Rain, Rain, Go Away

Well, I can't get pictures of my latest cast-ons since it's so dreary outside, this has been a very wet week for us! But it fits with everything in my universe right now since I've been frogging just about everything I start lately!

I was only able to walk once this week but got on my bike and rode for a bit today as a substitution. It's a lot harder for me than walking! (puff puff) I'm terribly out of shape and have zero stamina. I think I'll have to do that in spurts. 5-10 minutes here and there (okay, 3-7 minutes). It takes time to build up, I have to remember that.

I did finish this "stash" scarf a couple of weeks ago because it was FAST and got rid of four balls of yarn in my closet! Woohoo! Just what I need in the spring time! LOL! ! But it was "mindless knitting" that I seriously needed on size 11 needles. The perfect RX for a "mojo-less" knitter.

It's a keyhole scarf that I saw on Knitty Gritty and it's also in Candy Jensen's book Knit Scarves! I had made another one in a darker pinkish red but I don't know what happened to it. My youngest took it and I never got it back! She loved it. It's really a great idea for kids, they easily keep their neck covered while they're outside playing like a nut. It's very soft too since it's made out of Berroco's Softy. I think this one will be mine (yeah right!).

Sasha Says: "This is so....ZZZzzzzzzzzzzzzz

I Am Dawn

What Dawn Means

You are balanced, orderly, and organized. You like your ducks in a row. You are powerful and competent, especially in the workplace. People can see you as stubborn and headstrong. You definitely have a dominant personality. You are usually the best at everything ... you strive for perfection. You are confident, authoritative, and aggressive. You have the classic "Type A" personality. You are very charming... dangerously so. You have the potential to break a lot of hearts. You know how what you want, how to get it, and that you will get it. You have the power to rule the world. Let's hope you're a benevolent dictator! You are very intuitive and wise. You understand the world better than most people. You also have a very active imagination. You often get carried away with your thoughts. You are prone to a little paranoia and jealousy. You sometimes go overboard in interpreting signals.

What's" Your Name's Hidden Meaning?

I'm such a "Dawn" except in the "confident and agressive" area. I'm good at saying what "should" be, as long as I can hide behind The Big Guy while he takes care of it! LOL! I'm a big crybay too. Bossy, but chicken. That's me.

Sound the Alarm!

Yep. We're getting an alarm system put in this week.

Sunday while The Big Guy was mowing the lawn, a neighbor stopped and told him she saw two men parked in our driveway on Friday afternoon and they were standing in my flowerbed trying to look in my dining room window. Uh-huh, I know. Creepy.

Most know that I have a hard time sleeping at night (if at all). Sometimes during the morning/early afternoon is when I sleep the best (again, if at all, and sleep blocks out the constant construction noise). So knowing that someone was out there and I was probably alseep did NOT make me a happy camper. A two-story home has a lot of noises all on it's own. It's tough, some things I hear VERY well, and others I can't hear at all. My nerves are jumping all the time. And I was HOME. That's scary, creepy too. There could be a few explanations, but who the heck goes right up and looks in your windows? I was thinking maybe a realtor/buyer because our neighbor just put their house up for sale, but the lady said they were in a truck. Sounds fishy to me.

The truth is I've never been comfortable out here because we were somewhat secluded, but the more our neighborhood grows, the worse things are getting. The neighbor across the street had a truck tool chest stolen from his front yard, same thing: in the mid-afternoon. Someone else had moved out and someone forced the garage door open by bending it. It totally baffles me because so much is going on around here all day. The trucks are driving by, the mailman comes by, the kids get off the buses all day (kindergarten, elem, middle & high school - all at different times.) There's always some traffic, I find it hard to fathom that someone would try, but most burglaries are in the daytime...

People have a whole lot of nerve apparently and I'm not going to wait and see if anything happens. I think these construction guys are getting sticky fingers and with all the work going on, people don't think much seeing trucks parked in people's driveways around here. I'm just glad that lady kept an eye out. She didn't know if they were here to work or what but she let them know she saw them.

The next day we put blinds up in those windows (the only ones that didn't have them, I have sheer curtains there). Now no one can see in any of my windows and we'll have the alarm in very soon. That's some comfort I guess. I know it's not the "end all" to crime but it helps. I wish it would blast them to bits and disentigrate them if they tried to get in!! Well, you just can't be careful enough these days. Now I'm really on guard and plan to stay that way.

No knitting lately, I was working on a hat in the Malabrigo but man is it tough on me. It's soft, but yet still "prickles" my hands for some reason. It feels like little electric zings, kind of "itchy". Not fun. Plus my hands feel so dry when I use it. Does it dry your skin out? Is that crazy?? I don't know, but it's happening to me. No cool knitting mojo going on yet but it'll happen.

The Big Guy caught Miss J's cold (she actually has pneumonia!) so they're both going to be home for a day or two with me. Whew! Makes me feel better. We may have company by Friday too so I still have a lot to do. My knitting will pick up next week hopefully.

Happy Hump Day. And Be Safe.

Stash Story

If you've seen my stash on Ravelry you've probably wondered like Dawn "How on earth did you accumulate so much?" Well, like many things in life it was partly luck, and of course, partly just a natural desire to own it ALL. Since I can't do that (discovering new sock yarns almost every day makes it impossible **sigh**) I had to take the drastic action of the self imposed yarn diet and I've been good for three months now! (pat on back! )


The luck part happened when a LYS where I live went out of business (a year or so ago). We have two locally and this one was my favorite by far. I admit: I get all crazy, panicky, stressed, when I hear "get it before it's gone!"....so I did. I bought some yarns then that I normally wouldn't have otherwise, simply because they were 50- 75% off. It was a blast and I did spend a few $$. It was hard because I kept hearing that any week "would be her last" soooo I'd innocently drive by - and the shop would still be open! Could YOU not stop by to see what was left?? I definitely know this is what pushed me into that crazy stash zone.


I was also a crocheter before I learned to knit, so I already had a "slight" stash, just not to the same degree (by far). Travelling ALSO bumped me up. Wherever we go we stop at a yarn shop. I have yarn from the CA coastline and central valley, from several shops in east, west and middle South Carolina, and TN. I've bought something from each and every one so there are several "Memory" yarns in my stash as well. And then there are the online stores....seeing things on other blogs gives me lots of ideas as well...the inspiration and desire is everywhere.


Since I began I've found that I'm often that knitter who buys just because I fall in love with it, not because I have anything in mind for it at the time. I have terrible short-term memory (and long-term come to think of it!) so I'm also often the type who sees a pattern, gets all excited, buys the yarn.... and it then sits in the closet with all the other stash yarns and I forget where, who, what, why, etc. I get distracted by pretty things much too easily!! So, I have several binders of patterns just waiting for their turn one day. LOL! It's crazy, but it's me. It's just how I am.

I know my crazy mixed up self is why I lose my Knitting Mojo sometimes too. It's partly the Leo in my personality. I'm very detail oriented, but sometimes go overboard (okay, more than sometimes), and perfection mixed in there makes trouble for me as well. If it doesn't feel "right" I move on. I wish I was able to relax and see where things go at times and not strive to have it perfect. Which also proves that Patience is also not one of my virtues. I hate waiting in lines, I hate being on hold, and I hate knitting something that takes too long (for me anyway). I think a break is good sometimes though. We all need to catch our breath and focus at times.

Your writing is an awesome creative outlet Anna!! I applaud you for that talent! I know knitting is supposed to be calming and beneficial, but at times it can be frustrating for me so I guess it's a good thing to back off at times and let something else in.

I've always struggled a bit with creative things, focusing on one thing for a time. Years ago I used to do shadow boxes, decoupage, (I was into lacy, victorian, and antique things) and then I found my love of crocheting again, and from there taught myself to knit.

It's been a heck of a journey but I HAVE to use up most of that stash before i move onto anything else! LOL!!

Me: "I never get any yarn packages in the mail anymore!" (My whine is spot on!)

The Big Guy: "I'll get some out of the closet and mail it to you".

I guess I asked for that one! Hmpf.

Two Cats for Sale =^o^=

This is what I found downstairs this afternoon, do you think they need some prozac or something? (Yes, we do change out the cardboard ring, this is a newer one, not that you could tell....)

I keep finding little pieces of toilet paper EVERYWHERE!! GRrrrrrr
They dragged this feather boa out of the "give away" bag that was in the girls closet (UPSTAIRS ) and brought it downstairs!! They'll SHRED just about anything. One of my poor plants was also chewed up a little today too. I'm ready to find these girls another home. I already have three other piggies to clean up after in this house, they've increased my workload, that's all I can see. It's lost it's "cute" or "funny" factor in my book!
That's Jessica's jacket also, they dragged it off the chair by the stairs and here it is in the kitchen/family room. Why do they do this at this time of the month? Do they want to be taken to the pound?

Cats for SALE!!!!! 95 % off!!

They don't look very worried do they? hmmmm Someday I'm going to leave the front door open....

On the walking front, we're expecting rain today so I didn't go after school because it was getting darker and darker by the minute (spooky). Tomorrow we're off to visit my husbands parents and his Aunt & Uncle who are visiting them as well. We'll take a nice long walk around their area. They have a great neighborhood to walk in, just enough inclines and such to give you a nice workout. Their hills aren't nearly as steep as in our neighborhood and they don't have construction trucks FLYING up and down the roads either. It's really nice, VERY quiet, and peaceful! I wish I lived there!! Like I said Julie, you're so lucky you can just walk out your front door and go around the blocks there!! (I never thought I'd miss having sidewalks so much in my life) I miss Fresno So much sometimes... you really should take advantage of it!! I'm gonna call you and check! LOL! I really think walking is the best way to start getting back into the swing of things.

Report cards came home today, the girls both did very well again. They're just growing too fast, if we could just slow that part down I'd be happy. We made some homemade playdough today too. It's still chilling so we'll see how it turned out later. What a mess (the pan)! I don't think I'll do that again anytime soon.

Know what else? I'm burned out on knitting. I know, I'm stunned too . I'm just at one of those crossroads where I can't decide for the life of me what I want to knit!!! My mind is spinning!! No decisions are coming forth! I'm stuck. just. stuck. Even Ravelry isn't helping, if anything it almost makes it harder, so many choices. PMS time is hard enough for me without all this pressure I put on myself! I keep pulling a few things out of the stash but end up putting them back. It's probably best to put some plain socks on the needles I guess, that always calms me down a bit. I just lost my mojo but it'll come back soon. Gulp.

Steppin Out

This is where I was for a bit today, and last week as well. (This trail gives you a glimpse of how all our roads are here in East TN! (Dranamine anyone?)

My latest goal is to try to walk a couple of days a week for now. This one trail is about 3/4 of a mile and it's only a 5 minute drive away from our house. I sold my treadmill last year, it was old, took up a lot of space, and I really prefer to walk outside which is why we sold it. Since I don't get to sleep until the wee hours of the A.M - and don't seem to get out of the house any earlier than to pick up my daughter from school - we decided to go after school. She's a great walking buddy (she holds me to it), and we have so much to talk about after school. Third grade politics are very sensational at times! Plus we're able to get home before my oldest gets off of her bus. This is my second week (I hope I'm not jinxing myself by saying that this is what I want to do). But it's really something I have to do. I'm not a very "healthy" eater, (probably because I can't cook!), but I need to involve more movement in my life than just cleaning the house. Lately I don't feel like doing much of anything, so I hope some sunshine will help that as well. Wish me luck! Maybe I'll get to feeling like I want to use my exercise ball and band set instead of just letting the girls roll all over the floor on it. It could happen.

Of course, it doesn't help your waistline when your hubby brings you this (pecan fudge):

But it sure can make a crazy woman sane!! He's no dummy!!

I also saw this in my latest issue of Creative Knitting:

They're using the same colorway of that Soxx Appeal sock yarn that I did! I like this childs pattern and will get around to making those for my youngest one of these days. They stretch and I know I can get two more socks out of that last ball. I think I knit more patterns out of Creative Knitting than any other magazine I get. I love the range of patterns they put in each issue. I always find at least a few things I'd make (and have) compared to say, Vogue, which I don't think I've knit anything from. Not that I don't like Vogue, I just haven't found anything I'd knit from the patterns they offer.

Gotta go make my Ice Tea (decaf btw). I think we're actually cooking tonight (it's a miracle I know!) and I have to make pilaf as well. Happy Knitting.

Happy Easter!

This is what you get when your kids are dying eggs and your Auntie calls you long distance (her birthday is tomorrow too!) and you can't pay attention to what they're doing...

We had such pretty eggs...pink, blue, yellow, green and orange. Then they started the "mixing".

So we'll be having Green Eggs & Ham (really!)

to all My Blogger Friends.