVERAL THOUSAND dollars we spent on computers was for systems that no one supports!!! The manufacturer no longer makes parts for these computers.....remember, these were purchased one year and 8 DAYS ago!!

In our business we do not sell "end of life" equipment as the manufacturer can no longer supply parts! Gateway should not sell "end of life" equipment unless they have some kind of disclaimer alerting the customer.....but then again, I don't imagine someone would actually purchase these computers if they knew they were end of life. In my line of work we do have a lot of 3rd party companies that manufacture parts for equipment....."generic" parts if you will, at a considerable savings over the manufacturers parts, so I researched and discovered that Gateway has their units configured so that the "generic" motherboard will not fit their units.....so they "have you" more ways than one.

I do not know if all Gateway computers sold at Best Buy are end of life, just desk top models, etc.

The tech support department at Gateway actually suggested that I complain to the corporate office as this was a procedure that he personally did not agree with!!

In closing, I would like to strongly urge you to consider buying a computer direct from the manufacturer. I don't know if there is a price difference, you may end up paying a bit more.....but the small amount saved purchasing retail from an "authorized" dealer.....is NOT worth it. The fact that you can walk into a store and actually see what you are purchasing definitely has it's good points over ordering "sight unseen" but still not worth the risk in my opinion. Had we of been informed that this was the case with Best Buy we most CERTAINLY would not have purchased these computers! I don't believe that the sales staff at Best Buy is aware of this issue. When I spoke with the service manager at Best Buy, he was not aware of the issue with the parts no longer being manufactured.....but upon investigation admitted that I was correct.

Please feel free to pass this info along to anyone you choose. I would like to let other unsuspecting consumers to be privy to this information.

Bloomin Feet Update & Surprise!!

Know how some folks are just so thoughtful and kind that it makes you want to do more for others???


I present you with Exhibit A:


How cute is this?????










I was checking out the Bloomin Feet Bloggers last week and saw a post that contained a Brie Baker! I thought I had every single kitchen "gadget" known to man.....but somehow I manged to miss this:














I LOVE Brie cheese!!! I think this is absolutely the cutest piece of pottery I have ever seen.....and I have a lot of pottery!!!


Wendy, you are so very thoughtful!! I know you are incredibly busy, yet you took the time to spread the sunshine my way and I can't thank you enough!!! I had a co-worker once tell me that sometimes I just need to say "thank-you" and let it go......but this time I can't do that......so I have a little something that will be on it's way to you shortly!!! (Besides, after this weekend you deserve a little something more than your newest badge!) LOL!!!


I also have an update on my Bloomin Feet Sock!!!
I HAVE been working on a sock!!!


I'm disappointed that the yarn is virtually solid....I spent a lot of time looking for "just the right" yarn for my sock mate. While the yarn is nice quality, the color is very dark with little variation in the color way. The website showcased a yarn that had several different shades from light to dark.


I'm a nervous wreck about knitting a sock that will fit a foot that is MANY miles from my knitting basket....my socks to date have all been made for those close enough that they can try on periodically and I can adjust as needed.

The pattern is a fairly simple pattern.....from Charlene Schurch, hopefully with enough stretch that it will make up for my lack of knitting skills!!!!

I WON!!!!!

I WON.....and I NEVER win ANYTHING!!!

Aren't these absolutely BEAUTIFUL??? The pic of the bracelet does NOT do it justice as these are Austrian Crystals......and MAN do they S.P.A.R.K.L.E.!!!!! Best of all the bracelet is completely waterproof, has a magnetic closure and can be worn in the shower as a reminder to "check yer boobies" monthly!! The stitch marker set is definitely going to be put to good use!!! They are just the right size to use while knitting socks and the colors are so very pretty!!!

Several weeks ago I was checking out some blogs looking for socks and stumbled across Deb's Blog . What a great blog......sock knitter and dog lover....good combo!!! Deb was featuring a contest so I threw my name in the hat. I never win ANYTHING so you an imagine my surprise when I received an email stating I won second prize!!!

Deb went WAY out of her way to send a second pkg. to me when the first one never showed up.....but I'm thinking considering how the second one arrived that someone in the post office somewhere between here and the Great Frozen North is enjoying the first pkg. Check THIS out!!!

When you get a chance check out Deb's blog, start at the beginning....she has some great socks to share.....oh....and send some warm thoughts her way.....she lives in Minnesota......a bit colder than here in Alabama!!!!

Happy Valentine's Day!!

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!!




The day is off to it's usual start for Valentine's Day.

I hid ALL my DH undies and left a single pair available.....RED....with WHITE hearts on them!! (....all those early childhood warnings of wearing clean underwear in case you are in an accident has carried over to).......But honey, what if I'm in an accident and have to go to the ER.....what kind of care will a man with valentine's boxers receive? My standard answer: Why dear, you'll receive the attention of ALL the nurses!! LOL!!!

I will make it up to him with his favorite meal, grilled steak and steamed shrimp, fluffy baked potato, salad, and for dessert I think this year I am going simple with a hot fudge brownies.


My Sweetie started off my day with this:



Hastily arranged by me!



YUM Ferrero Rocher candies!!!!






AND......just in time for Valentine's Day I received THIS:



Chocolate Covered Cherries from Yarn Ahoy!!! Best of all.....NO Fat and NO Calories!!

Bloomin Feet Update!

FINALLY.....I have made my decision on which yarn to use for my Bloomin Feet mate!!

I was so excited when I found the Sweet Georgia Yarn site (click on link and scroll to see the Viola yarn).......but quite disapointed when I actually received the Viola as it is N.O.T.H.I.N.G.
like the picture posted on their website. What I received has VERY little variation in the color, pretty much solid and VERY dark....although still pretty! I was planning on knitting a simple K2,P2 pattern and was counting on the quality of the yarn in addition to the beautiful variations of color making up for my basic stitch pattern.

The Wildflower is pretty, but with so many different colors I'm not sure how "busy" it might look. The Wisteria is pretty also but very, very light.

SOOOOO......having looked at all the options I have decided to go with the Viola by Sweet Georgia Yarn. The quality of this yarn is very nice....reminds me very much of Blue Moon Fibers, I am even contemplating a pattern that is NOT my usual K2,P2 pattern!! I'll be going over patterns tonight and will have a decision made later on. I haven't knitted any patterns other than straight knit stitch or K2,P2, so this will be a challenge!!!!

(I would have posted pics of the above mentioned yarns but "new and improved" blogger wouldn't allow me to post any of my saved photos, yet allowed the Bloomin Feet Logo.....don't you just LOVE the New and Improved Blogger??)

Bloomin Feet Update!!

The pic is a tad blurry for some reason but don't these colors make anxious for Spring?

Sunshine Yarns is a vendor that I found on Etsy and if I'm not mistaken was one that was recommended by Lime & Violet. I have ordered one other yarn from this shop but haven't had time to knit it just yet!

This yarn is SOOO soft......you just can't help but pick it up and "pet" it!! LOL!!!

This is the second yarn I have purchased in anticipation of making socks for my Bloomin Feet secret pal. I do have one other skein of yarn in mind that I am going to order today. I have read several blogs and there are quite a few of you out there that have already completed your pair or at least one.....and here I am still ordering yarn!!! I will have my decision made this weekend and get something on my needles in the next few days!!!

My other 2 choices are: Wisteria

And Viola

Sheep To Shawl

If you live anywhere close to Montevallo, Alabama, I HIGHLY recommend visiting this shop!! Elizabeth of Trailing Yarn had a post on her blog (Janury 24th entry) about her visit to Sheep To Shawl.

I had not heard of this shop and decided I had to get myself to Montevallo ASAP!!! I picked up my dear friend Cindy on Saturday morning and met up with Tonni to check it out. (Check out Tonni's blog for some additional pictures).

I could NOT have been more impressed!!! The owner and her daughter were both as kind as they could be to us.....letting us ask a lot of questions yet gave us all the space we needed to browse without feeling any pressure!!

There was a table set up with four different felted sheep.....I didn't think to take my camera but they were SOOO cute!!! This was the only duplicate so the owner allowed me to buy it, otherwise you can place an order for one. In addition to the brown she also offers white, black and gray!!

The owner's daughter has the job of assigning a name for all the sheep, so she took this little fella into the back for a moment of quiet to see what name came to her and low and behold.....BROWNIE it was!!! I couldn't have chosen a better name myself!!

The shop has a lot of roving, raw fibers and yarn that you don't see at other yarn stores, which was so nice to see yarnsI had never seen before, as well as some favorites such as Trekking and Step sock yarn to name just a couple. (And Thank-You Tonni for giving up the Trekking.....was it the drooling part that got you to hand it over or the fact that I couldn't keep my hands off it!!) LOL!!!

WE all three fell in love with a scarf that the owner had on display so much so that we all left with enough yarn to make the scarf and hope to have some free time to get together in the near future to work on this project!! The owner designed the scarf and was gracious enough to jot the pattern down for us!!

The owner also has a lot of her pottery on display and it is absolutely beautiful!!!!

If you make it to the shop be sure and save time to stop in at the local coffee house/bar/restaurant/hang out spot......named the Eclipse. Right on main street, can't miss it! Lunch was outstanding!!!!

Birmingham News did a great article on this shop:


Montevallo mom, daughter have learned to spin a yarn
Wednesday, January 17, 2007

NANCY WILSTACHNews staff writer

Fingers figured prominently in Rae Jean Flatt's switch from clay to yarn, because the Montevallo woman cannot abide hers being idle.
Stripping off a white cotton glove from her right hand, Flatt displayed her puckered fingertips. "It is hydrosis," she said, "from too much water."
When doctors told her to lay off making pottery for at least six months because contact with wet clay exacerbated the condition, Flatt took up another interest - fibers. Now she's spinning, weaving, knitting and crocheting hats, vests, scarves, socks, placemats, belts, purses and shawls.

It all happens at Sheep-to-Shawl, the store Flatt has opened on Main Street in Montevallo.

Baskets and bins:

Stepping into the little shop is like entering a kaleidoscope. Baskets and bins of yarn in all colors and textures line the walls, interspersed with baskets of, yes, unreconstructed sheep's wool. There also are spinning wheels, looms in various sizes and a bouquet of completed garments.

Flatt is particularly tickled with her "felting" projects. "This came from across the street," she said, referring to the Twice As Nice Thrift Store. She held up a white hat adorned with Impressionist-fuzzy flowers. The hat once was a stretchy wool toboggan cap until someone put it in the washer.

Now it's a thick, solid white with a texture similar to felt. Flatt fashioned the suggestion of a garland of flowers from colorful yarns and affixed them to the hat with a felting tool. The result is a designer original from a 25-cent, thrift-store find.

Flatt's sidekick in this woolly business is her 28-year-old daughter. Marissa Flatt is almost blind and suffers from neurofibromytosis, a disease that has caused fibrous tumors to grow on various parts of her body, including her brain. A series of brain surgeries when she was a little girl left the young woman with the symptoms of traumatic brain injury.

Although she has a high-normal intelligence, she has trouble with short-term memory. However, her mother has taught her to spin. Marissa saves hair from her angora rabbit that she spins into heavenly soft yarn.

She is working in the shop with her mother and delights in showing customers the funny sheep, llama and coyote puppets that are part of the decor.

For Rae Jean Flatt, the store not only feeds her own need to stay busy, it provides her daughter with a measure of independence and a downtown social network.

Sheep-to-Shawl offers an array of classes in beginning and advanced knitting, weaving, felting and spinning.

Store hours are 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday and from 6 to 8 p.m. on Tuesday and Thursday. For information

Apologize For Blogger

For SOME STUPID reason the new blogger will not allow anyone to comment on my blog, despite the fact that I have not changed the settings and comments were allowed just yesterday.

If you try to post a comment today and are not able to do so please feel free to contact me direct radhouse@mindspring.com until I can get this situation cleared up.

Blogger has turned into a temperamental thing!!!

Bloomin Feet Yarn Update!

I have been looking at various yarns to use for my Bloomin Feet Secret Pal....my theory was if I chose a yarn that was not the "every day" variety it might make up for not being able to knit something fancy.

In my search, I ran across Sweet Georgia Yarn. I have not heard of this particular yarn and discovered that this is a "Canadian" yarn, only carried in about 5 stores in the U.S. I was disapointed to discover that most of these shops didn't carry much in their inventory. Apparently, Sweet Georgia Yarn is dyed in small batches and sells out incredibly fast!! I was able to find one shop, Dublin Bay, in Portland, Oregon and spoke with Tricia, who was so gracious to check her inventory to see what she had in stock with enough yardage to make a pair of socks and this is what we came up with......what do you think? The yarn feels really nice!! I also received a sweet little thank you note as well as a stitch marker!! I am also looking at some hand dyed yarn and I am waiting on some swatches to be mailed to help me with my final decision on what yarn weight to go with. I also have some GREAT yarn that I recently purchased that fits my pals color preferances......Ah.....so many choices!!! Stay Tuned.........

Bloomin Feet Swap!!!!

I received my match for the Bloomin Feet Swap!!

Now the pressure is ON!! I am perusing yarns right now, I have several choices in mind....just haven 't made up my mind yet.....hmmmm, may need to check out the LYS, just to be sure they don't have something new!! (O.K. I know it is just an excuse to go shop!!) LOL!!

BUT.....the REAL pressure is that I have only knitted socks for feet that I have easy access to.....like MINE and my DH!! It didn't hit me until the other day that I am not so sure that I can make a sock to fit a foot that I can't try it on while knitting!!! I do have my pal's foot dimensions.....and I do have a pair of sock blockers that are that approximate length....but STILL......Oh the PRESSURE!!!! I am starting to stress out about this!!! I have checked out the other members blogs and they are AWESOME sock knitters!!!! My socks are of the very basic variety......guess I better come up with some fantastic yarn to compensate for my lack of skills at this point!! LOL!!!

Stay Tuned!!

Darlene Arrived....With Goodies!!

Darlene Arrived Today!!!

I had about talked myself out of buying anymore sock yarn till I had knitted up a portion of what I have in my stash....so it's all Paula's fault that I bought this yarn!! (Like I needed anyone to talk me into buying more sock yarn!!) LOL!!

I ask....could you POSSIBLY turn down the VERY LAST Skein available....especially when it is your name sake yarn??? No, I didn't think so!!!

If you haven't checked out Paula's blog please do...she is working on an incredible vest...started out as TRIANGLES....you need to see this!!

Sweater Update And Other Knitting

SWEATER UPDATE!!!

O.K. If you squinch up your eyes and use your imagination.......you can ALMOST imagine this as a sweater!! Can't you??

This is SLOW going for me!! I knit a few rows and find myself getting "fidgety" to get back to sock knitting!!

I have made a bit more progress since this picture was taken....but not much! It seems like I knit, and knit and KNIT and I'm not really getting anywhere!!! But.....I know slow and steady gets the sweater finished!!

I am also working on a couple of pairs of socks. The purple pair is knit with Blue Moon Fiber Arts which was a gift from Tonni awhile back. I wanted to make a few more pairs of socks before I knit with this....I have to admit I am SOOOO in love with this yarn!!!














I am calling this my "swamp" socks.....the pic doesn't show the true color....but picture the green slime that grows in slow moving water and THAT is the color of this yarn! This is yarn that I purchased from Fearless Fibers, which is an Ebay seller. I have bought 3 skeins of yarn from this seller and have been pleased with all three!




















Updates to follow at a later date so check back!

What $521.00 worth of Love Looks Like

Poor Max!!

Yet ANOTHER surgery!! This is Max's second surgery for bladder stones....despite being on a special diet which costs $41/month!

Ahhh....the things we do for love!!!






OH.....and let's don't forget the prescriptions!!










But....what can I say? He's worth it and as long as he isn't suffering and I can pay the bills we'll do what we have to!!

Nothing like the unconditional love of your pets....unless of course you own a cat (which I do).....and we ALL know their love comes with a plethora of "conditions"!! LOL!!! (But worth it too)!!

NEW Sock Yarn!!

I have gotten SOOOO hooked on the Lime N Violet Podcasts!!! Miss Lime and Miss Violet are absolutely the funniest, raunchiest, bawdiest, "ladies" I have ever heard!! They are a cross between NPR and a Saturday Night Live skit!! LOL!!

Their Yarn Porn report is great.....they find all these wonderful folks that spin and/or dye their own yarn and here are two they reported on.

First: Sunshine Yarns This particular yarn is 100% Superwash wool, 450 yards. The picture doesn't do the color justice!! SOOO soft!!

Second: Spunky Eclectic 100% Superwash, 550 yards. Again, the picture doesn't do justice to the actual colors. Spunky Eclectic will let you choose your weight and custom dye for you!! Click on the link "Order a color or yarn that's sold out" section.

Both of these yarns are INCREDIBLY soft and I can't WAIT to get started on them!!!

I AM still working on my sweater......M.A.Y. post a pic tomorrow of my progress.....which of course isn't nearly as far along as Tonni's!!!

If you haven't seen Becky's latest blockers.....Oh My!!! The "Three Little Fish" are absolutely AWESOME....she is so very talented!!!!

A Connection To My Past!!

Awhile back, my mother mentioned to me that she remembered my Grandmother, along with several other ladies in their town, meeting once a week at the local doctor's home to knit socks for the troops!

I never knew my Grandmother knew how to knit, much less was involved in a project such as this! My Grandmother taught me to crochet but I don't recall her mentioning that she knew how to knit!!

I was so intrigued by the thought that ladies across the U.S. were meeting in homes to make socks for the troups....rather than the socks being machine made...... that I decided to do a search for vintage sock patterns to see if I could find any patterns such as might have been used.

I was so tickled to find that the Red Cross had this commemorative kit for sale along with other "vintage" style items. The kit is $25 and comes complete with a copy of the 1942 pattern that was distributed across the U.S. along with the wool and needles.

The presentation was really nice!! Everything wrapped in tissue paper! "The Humble Sock" printed on the inside of the lid was so interesting to me! Apparently the socks were knitted, turned in to local chapters, each sock was checked by hand and if it was found "lacking" in any way it was ripped out, re-wound and re-distributed for another go round!

If you are a sock knitter I would highly recommend spending the $25 to purchase this kit.....if for no other reason than you are helping the Red Cross!!

I just think it is so cool to know that in 2007, I can sit down and knit the same pattern that my Grandmother knitted in the early 40's!!

I'm All Signed UP!!

I DID IT!!!!

I signed up for the Hurricane Sock Party 2007!! I'm not a GREAT knitter but I think with the right yarn I can manage to produce ONE decent sock to swap with someone! This will be my VERY FIRST Swap and I am VERY excited!!!

Also looking forward to receiving my first Socks That Rock yarn from the Rockin Sock Club!

In addition to the above......I am working with Tonni....(well, Tonni is working with ME) to knit a sweater. Tonni, is a phenomenally fast knitter and is WAYYY ahead of me! I plan to knit tonight and have a pic to post tomorrow!! (Feeling the pressure here....check out Tonni's blog!)

AND......last but not least......I have plans to make my first lace shawl!! Becky brought me the pattern (written out in format for dummies...oops...I mean for beginners).....and I truly think I can make this!!!

I finished one sock with SRS yarn from Tonni, have casted on a sock using some Fearless Fibers yarn (yes.....BEFORE I finished the SRS mate).

Whew!!! I'm out of control here!!! This is SOO unlike me!! I don't have any more time to knit than I did last year......but hopefully as my skills are improving....EVER SO SLOWLY......I am able to accomplish more in the same amount of limited time.

I just LOVE to knit!!!!

Coffee Anyone?

You Are an Espresso

At your best, you are: straight shooting, ambitious, and energetic At your worst, you are: anxious and high strung You drink coffee when: anytime you're not sleeping Your caffeine addiction level: high

What Kind of Coffee Are You?

What I Did Today!

I'm not a lush....REALLY!

I LOVE New Year's Day!!! I stay in my P.J.'s all day, drink Mimosa's, eat whatever, whenever, read a bit, knit a bit and generally end the day with a long hot soak in the tub and a good book!! Ahhh.....heaven!!! If only every day could be so wonderful and stress free!!!

I thought I might finish this sock......I'm almost down to the toe decrease.....I am SOOOOO loving this yarn!!! It is Blue Moon, Socks that Rock yarn and there is just no comparison between it and the Knit Picks Parade and Simple Stripes I have used in the past! Love it so much I joined the Rockin Sock Club. First shipment is in February.....I sure hope I am going to be able to follow the patterns that accompany the yarn each shipment! I'm still pretty much a beginner! Thanks Tonni for leading me astray......um.....I mean for sharing this great yarn with me and telling me about the Rockin Sock Club!! LOL!!!

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!!!