A Day Well Spent in Lawrence

Saturday was great! Though cold, Bob and I took off early for a planned road trip to Lawrence, Kansas. You see, there was this train show drawing us there. And plus, there's always Yarn Barn for me to explore.


We started our day off right by going to my favorite Lawrence coffee and breakfast spot, Milton's. Even at 8:00 in the morning, it was packed. This is the kind of place that serves wonderful, bottomless cups of coffee in all KINDS of flavors and strengths. Not the fru-fru latte' stuff (although they probably have that too), but the REAL fresh-ground bean kind that is the favorite of those of us who drink our coffee PLAIN, BLACK and unaudulterated with milk and foam. Instead of waiting for a server to serve you more, everyone goes to the pots and fills up themselves as needed.

Next we headed over to the train show. It was really fun. We spent the morning there. Not only did we find a few things to add to Bob's small display, but we also won a door prize, and that's always exciting. It was so neat to watch the little guy's there with their father's and grandfather's staring in mesmerization at the trains on display.

We also OF COURSE had to stop in at Yarn Barn where I found a couple of skeins of Malabrigo Lace in a color called Cinnebar - yum. I found Louet Gem's sock yarn there too in a shade of green. I've been wanting to try that sock yarn because so many people rave about it. I can never walk out of that store empty-handed now, can I? It's downright impossible.

I made it back to town in time to go to Honkerbeans to meet with my regular knitting crowd. Unfortunately, during the time there, we discovered that they are no longer owned by the family who used to own them, and they have even changed names etc. They are turning it into an Italian eatery in the evenings and maybe the weekends - the format is still undecided but I just wonder if we'll still be able to meet there? Not sure. I know that I much preferred it being a family-owned casual coffee shop. So if you go to Honkerbeans and don't find us there, go to Borders. I don't like the idea of switching to a corporate owned place. But how many places can 10-15 people meet for free in our area? Not sure yet.


While there at Honkerbeans, Kay brought in more of her hand-dyed yarn and I fell in love with Black Rose. It's mine now. She's really brewing up some winning colorways.


I found some help with my Magic Loop socks at the knit group yesterday. Both Carol and Kay helped me figure out the basics of how Magic Loop works. Then I came home that night and guess what? I opened up Melissa's book again, followed the instructions step-by-step and it suddenly made perfect sense. I loved it! Started knitting two small socks at once and they are really easy and fast. This method might make a believer and a two-at-a-time sock knitter out of me yet. Why knit only one when I can knit two and it's really really EASY. I swear.

Do you notice the cute little red bag sitting there holding my sock yarn? My friend Carla told me she got one on clearance from Avon. So I went on ebay and found one here for only $4.50 + shipping. It's $9 after shipping, but it's really a great little 9" by 4" vinyl bag. It holds 2 balls of yarn, my socks in progress, a small knitting notions packet. If you are trying to find it through Avon it's called, "Avon Red Holiday Train Makeup Case." Now I have socks 2 at a time TO GO.

Looking Forward - Knitting in the Heartland

While I sort of already know how to do toe-up socks doing the 2 circ method, as you know, I want to learn the Magic Loop if there's any humanly way to teach an old dog (me) new tricks.

I was just grousing about that in my last post. And then hey, I starting investigating the Sunflower Guild's Knitting in the Heartland conference being held April 5th and 6th. Guess what? I may learn Magic Loop once and for all because I'm taking a class with Carmen at Knitting in the Heartland. I signed up the other day. The class description says, "In this class, learn why we love to start at the toe, knit to fit, and when you run out of yarn, you're done! Knit a mini sock-shaped coin purse using the magic loop technique, learning invisible toe cast on, show row heel and alternatives to the standard bind off."

I have some flyers if anyone else is interested in taking some classes that first weekend in April or go to the Guild's website and check it out for yourself. The classes are economical and there will be a market as well. Stephanie Japhael of FITTED KNITS will be the featured guest teacher. Best of all Carmen and Kay will both be vendors there.

Plonk Plonk - Is that Snow or What

Yesterday morning, we were awakened to the "plonk plonk" of something heavy and loud on the side of our house. When I looked out, it was the snow the weatherman had predicted, but it was raining down like big clods of slush and hit the ground with a weird "thunk" and quickly collected in slushy debris all over the road and everywhere else.

Throughout the day, it gradually melted - sort of. Then it got really cold last night and froze all up again. From what I hear, rush hour this morning is a God Awful Mess. Because of my later work schedule, I haven't trekked out into it yet. But I'm dreading it.

I am in a real February BLAH feeling. All I want to do is stay home, hole up in the house and hibernate. But that gets depressing too. I think it's just a depressing month. I normally like cold weather but even I am really really sick of being cold by now. Spring seems so far away. Whine, whine, whine.

Nothing exciting in the knitting world either. I am still working on the never-ending Wrap Me Up and hopefully SOON I won't need it anymore.


I bought this book over the weekend. I liked it because the book is spiral bound, lies flat to make for easier knitting/reading while working. It has good photos and teaches the Magic Loop method, knitting two socks at once from the cuff down only. For those of you who prefer toe-up, forget it, there's nothing in this book about that. Strictly cuff down, which is okay with me.

I love the patterns in this book, and want to make several of them. Even though the book shows step-by-step how to do the Magic Loop, I tried it twice with the sample sock she demonstrates in the intro, and though I understood it theoretically, in practice it felt awkward. I would have been fine with awkward for a while because every new technique feels weird at first. But with the increased tension of using 1 needle, I kept getting these huge gaping strings/holes between the front and back of each of the two socks. No matter how tight I tried to pull them together, and knit tight, each row kept gaping again and wouldn't close up. I tried using 40 inch needles and then switched to 47 - they both were the same. Not attractive. So I finally gave up and put them away, going back to my old tried-and-true method of socks on 2 circs.

Why you may ask would I want to learn Magic Loop since I already have mastered 2 circ method? Well, I just like to learn new things. Probably because it's novel, new and fun. I also like to find better ways of doing things if another method turns out honestly better. I see several of my friends, especially Carol, using and loving the Magic Loop, so I figured there MAY be an inherent advantage to it. I just havent seen the light yet. I also haven't quite seen the advantage of doing 2 at once either.

I personally don't have the dreaded Second Sock Syndrome. Making socks takes me so long that once I finish one, I'm eager to start the second and it usually goes much faster, with the motivation of being able to wear the things relatively soon. Plus, making two at once (and I HAVE done it before) makes the whole thing feel heavier, less portable, more yarn tangling etc. Two at once and Magic Loop both seem too inconvenient and fiddly for me. But I am open to being convinced otherwise.

Also, I am totally convinced that T.S. Eliot was WRONG about April being the cruelest month. It's a tie between February and August. By the end of winter (whine-ter) and the end of summer, I am always so glad to be done with the extreme temps that they seem extremely slow and cruel.


The reason I've been so sock obsessed this weekend is because I have been DYING to start a new pair of socks using the Dome yarn I bought from Kay. I wound it and will begin this week by starting a brand new pair of socks. Just the beginnings. This yarn is so colorful and cheerful, so my solution to the winter doldrums will be to knit them away. That will make me feel much better.

Contemplating Future Projects

Even while I work on this Wrap Me Up project, which seems to be taking forever (I'm currently on Block 12 of 21 blocks), other future projects are dancing in my head. This Wrap is growing big - more like an afghan than a wrap really. I can't imagine wearing it around without looking like Linus dragging a brightly colored blanket. Hmmm. It might be a good lap ghan. Oh well, it's fun, but I'm eager to finish it already and move onto other things.

In short, as bitter cold temperatures surround me and I can't get warm for the life of me, I am contemplating many Springy projects and my queue of future projects grows as the free time I have to work on them shortens. I could blame my flighty attention span, but instead, I think I'll blame Ravelry for trying to entice me to new things. Why blame myself when I can blame Ravelry?


The cupcake fingerless mitts I started (one mitt complete) need to be ripped out and started over. It came out too far out on my fingers. They are designed to go more than halfway down the finger area, and I discovered I don't like that. All my other fingerless gloves I've made and worn end just at the base of the fingers, so they don't get in your way. These really obstruct my fingers and drive me crazy, plus they are too wide for my hand, so I need to make them narrower. They will definitely be a "redo" becaue I love how the gloves look. Can't wait to do the embroidery embellishments. That will be really fun.


I want to use this lovely haindpainted (Crafty In a Good Way) handpainted silk to make a rectangular shawl. I have two different patterns in mind, but am worried that with both of them, the 1050 yards in this particular skein may not be quite enough. They both require about 1200 yards. Do I dare risk running out? Hmmmm. Not sure. It's kind of risky. And with a rectangular shawl, you can't just do fewer repeats I don't think. I've never made a rectangular shawl before.



I also really REALLY like Jane Thornley's Feather and Fan Organic Wrap. This is something I think would go pretty fast and I've been longing to do for a while with the yarns pictured here from my stash. It would be a good stashbuster wrap. But do I really need another wrap? Well, I do seem to use them.

Decisions, decisions.

Returning To "Wrap Me Up"

Remember this project? Wrap Me Up? I started it in August during my road trip to Stitches Midwest but I set it aside during the hot August heat and have had it sitting around for 6 months now. Time to pull it back out!




I've been working on it again. I added a lime green beaded section that was lots of fun. You can see it in the photo posted.

There are so many projects I want to do right now, but very few hours in the day to do all I want. Isn't that the usual story?

I've been really exhausted. It's been my first week out on the floor at work (just fresh out of a month of training). I now have different work hours than before and am working into the early evening. The hours sort of cut a swath out of the middle of my day/night, so it feels like I don't get as much done. Going in a bit later has been helpful in terms of getting to work in the bad weather we've been having, but it plays hell on my body rhythm and time with my family. The job itself seems really good - I'm catching on faster than I thought and I enjoy the work itself. Every new thing takes adjustments - and I'm in a transition phase.

Here are a couple pictures of my daughter and her boyfriend. Her social life is busier than ever these days.

Super Duper Tuesday - and Super Freaky Weather

First of all, in spite of a strange freakish severe thunderstorm and pouring rain, I got out and voted first thing in the morning for the leader I feel more excited about than I have been for anyone is a L-O-N-G time. I always vote in every primary, and every election, but this one made me especially proud. Barack Obama makes me believe that he might actually pull our country out of this big mess we're in.

At any rate, our state, Missouri, narrowly agreed with me, by a 1% margin. In the Democratic party in Missouri, we split the votes according to percentage, so it went for him, but she'll get some too. The cities of Kansas City and St. Louis voted for him overwhelmingly, but the rural areas went Hilary.

Even though I'm a political junkie, I try not to blog about it, but couldn't resist today. I am so proud and happy. Wish he had even a better showing in my State, but an amazing number of Democrats (1/2 million) braved horrible weather to cast their vote. Last night, the pouring rain turned into ice and a bit of snow. The highway I drive to work was shut down last night after 12 wrecks. We have more snow coming today - here's the forecast. It's open today, thouh, so I have to figure out how to get to my new job - they have a really strict attendance policie for newbies.

Another weird thing - they had a tornado in Arkansas yesterday, to our south.

My daugter, who gets really really tired of us talking politics at our house, had to share this Obama clip with me and I'm passing it along to everyone else who cares to be moved by it. Thanks, honey, it's a really good one! Obama link.

Tomorrow, it will be back to knitting, life and other stuff. But for today, I'm still savoring the belief that YES WE CAN!!! (Even in crummy freakish thunderstormy and now ICEY weather). Yikes. Have a good one everyone.

Dome the Yarn - And Those Who Will Soon Knit It Up

My friend Kay FINALLY dragged herself back to our Sip N Knit group this weekend. Yay! I haven't seen her in a hound's age, and I really missed her. We soon discovered that she's been busy there at her "Dome" (she's building a geodesmic dome house). And it seems she's been cook'n up some mighty fine acid-dyed yarn there in her crafty hideaway.


So she brought it to our group and opened it up for sale. Not that she was a yarn enabler or anything. Nahhh. She must have sensed it was right about time for us Yarn Dieters' to break our fast. I started the buying procession by latching upon this "Flam'N Hot" Dome Hill Sock Yarn. But don't worry, I am NOT making socks with it. No, it will eventually become a shoulder shawl.


Then I started a buying frenzy. I won't tell tales or name names to protect the innocent, but let's just say that nearly all of us partook in buying at least one. Okay, I'll name Mary, who bought the lovely Carmel Latte'.


Here are some other members, working away on their various projects. We have Lorenia, who loves all things Dr. Who and has been busy crocheting Dr. Who characters. This is the Dr. himself, and she's currently making Rose.


We have Laura and her daughter, Fry, modeling their recently completed sweaters. We are hoping that Fry will develop an avid interest in knitting soon, but we haven't quite talked her into it yet.


Mary finished the baby blanket and it looks fantastic.

Tracy is from Ravelry and has been to visit a couple of times and needs to come more often. She is making a felted bag. Not sure which pattern.


We had a new visitor named Rachel from Ravelry. Here she is with the baby washcloth she is knitting for a gift.

I apologize to anyone at the meeting who felt that I talked their arm, leg, or knitting needles off. I haven't really been to a meeting there in a couple of weeks and I missed it so much. Knitting is my passion, and I get carried away a bit at times. I always talk a lot, but not usually THAT much.


This last photo is my current project, which is the Cupcake Fingerless Mitts, a new design by Karen Neal of The Studio. She has been designing some really cute stuff and her pattern is listed on Ravelry. The first glove is almost finished but I am going to add some embroidery embellishments, as the pattern suggests. I really love making this mitts so far. The bright colors I've chosen are brightening the long winter days and making me start to hope for an early Spring.

If anyone wants to get hooked up with some Dome Hill Yarns, go to the link and you too can have some.

Another Try at the Cables and Bobbles Hat

I gave up trying to salvage that Kathmandu yarn version of the Cables & Bobbles Hat from the January 2008 issue of Creative Knitting. I threw it in the trash.

Then late last week, I started a new version with cheap but wonderful "Caron's Simply Soft" in the Autumn Red colorway. I realize some knitters are totally put off of acrylic yarn, but truthfully, Caron's Simply Soft has always been one of my very favorite yarns! So I was quite happy to make the switch.

To make the hat a bit smaller, I went down from a size 10 1/2 needle that was called for in the pattern and moved to a 9, plus I cast on the brim with size 7.

It just so happens that a couple of years ago, I made Bobby an Irish Hiking scarf out of that same yarn and color. Well, since he hasn't worn the scarf himself, then as soon as I find it in one of these closets, I'm planning on confiscating it and it will officially mine. (Shsssh!!! Don't tell, he'll never notice). Then I'll have a nice little cables hat and scarf set just in time for the worst of the winter.

This weekend, we're having a weird Spring-ish reprieve. Yes, it's supposed to get up into the 60s today. But tomorrow another cold snap is coming and we'll be back to real winter again. This new hat and scarf set will come in handy. Eventually I'll make a pair of gloves to go with it too. But not immediately.

My next project is the set of Fingerless Gloves that Carol and I went to get the pattern for Thursday night (see Thelma & Louise adventure recounted below).

Have a fun, adventurous week everyone!

Not Quite Thelma and Louise

It all started last night. Early in the evening, my friend Carol called to see if I wanted to do an imprompteau knit session for a while. Yes, I did. But I also wanted to dash to The Studio to pick up a hot new pattern from Karen and get some yarn to go with it. They are a pair of fingerless gloves that she just designed for the Retreat, which unfortunately I don't get to go to. On my limited budget, I'd rather spend the money on yarn -- and patterns of course.

I know, I am supposed to be on a yarn diet. But this was a little bit of yarn. Sport weight yarn. And besides, I really wanted it.

Since we both wanted to go there (but mainly me, because I'm insistent that way), Carol met me at Honkerbean's, she was literally standing outside her car ready to jump in mine the moment I pulled up. That was at 6:20. The Studo was scheduled to close at 7:00 p.m. We were at thirty to forty minutes away. No problem.

Except I hit every red light going on every surface street right off the highway. Then on the Plaza, there was a major detour due to construction I didn't know about. We had to detour.

At 6:53 p.m., we had to stop at another red light going up the hill toward the shop. We called on the cell phone and asked Sara and Laura, the employees, not to close the door quite yet cuz we were ALMOST there.

I didn't even wait to find a parking spot, but pulled to an abrupt halt right in front of the shop at a couple of minutes AFTER 7:00. I told Carol to stand in the door and not let them lock up.

Due to the fact that they were already doing us a favor, we shopped fast, picked up the pattern and yarn and left.

Then we went off to Honkerbeans for some coffee and an hour knitting before they too closed. Party poopers. But we had a nice little outing. Two middle aged gals may not be Thelma and Louise, but we pulled off a drive-by stash enhancement and enjoyed a coffee and a laugh before heading home. Not bad for an otherwise boring Thursday night.

Sanity Saving Book - A Gift From the Sea

In times of stress or trouble, I always seek refuge in a book my mother discovered in her forties and shared with me in my twenties. A Gift From the Sea by Ann Morrow Linbergh. Now that I'm into my err-hmm late forties, I really appreciate this slim volume of a book even more. It may be a fast-read, but this book should NOT be taken lightly in terms of power and impact on the inner life. It's a strong antiobiotic for the soul.

It occurred to me, as part of my "Sanity Saving" series that I ought to share this book with others as well. Books have always been my solace, my best friends, and a way to explore, learn and grow.

When I'm stressed, somtimes I need comfort, like a soft blanket, a warm cup of coffee, a good book, or comfort foods. (Those get me in weight trouble though). The coffee, books and blanket are calorie-free and thus preferable. Other times when I'm stressed, what I really need is a good kick in the butt mentally to shake me out of it. This mental kick can be self-provided or can come from someone who loves me and wants to shake me out of self-pity or fear. That's a real friend for you, someone who can do that.

This book is both a comfort as well as a kick in the butt. So it satisfies both de-stressing criteria.

In Gift from the Sea Lindbergh writes about her annual vacation to her childhood summer cabin in Maine where she retreats alone each year, leaving her husband and five children for the sheer joy of being alone with her thoughts, her writing and the sea. Within this beach house backdrop, Lindbergh uses sea and shell metaphors to relate a series of essays that describe her life and help her sort through it. Though the book was written many decades ago, during the fifties if I'm not mistaken, the truths in the book ring as true, or truer, today than 50 years ago.

This book is about Lindbergh's search for simplicity within the complications of modern life: motherhood, marriage, jobs, and friends.

I am going to dig out my copy to read and inwardly get back to my own center at a bitterly cold time of year when I'm stressed and actually fantasizing about the ocean. I'm normally a cool-weather sort of gal, but right now, summer seems so welcome and the sound of the ocean is roaring in my head for some reason. I won't feel this way in July. Trust me!

Cables and Bobbles - Oh My!

I needed a winter hat. With the weather getting nippy, I decided to make the Cables and Bobbles Beret from Creative Knitting on page 32. Lorenia in our knitting group had made that, along with the Unisex gloves from One Skein. I decided to make the hat using Katmandu Aran weight, two strands held together as instructed. Unfortunately, I was anxious to get started and didn't do a gauge swatch.

I finished the hat quickly. It was really easy and fun. Whipped it out in one day, yesterday. Unfortunately, it's a bit too large for my head. You see it here placed higher up, but it goes all the way down my forehead and practically covers my eyes. Gauge swatches really do help! But anyhow, I like the hat. It's cute and kind of funky.

I'll probably try to wash it in the washer and hope it doesn't felt. But if it does, I like it well enough to try another. We'll see what happens and if I can get it to shrink.

Afterwards: Okay, the idea about shrinking it in the washer was a bad idea. I thought the worst that would happen was it would shrink way too much and/or felt and I'd give it away to a child. Instead, it grew expontentially. Oh my gosh, now it's big enough to work as a car cover, just kidding, but it's really BIG. After it dries, I'll post a picture just for grins.


Here it is - all I can say is, "Oh my, how did this happen?"

Rose Hearts Shawl is Finished

As you all know, I've been making my grandmother a shawl, the Rose Hearts Shawl by Elizabeth Matthews for the past month. Well, it's finally finished. Here it is in all of its various phases.






The pattern through Elizabeth Matthews, so I'm linking to her Etsy shop where you can find it for only $3.00. The pattern has both written instructions as well as a chart, so even if you're a new lace knitter, it would make a good first shawl project. There is a knitalong that just started over on Yahoogroups and Ravelry. It just started two days ago if you want to join in.

The best feeling of all was giving it to the one it was intended for- Grandma Ferne. I'm so glad she likes it. I think since it's worsted weight Malabrigo yarn, it will be soft AND warm. She gets cold a lot. I made her promise to wear it and not save it in a draw for a special occasion. Every DAY is special and deserves a magnificent shawl.

Now I'm off to work on a hat I'm knitting for myself called Cable and Bobble Beret from Creative Knitting Jan 08 issue. It's not really a beret, but more of a hat with bobbles and cables. You can see it online on page 32 of the magazine. I just started it last night and I don't have a whole lot more to go.

The Namesake - A Wonderful Movie!

I am a HUGE movie buff. In fact, I can't even guess the number of movies I watch per year, both on the big screen and at home. But this movie, The Namesake is one of the most moving and memorable pictures I've ever seen. It was on "my recommended" films in Netflix or else I probably would have never discovered it.

This movie starts with a young newlywed couple from Calcutta moving from India to New York and they embark into a new life in America, while never leaving their Indian roots. The film starts in the 1970's, showing the characters' lives from the 1970's into the 2000 era. It follows their transition as a family, with teeanagers and later become adult children with lives of their own.

It's a movie that warms your heart, dives into a cultural shift between two generations from immigrants to the American-melded children - it crosses the cultural and generational divide in an eloquent and amazing way.

After watching this movie, I immediately started it up again and watched the whole thing a second time in one sitting. That's how good it is. If you want a good knitting or crocheting movie this weekend, go rent The Namesake.

Look Who Found a New Hobby . . . .

We tried to go for a romantic anniversary weekend. Our daughter spent the night at a friend's house, we boarded the dog overnight too. We were planning on eating a nice buffet dinner, play some blackjack and then stay overnight at a casino. We didn't think there would be any trouble getting a room there, so we didn't bother to make a reservation. Well, on the way there (over an hour's drive), Bob started getting the sniffles and feeling kind of run down and sickly.

The buffet dinner was mediocre at best. Our own local casino has a MUCH better buffet, let me tell you. We were craving heaping plates of crab legs, but instead were treated to half-warm and overdone deviled crab in the shell, and they had a bunch of smooshy, unappetizing shrimp in a macaroni dish that was --- just odd. Not what we expected.

Then when we went to the reservation desk to see a room, we were told that they were way overbooked and there was literally "no room at the inn." The lackluster desk clerk suggested we stay at a Not Great nearby. Yuck. No thanks. My husband turned to me and said, "Honey, this is just like our REAL wedding night." And he was right.

The story is, when we were married, we were broke newlyweds and didn't have enough money for a real honeymoon. So we were planning on staying at a really classy nearby hotel. But they insisted we pay by credit card, and at that time, we didn't have a credit card to our name. Just a checkbook. So, we just went back to our small apartment at that time and said, "Whatever." We did the same thing last night. We stayed at another hotel that was probably much better than the one we were turned away from.

Unfortunately, by that time, later in the evening, Bob's "little sniffle" had escalated into a full-blown and nasty cold. He felt horrible. So our little night away wasn't as romantic as it could have been . . . but it was fine, really. We had a good laugh out of it.

Then we decided that yesterday, Saturday, we'd go to a train show. When he was a kid, Bob used to love trains. I've been urging him to get a new hobby. They were having a train show downtown this weekend, so we went both days. We both had a great time and were fascinated.


For our anniversary, I bought him a very inexpensive HO starter train set. He's so excited. Look at him, the pictures say it all. Not romantic, but a very nice weekend all in all. We can still laugh together, and still play trains. What more do you need than that?

I'm Angora - and Happy Anniversary to Me!

According to the fiber test, you can take here, I am Angora.

Angora – Soft and warm
“Angora has a warmth that rivals cashmere and softness that rivals qiviut. Best of all, it comes from cute little bunnies that look for all the world like furry footstools with ears.” –The Knitter’s Book of Yarn

Angoras are eager to please and are highly sensitive. Flexibility and adaptability are your strengths and sometimes your weakness, as well. You are essentially a warm and feeling person, and little escapes your impressionable mind. You are generous with others and strive for harmony in your relationships.

Anyone buy Clara Parkes' new book yet? I've been putting off buying it, because of tight budget, but finally decided to get it. If I know anything about Clara Parkes, which I do after reading her for the past four years on Knitters' Review, the forum she originated, I know that SHE KNOWS all there is to know about fiber. I'm sure this book is a winner - and one of the best ways of getting both a reference on fiber traits, as well as wonderful patterns.

Speaking of knitting, my knitting has been going really sucky lately. The Rose Hearts Shawl I'm making is going extremely slow. I still am not finished with it. Haven't been working on it much at all. I'm frankly just sick of it. It's growing very slowly and is tedious. I have wanted several times to bind off and be done with it, but it's still only 36" wide, so I'm afraid it's not quite large enough across. Now I've made a mistake and need to rip back to an earlier lifeline but now that there are over 200 stitches on the needle, I hate even knitting or ripping a row. HEAVY SIGH.

Today is my 22nd wedding anniversary. Hurray!!! Marrying my husband was one of the very best decisions of my life. I've made a lot of mistakes, but thank goodness, he wasn't one of them. He's my best friend, my sweetie, and my favorite companion in the world.

New Job - Tee Hee

I've only been there one day so far, and granted, most of what we covered was paperwork and benefits, but let me just say that I'm happy so far.

The job seems good. I'm excited. Yay!!

I think I got into a good thing at a good time.

Whew. Sigh of relief. I need a place like this, where there's a real chance of staying with a company for a couple of more decades before I retire.

Now back to the shawl knitting that never seems to end. I'm not quite finished yet, and getting more than anxious to be done.

Out of the Closet

I would not wear them in a tree
I would not wear them ever again on me

I would not wear them on my rump
I'd only wear them in a wardrobe slump

I would not want them on my shoulders
These matronly clothes only made me look older

I dare not wear them off to work
Everyone would think I'm a fashion dwerk

Though I am not a fashion plate
Let's see if I can change my fate


Today came the time to reshape my morning routine for my future job. (I'm starting Monday). The dress code at this new place is "business casual" as opposed to "wear anything but your pajamas" which was the extremely casual code at my last job. I won't blame the dress code, because it was my choice to dress like a slob. But it's time now to dress like a grown up again. So today early morning task (after doing the treadmill for 40 minutes) was to cull through my wardrobe and try on every last dress pants, skirt, blouse, jacket etc to see what still fits and looks presentable. Not much. It seems I've gotten so fat in the past 18 months . . . but we won't go there. I'm working on that too. I'm envisioning the new healthier, thinner me.

It feels really good to have a managable closet again, and to be able to walk right up to find 7 pairs of nice pants that fit and look pretty good on me. There need to be a few more blouses purchased to give myself a more professional look without looking TOO dressy. But now I know what I need and what to buy. That closet inventory was even more carthetic than the yarn inventory. Whew!!

Now I'm going to go take a friend, Carol, out for her birthday lunch. A healthy lunch. Enough pigging out already - I'm actually CRAVING a salad. Can you believe that?

How does the fortune cookie crumble?

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This morning I woke up early and decided to make Chinese Fortune Cookies. I've been wanting to do this for some time, but never tried it before. The first day of a brand new year seemed like the perfect time to try it. Bobby and I made up a list of sayings to put in the cookies. That was a lot of fun!! Then, I printed out this recipe and tried my hand at it early this morning.

Although the cookies were a flop - I'm sure the recipe was not at fault, but my own bad execution of the recipe. I don't quite have the concept down pat yet and think that I probably made the dough way too thick on each cookie and thus they were so thick they wouldn't bend around the fortune paper slips without totally breaking.

At any rate, I have the fortunes printed up and may dispense them to myself and others through another way, like maybe a cute little vase, candy dish or whatever. I made up some of the sayings and I quoted my favorite authors for many. It will be nice picking a daily reminder from a cute little vase before I walk out the door each day.

I've been off work for the past two weeks and it's rare that Bob and I have had so much time together as a couple and as a family (our daughter was off from school too). This is the most vacation time we've taken in years. We didn't go anywhere, but just spent the time together. Emily commented yesterday that it's been TOO MUCH of a good thing. Yeah, I think everyone's about ready to get back to a regular work/school routine, much as I'm surprised to feel so ready myself.

Though we haven't gotten a lot done, we've relaxed a LOT, watched a lot of movies and enjoyed the rest and reflection. We also worked out a new budget for the New Year to reflect our determination to get debt-free and live more within our means. We're getting to the age where retirement funding needs to be a consideration, and we haven't faced that enough.

The best decisions I made last year: Leaving the company I was with at year's end - making a clean break of it and heading in a new (but related) direction careerwise. Leaving time to relax before starting my new job.

Most fun I had all year: Going to Stitches Midwest in Chicago with the knitting buddies, including my Mom. Visiting St. Louis with Bob.

Great accomplishment we made as a family: paying down some of our debts. Taking time together the last two weeks of December and hanging out together.

The best thing I knit last year: Three things actually - the Harriet knitting bag; the Forest Canopy Shawl and the denim vest sleeves.

What I learned that made me proud: How to crochet. How to knit lace!

Have a good year ahead everyone. May we all make it the best year yet.

My Guiding Word for 2008 - "Awareness"

Each year, my friend Phyllis and I choose a word to guide us through the coming year. If you've never heard me go on and on about this before - then read about how we came up with this by going here. I've chosen excellent words in the past, some were more effective and rang truer with me than others. Last year, I selected "self-control" but it was one of those clunkers that didn't work as well because I think it was too extreme and non-forgiving. I didn't feel comfortable with it - and thus didn't exercise much of it. I guess the rebel part of me rebelled against the very thought, not to mention the adherence, to that word!

So this year, I am selecting "Awareness" with a great deal of consideration and I think it will work for me! I've actually been using it since October, when the word was mentioned at a Weight Watchers meeting and the word resonated and clung to me like the finest cashmere.

Why Awareness? Because it covers all areas of my life - my personal life, my health and fitness efforts, my career, my knitting life, my spiritual development, my financial prosperity. By being aware, I gain the power to make informed and heartfelt choices. If I'm AWARE, I have a choice. If I'm mentally asleep at the wheel, I lose it all to old, destructive habit, to living on automatic pilot, to taking the easy, but wandering road that too often gets me off track on my personal goals.

So my word for this year is "Awareness." By choosing to be aware more often, about more things, and to come back to that awareness without chastisment, but with an attitude of "Oh yeah, now I'm THERE, centered, I can make the best choice for me in this moment." Awareness is what it really takes to steer my year ahead. Here's to 2008 - here's to being more aware. Not being perfect, just walking toward what I want with the magic word in my heart.

Reeling From the Yarn Stash Inventory

I used to think that the stash folder was the one thing on Ravelry I would never use. Why? I told myself that I already know what is in my stash, that it’s “not much” and that ”I’m going to use it all eventually.” Also, that’s it’s manageable because I already know what projects I’m going to make with most of it. Yeah, right. What obvious rationalizing I’ve been doing.

In recent days, I’ve been pulling bags and bags out of not only my yarn room closet, but also other closets in the house, including mine upstairs and storage containers downstairs in the family room closet. Yikes! Just gathering it altogether and setting it out is a chore. Then I started photographing it on my digital camera. Wow! What a chore. I have used up most of my monthly uploading allowance on Flickr. I still haven’t finished uploading yet. Jeez.

I’m finding yarn and projects I’d totally forgotten about. It’s like finding gold (and lots of Fools Gold too). Along with the yarn, I’m finding old patterns I wanted to make - and matching yarn with projects I’m much more excited about than the original pattern intention.

I am tackling this task a little bit each day. It’s amazingly time consuming.
It's been quite an eye opener logging these thing. Ugghh!!! I am slowly but surely getting them photographed, then downloaded onto Flickr and finally on Ravelry. It's a 4 step process: 1) finding the yarn; 2)blushing with chagrin at how I "really intended on knitting that" but never did! (or if it's yarn I no longer love wondering, "What in the world was I thinking?") 2) photographing it; 3) Entering it into Flickr with a description and identifying information; 4) posting it onto Ravelry.

I am feeling much better about it today than yesterday. I'm mentally "fessing up" to my yarn transgressions and feeling more excited about using what I have, and feeling guilt-free to sell or give away what I really won't ever use.