See why I can't blog?

Sasha always does this.....

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas...

Yea!! We finally got the tree up in the front room, and the lights done outside as well. It's taken a bit for us to get moving but we're getting there. Hubby had to buy new lights for the tree though because we lost the ones we've used for years! Total Bummer, but I like the new Micro ones as it turns out, so change can be good I suppose. We keep it pretty simple, here's a view of the front, you can't see it in the picture but they're around by the garage too. Hubby didn't do the bay window this year, maybe I can get him to do it next year! LOL!

We're using our smaller tree this year since this is our kitties first Christmas . As curious as they are, I just have a feeling the tree may be in peril at some point. I'm going to keep the ornaments down to a minimum also...just to be on the safe side if it goes TimmmBurrrr. I know who'll be picking things up if that happens . Misc Info: We had to quit using real trees years ago when my girls had infant asthma, we've gotten used to it and are happy to just put it away each year.

On the knitting front it seems I'll have to restart my FIL's hat. I totally messed up the top by just not paying attention (and being way too tired to be knitting anyway). How hard it is it to mess up a hat??? Believe me, it can be done. That "knitting gut feeling" we all have, it's there for a reason and it helps to listen to it . I can just be a little hard headed when I'm tired.

I'm done with the fancy part of one of my Girls Best Friend Anklets. Slowly but surely some knitting is getting done. I restarted my SitCom Sweater in the Medium size as well. Although, I just washed and measured my swatch (I ACTUALLY did one this time! That's gotta be worth some points Santa! ) and I think I may go up to a large after all. I'm so wishy washy!! I like positive ease in things or I won't wear them. I hate to feel strangled or to show my "gotta lose it someday" weight.

I received one of my Christmas presents to myself the other day. Really, when you have a husband who tries really hard, but you've been together long enough to know he HATES to shop and doesn't always pick up on the seventeen hints you gave, it's just easier all the way around if I say "Hey! Look what you got me!!! I LOVE It!!" It gives him happiness and me too. We both win!
I'm a big Quincy Fan, I wish they'd put out more episodes but it seems that may not happen. I haven't gotten to explore the books yet, I think I'm waiting until after Christmas so I won't feel guilty! LOL!

I'm reading The Knitting Circle right now. I know it's been out awhile but I happened upon it at the library on Saturday and thought what the heck. I'm into historical reads, fictional or not, so this really isn't my norm. I like the book so far but don't much care for some of the language used in it, gosh you got a good storyline going here, why throw that in? But I have to remember (or just guess) people really do talk like that in normal conversation even though I don't (I'll excuse Gordon Ramsay just because he makes me smile for some reason, that accent I suppose!). Believe me, I'm no saint, mainly when I'm driving I say a few baddies but some words I just don't see coming out of a ladies mouth. Anyway, I just wish people could know they had a good thing without it.

I recently got a message thru Ravelry from a gal that works at Schaefer yarns about my "Itchy Anne Socks". She sent me a sample of their new Heather yarn to work up since I wasn't thrilled with Anne (Me + Mohair = ITCH. ) That was really nice as she also sent a pattern as well. Kudos for customer service! But, I don't think I'm going to buy any anytime soon as it's around $28.00 a pop, (that's a bit more than I usually spend for sock yarn). I also wonder how this one holds up with the color bleeding since I know that's a major issue with the Anne Colorways. I'd have to research it more before taking that plunge. We shall see! If anyone's tried it let me know K?

Now I'm off to finish this book and maybe work on those socks....Can you believe ONLY 23 DAYS until Christmas?? Where did the time go????

Can't drive by a yarn shop w/o stopping! :)

I almost forgot to post about the fun stuff I picked up Friday after the holiday. I stopped on the way home from my in-laws at The Yarn Patch in Crossville (and The Yarn Haven in Knoxville). They were open on Friday which surprised me, but they have a Friday knitters group that meets regularly, the owner said they'd surely come looking for her if she wasn't there!! I thought that was cute! I got more Dream in Color yarn. 2 of the sock yarn (Smooshy) and one more of the Classy. I just love this stuff....

I also picked these up. I've seen a variety of them online but haven't really needed them. Of course -When they're right in front of my face - oh, I just couldn't resist!!! I still kind of prefer my plain ol plastic ones, (these slightly bug me sometimes with the dangle and all) but they're just too cute not to have! I'll get used to it I'm sure!

I also wanted to try one of these. The Owner told me they've been hard for her to keep in stock. I always just throw my sock WIP's in my little pink knitting bag and I've only lost one needle as far as I can remember - but it's another knitting gadget so I had to have it.

Here's what tiny little progress I've made on my Knitpicks Best Girlfriend sock pattern. I got sidetracked by something i think...
Well, here's one of the "somethings"- just a simple ribbed hat for my father in law (he's from Indiana, hence the color). See one of my handy-dandy new stitch markers? I don't really need it for the pattern, but it's fun to use it anyway! This is made from Cleckheaton Country 8 ply DK weight. I've never tried it before so I hope it washes up nice and gets softer. (Ravelry's been so helpful in helping me to be sure I've made an okay fiber choice!)
Since Thanksgiving I haven't been knitting much because of Ravelry. I tend to go back and forth on how much time I spend on there. It's just so fun and I don't realize how long I've been on sometimes (like almost all weekend!) So glad to see you guys there too! Hopefully I'll have some finished things to put on there soon.

**Finally put up my Yahoo avatar....

(I've had it sitting in Yahoo forever but never got it on here).

**sigh*** I just wish I was that skinny!!! And how!!!

I'm STILL full (and some knitting got done)

I'm surprised at how full I felt Thanksgiving day. I tried to take it easy and really thought I had done pretty decent. Maybe I ate just a tad more than I thought I did . We even took a nice brisk evening walk around my In-laws neighborhood to burn some calories. It was chilly but it felt SO good! Besides that, we had a nice visit with family and I sure hope everyone else had a nice holiday. I remember family get-togethers at my Grandparents house every year when I was growing up. Those memories still give me warm fuzzies. My children haven't had that as much, (we had to relocate when they were small) but now that my in-laws live closer we at least have them now! For awhile we were pretty much alone here in TN. We're grateful they were able to move closer.

Here's some knitting that I finished, first the SweetTart Socks. I think I like the colors more in the skein form than I like knit up.


Here's one of the mistakes I made. It's on one of the heel gusset corners. I don't know how I left such slack in the yarn there, I'm usually so careful to tighten them up so I don't get any holes. (I didn't catch this until later in the sock also). I did what some other knitters would probably faint at: I just tied a knot!! hahahaha Really, this was probably mistake #7 by then, it was the second sock, it was just going to have to do because I was "SO over" making this pair by then. LOL! It's kind of funny to me now. I swear I've never done this before!

Here's one lonely sock I found in my stash drawer. I think I made this a few years ago, (I know it was one of my first socks) but the yarn was so scratchy that I never made it's mate. This is Opal and I think I have a couple more skeins of this (ugh). I may have to work the other one up eventually, this will bug me since I finally found it. I washed it and it feels a bit better, but still somewhat sratchy to me. I "think" I had to stop because as I knit I wrap the working yarn around my index finger for tension, and if it starts getting "red, raw, and irritated" where it passes over my finger, I know that it isn't going to work out so well! I seem to recall that with this, but I'll try it one more time I suppose.
Here's the bamboo scarf-lette I made. Two skeins doesn't make a very big scarf and although it's squishy soft, I wasn't all that thrilled with it in this form. Bernat has a rep of being full of knots and this yarn was no exception. I already know that I won't be purchasing any more of it. hmmmm, I might frog this and make a hat....
I've been working with some sock yarn that I purchased at a LYS in CA. It's dyed by someone local there but I'm not having much luck with my guage and not loving the fabric it produces (though it says it's wool and feels normal, it knits up with no stretch). Maybe it would be better in a chevron scarf type product than socks after all. The first sock I made seemed perfect, except I couldn't get my foot into it! Even my daughters gave up! LOL! I've never had that happen before and it's driving me crazy. I have so many other wonderful yarns to work with, I have to learn how to just let things go and move on. It's my Leo personality, I just get bossy and think I know it all.

Thanks again for leaving comments! It's really appreciated as I love hearing from you all and checking out your blogs too! I've always been a "lurker" myself, but now know how fun it is to hear from others out there! It's changed my perspective and I love meeting new knitters.

Happy Thanksgiving!!! (& some knitting stuff!)

Here's one of my SweetTart Socks. This is Tofutsies ( in #718 I think). Seriously, I've never made SO MANY mistakes on a pair of socks ! I feel like this could be my first pair ever! Ugh, How Embarrassing! The mistakes haven't been enough to make me frog back (lazy), I'm just going with the "mo-jo" and they're going to be for me anyway. It's just been "weird"....I've made so many pairs these last few months, I guess I was due for some craziness.

I picked up some Bernat Bamboo and am working up a simple scarf. Gosh is this soft! I got an email from Mary Maxim today and they're having a sale on all of Bernat's Natural yarns...I may think of getting some more if this holds up okay.

I also got my new Knitpicks catalog and did really good (pat on the back ). I only ordered ONE downloadable sock pattern. I got the "Girls Best Friend Anklets" pattern. I love it. Can't wait to work it up (once this sock curse is over!! ). I didn't order any of their yarn, I'm almost certain I have some in my closet somewhere.

The thing is, I can't SEE in my closet. We thought the fluorescent lights burnt out, but it's still dead after getting new ones. So we have to check the wiring, or we may just change the whole fixture out. I totally believe my house was built out of cardboard, toothpaste, and any other cheap stuff our builder could get a hold of. Our downstairs heater is kaput (yet again). Every season, winter or summer, one or the other needs fixing (ac/heater). It's getting to be a real drag and if we weren't thinking of moving in a few years I'd change it all out. Anyway, the house story is a long and frustrating one. Let's just say that different states have different standards and we didn't find that out until after we had our home built here in TN. NOW we know! Sometimes you just find things out the hard way!


I started a Sitcom Chic sweater, but I'm still wondering if I should make the large or extra large size (or maybe the medium???). I like my sweaters or jackets with some room to move around but I'm not sure about the ease with this particular yarn, it may turn out bigger than I thought. I also had to order more of the Lion Brand Cotton Ease thru Joann's and they haven't confirmed my order yet so I don't even know if I'll get the rest of the yarn to finish it. We shall see. I picked the "Stone" colorway, now I'm not sure why?! It was the only one there at Joann's that looked the most "neutral" to me but now it seems kind of boring. I guess I'm just having some crazy "my life is not in line with the universe" moments lately. Nothings been going so great! LOL! Hmmmm

I'm off to get my youngest from school now. If I don't post before then,

Happy Thanksgiving

to all my knitting friends. Wishing you a happy and joyful time with your families.

First Sweater DONE!!

I know, I know, I can't believe it either!!! But I DID IT!! whoo hoo!!

Now that it's done I think I'll wait a bit before I start the other kit I purchased. I'm sure I'll love it too, it's in the original colorway which is really cute, (but a little break with some sock knitting is in order.)

I wasn't sure about the i-cord attached edging around the back of the neckline, I went into every stitch and wondered later about going every 3 for 4 etc. It still came out fine and I'm VERY happy with this little treasure! I also am glad I switched out the one colorway that I didn't like for the green, it just makes me happy happy.

Yesterday I washed it (in the washing machine) and layed it out to dry. Today it's even SOFTER and smooshier. I love (LOVE) this yarn! I may re-think making an "adult" size sweater out of it after seeing how it held up. For me that's a HUGE deal, I'm definitely an "easy-care" kind of gal. I don't do dry cleaning often (like almost never) so it's a must that any yarn I use will be the washable kind. Even the cost of this wouldn't deter me if this is the quality I get afterwards. (And if I could just lose some weight I could use even less yarn!)

I also finished up some Berroco Pleasure sock booties for my Mom. She has a fuschia pair and wanted another. I didn't remember that I had extra of this blue, it's so pretty I know she'll love them. These little suckers can be VERY warm, but she still enjoys wearing them around the house.

Yesterday was a fun day (sarcasm implied here). I got my flu shot (ouch), got blood drawn, got smooshed at the Breast Center, and after all that jolly good fun I got to drive home on the interstate in the rain!! Whew!

What a long day! I was at the BC for-ev-er. I'm so glad I brought my knitting with me! I was the only one not complaining about how long it was taking because I had something to keep me occupied. I bet those other women were thinking "I should really learn how to knit!". Everything went good though, my mammogram was fine, my cholesterol is down and I got home safely in all that mess even in 5 0'clock traffic. I was very blessed.

I'm off to work on my SweetTart socks. This colorway of Tofutsies that I'm making reminds me of that candy package so that's what I call them. I've been reading up and thinking of working some socks from the Toe Up, but got to thinking that working them cuff down truly "relaxes" me. It's my "happy to-go-to kind of knitting" I'll still try them one day I know, (another excuse to buy MORE sock yarn) but I am supposed to be enjoying what I'm doing. (Some of the toe up patterns are too much to think about !!) Sometimes I have to remember what really makes me a happy knitter. I think it's the whole being "tired" a lot lately thing too....LOL!! My brain is drained.