Whimsical Knitting

Home from Hospital!!! Surgery was a SUCCESS!!!

2012-01-15T12:35:00.001-05:00

Whew, I will be the first to admit that surgery was a bit of an ordeal, but it's over now and PRAISE GOD, I'm home!!!!
I have a few photos...don't look if you have queasy stomach...there's a pic of me with NO MAKE UP!
Okay, here we have the bandage over the incision where the hip surgery was done & drainage tube from incision: I'm afraid that during surgery my blood pressure bottomed out & they had to quickly stick an IV in my jugular....FREAKY!! Obviously my blood pressure is now fine, thank God!
Amazingly, I came home Friday (the last time I had a similar surgery I was in hospital for 10-14 days!) & am doing well! Physical therapy began yesterday & therapist said I was doing well!! I'm very encouraged! I'm brave, as you can see...pics of me with no make up...like I said...BRAVE! Of course, I added cartoon glasses, but I still look like I'm 97 or so and have the lovely "I'm IN PAIN!" and "post anesthetic" glow...as is painfully obvious! Sorry, but I'm being real! For the record, my neck isn't that wrinkly, the tape used to keep that freaky IV in place had some sort of industrial type glue that bunched my neck & part of my face together for a few days..yuck! (FYI, pic that was posted of me with no makeup while under influence of post anesthetic & pain drug delirium has been removed!!!) Oh yeah, I've had my hair in braids for weeks now...I wasn't able to get a hair cut (trim) prior to surgery &; it's much too long to have left to tangle .... now I realize it was a good thing because I think I might have lost a portion of the hair on the left side of my head had it gotten stuck in that industrial type glue in the tape on the jugular IV!!!!
OH WOW, I looked at that pic of me again...make that 197 that I look...and I must admit, I feel as haggard as I look at this juncture in time. LOL, what can I say?! Side effects of bone surgeries!!

NOW...for some fun, knitty type news! There's a new yarn store app for those of you who have an iPhone, iTouch, or iPad & it's my understanding that it's going to be available for other types of smart phones soon, too. I adore it! I don't know about the rest of you, but I always, always search for LYS in the town of my vacation and/or day trip excursions, as well as shops en route to the destination! Well, this app solves the problem...no need to search, it's all there in Yarn Store GPS AND it's only $2.99!!! I LOVE, LOVE it and HIGHLY recommend it! Run, run, run to itunes App Store & get it!!! You're gonna love it, promise! OH, and if you know of shops that aren't shown on the app simple let Jonelle of SWTC know!

New Computer AND Countdown to Surgery...

2012-01-07T12:18:00.000-05:00

I finished two projects for the Lace Wonders book and have a few more projects in mind. I'm not sure what I'll design/knit next, depends entirely upon the mail...if my yarn arrives I'll then decide!
My sweet husband's gift arrived 2 days ago, my new Gateway laptop, it's such fun! I now realize exactly how outdated my 2 year old HP was! Technology is fast, isn't it?!

Next week, Jan. 11 to be exact, is the big day...my 6th hip surgery, 3rd revision on this hip...I'm told it's the last, for some reason I believe it this time (LOL, as the # of surgeries proclaim, I've been told I was having "the last" surgery more than once!). but, alas, I'm a believer, and am looking forward to it because the new pain that has surfaced as Spike began to truly show herself as she was wearing out over the past several months will theorectically be alleviated! So, much as I'm trying to revive my blog, I may be down for a bit due to surgery and recovery....or it may be a surgical walk in the park, as I'm expecting!
Now, I'm off to contemplate the next knit design and continue my "Mad Men" marathon...have a great weekend!

It's a COLD day!!

2012-01-04T11:21:00.000-05:00

Hello Knitty People!
I will continue to post, hoping that my dereliction of my blog for so long is soon a forgiven and forgotten thing and soon friends and followers will return
It is very cold here in the Southeastern U.S., very unusual for us to have temps in the 20's, which makes me feel for you guys who are in very cold climates!! STAY WARM! It is good weather for knitting, though, isn't it?! LOL, of course, all weather is good for knitting in my book!
I finished my shawl and must take some photos but because I'm in bed virtually all of the time as I await my surgery next week I've not had the opportunity to take pictures of the shawl. It did turn out quite lovely, if I do say so myself! As anyone who knows me knows...my fave yarn company is SWTC & their Therapi yarn did not disappoint with this shawl! I used 10 (yes, 10!) skeins and made a huge shawl, I LOVE IT, I can wrap it around me! Especially great in this cold weather (LOL, if I were getting out any!).
I've finished one project that I'm submitting for consideration in the upcoming 101 Lace Wonders book and 1/2 completed the 2nd one! I'm quite excited, SWTC has graciously supplied the yarn for the projects....like I've said, SWTC is my favorite yarn company, not simply because their yarns are spectacular, but the people are, too! I'm off to knit...
Ahhh, my girls are staying wrapped up too...as you can see by the look on Sally's face, they aren't fond of cold weather, LOL!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

2012-01-01T09:47:00.000-05:00

HAPPY 2012 Knitty People!
I want to wish you all a very happy and blessed 2012!LOL, I say "you all" as if I have a huge following on my personal blog as I did in the past, but alas I hang my head as I say that I do not. I have been terribly remiss with my blog for the past few years, as those of you (if there's anyone reading these days) who have known me since I began this blog know. One of my resolutions, my "cyber" resolution is to blog as I should .... yes, I know I've said it in the past, but I DO MEAN IT, truly I do! LOL, I feel like the the boy who cried wolf as I'm typing this! As I've been typing I decided to ask...what are your 2012 knitty resolutions?! I have a few: 1. I want to try to design, knit and submit 5 designs for the upcoming 101 Lace Wonders One Skein book for which I was invited to design (I'M SO HONORED and HAPPY!!!) . BUT, the submission deadline is Jan. 31 AND my surgery is Jan. 11! This could present a challenge, LOL! But, I'm happy to say that I will have the 1st design completed this morning, but I must type the pattern before going to the next design! 2. I have a LONG (extremely) "to knit" list that gets longer by the year, LOL...do you have one, too?! I resolve to try to knit at least six items from the list in 2012. 3. Before I add to my "to knit" list I want to knit several things for my new baby great-nephew(after I've completed the designs for Lace Wonders) who will grace us with his presence this spring. Gotta LOVE knitting for babies, I certainly do! I'm so EXCITED, a new baby in the family!4. Number 4 reiterates #2 because I could continue to list knitty resolutions, but they are all a part of my "to knit" list!5. I'm going to re-introduce Chef Knitty to the blog world....that is, if he's up to it! He's getting older and has continued to travel the knitty world so he's often not home. He may want to spend his "home" time in a leisurely manner. If he reappears on the blog it will then be known that he's happy to share his knittiness.

Merry Christmas!

2011-12-25T11:15:00.001-05:00

Wishing you a wonderful Christmas!

Happy Saturday, it's almost Christmas!

2011-12-17T15:11:00.000-05:00

Happy Holidays everyone!

My girls and I wish you a very Merry Christmas!

So, how are you knitting this year?! I've not been knitting a whole lot this year...but that that I usually knit is something for someone else but....a few nights ago I decided to cast on something for me (and right before Christmas with NO Christmas knitting done!). I had 10 skeins of SWTC's beautiful Therapi, it's a make up of fine wool, silk and jadeite...an actual jewel, such fun! I'm knitting a heavy type of lace shawl for cool weather with this gorgeous yarn. One of my very fave patterns, Evelyn Clark's Flower Basket Shawl, I've knit a few of these, but never one for me so I know it's a fun, fast knit. I hope to be done by Sunday so that I can knit a few stocking stuffers for my daughter's stocking. She may be 26, but she'll always be my baby and will always have a stocking! I'll post pics after Christmas!

Speaking of "after Christmas," I'm having my 6th hip surgery, which will be my 3rd hip revision (revising/redoing a previous hip revision, 3rd time it's been done). I have said a thousand times if once that I'd NEVER have another hip replacement, but alas, when the pain reaches a certain level there's nothing that can be done but the surgery... But, that's not too bad because MANY improvements have been done. For example, rather than an 18 inch incision along the outside of my femur there will be a 4 inch incision on the top of it, right @ the pelvis and the surgery is way less invasive (invasive it is, but not nearly so much). Have a look at an animation of the surgery.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Stay tuned...2012 will be a wonderful knitting year! I know of one new book in the works, another 101 Skeins Wonders book, this one will be about lace knitting! FUN FUN FUN!!!

Happy Holidays!

2011-11-30T21:31:00.033-05:00

Hey Knitty (and other) People!
First of all, I would like to ask you to please, please check out (AND FOLLOW!) my daughter's make-up and photography site on youtube! It's a lot of fun, especially if you want to learn about different make-up techniques. She's very informative and fun...check her out at Frankly Scarlett Faced on youttube: (click the pic!)
I hope that you all had a fabulous Thanksgiving (if in the U.S.) and are ready to continue your holiday festivities with a glorious Christmas!
The time has come (rather quickly!) to decide if I'm going to knit any for Christmas this year! I think that I will knit a few little stocking stuffers, you know, quick knits...which are, of course, among the faves! My daughter, like me, loves to use fingerless mitts when it starts to get cool and wears them on into cold weather. I love fingerless mitts, they keep the hands warm while allowing me to use my fingers...I'm useless with a full pair of gloves! So, I think I'm going to knit at least one pair for her stocking, a lacy pair. Now I must decide if I'm going to design a pair or look for a pattern...the timeline (which is rapidly getting much shorter!) will be key in my decision process!
A friend on facebook shared the idea of knitting a coffee cozy which is an excellent idea...I do believe I'll knit a small one, or perhaps the Posy Cosy that was designed for Sock Yarn One Skein Wonders or maybe I'll do a simple cable pattern for the cozy! Hmmm....we shall see how the knitting goes...
So, what's up with you guys?! I know, I know, I've virtually disappeared from the blog world and into the Facebook world, but I'm truly working on a comeback...

Little Bit o' Knittin'

2011-09-24T20:07:00.000-04:00

I'm afraid that with the onset of Facebook I've seriously neglected blogging....no excuses, simple fact.
But I do have a thing or two to blog about. Firstly, as many know, we lost our beloved Moshi several months ago. After a 17 year life of leisure our beautiful big white cat died from cancer. The last month of his life it was obvious he didn't feel well, other than that period of time, he was in wonderful health. Needless to say, he is deeply missed :(

We have now adopted our daughter's hairless sphynx, Liza Minelli! She is a hoot! Our daughter was transferred out of town with her job. She works far too much and Liza spent most of her time alone. Alas, as much as Shannon loves her kitty she asked if we would take her so that Liza would have someone with her all day. She is a wonderful addition to the family! She and Sally love one another!

Of course I've been knitting! And I'm fortunate and honored to have designed for SWTC's latest book, Socks a la Carte Colorwork, found on Amazon if you're interested!
Basically, it's been a good year around here!
Onward to the knitting....a few pictures of some of the knitting I've done this month, including a Girasole afghan for my sister, a Girasole shawl for me, a shawl for a friend, a Hemlock ring afghan for a friend and I'm working on a lap throw for our ladies group at church!

I think that's enough photos for now! I'm off to knit the lap throw for our ladies group...have a good evening everyone!

A Bit of Knitting

2011-04-16T16:00:00.000-04:00

Just a bit of knitting that I've neglected to post....

New Designs Up!

2011-04-16T04:32:00.000-04:00

OMGoodness, I'm ashamed to post to my blog....I've left you on the roadside, poor blog....please forgive me! And let's hope that I'll one day take care of you as I should!

Okay, with that said...a quick note:
2 new designs are available and are linked on the sidebar. "New Hope Scarf"
AND "Shannon's Slippers" (which I LOVE!)

Now...if only I actually make the time to update the photos of my FO's for this year I'll have something new to post....wonder how long this will take?! Again, sorry blog...I've been very neglectful (Facebook seems to have sucked the internet life away from you!) and hope to rectify this problem (again, how many times have I posted this?!).
God bless and happy knitting everyone!!

Uh OH...Sally got in TROUBLE again!!!

2011-01-12T01:28:00.000-05:00

Here's how the last few days have gone....
1st of all, this freakishly cold Southern weather is really causing an increase in my pain level. AND yesterday (Mon.) there were problems @ the pharmacy with nuttin but rudeness (Lonnie fixed everything, of course).
Then today (Tues)...
Okay, if you still read my blog...you know that Sally is our mini doxie:

And you might remember her copperhead experience last July!
Well, Tues. morning around 6 she goes out for her morning ...well, potty, etc.
When she came back in & Lonnie picked her up she began to wimper...something she never does! We quickly discovered a bruise in her mouth! On the right side...FYI, the copperhead bite was on the left side!
Sally wanted to do NADDA...nothing, not a thing...didn't even have the least bit of interest in her favorite thing - food! That sent up the "Something is very hinky smoke signals!"
Since I'm having such trouble with Spike (what we now affectionately call the spike in my leg and hip...I mean 3rd hip replacement!) I'm in bed...well, Sally layed down @ the bottom of the bed & didn't move! Only lifted her ear @ bit when I called her. You must understand...all of this is VERY unusual! Look at her...she just looks so miserable!! And she's on the electric blanket, wrapped up in my new Wizard of Oz throw with an ice pack on the swelling on her mouth!
I watched her for a bit...when one of Lonnie's employees arrived he came directly home and off to the vet we headed! Needless to say, she's scared (face it, she's not had the best experiences @ the vet!) and so NOT happy (as you can see, neither she nor Lonnie were in photogenic moods! can you blame them?!) The vet nurse examined her 1st, she had a temp on high side of norm and swollen mouth. The vet then came in & examined her. We all deduced that when she was out in the morning that she encountered some type of creature that wasn't happy to see her! PRAISE GOD it wasn't poisonous....but very painful, the inside of her mouth is bruised and swollen inside and out. The doc gave her an injection of steroids...OUCH! She told us that she didn't find any puncture marks, but we assume a squirrel of something got her when she happened upon it while it was dark and cold. Thankfully the vet saw no signs of a venomous attack. BUT, she did tell us that it's a very painful injury. She sent Sally home with oral steroids for a few days (LOL, I had to pick mine up from our pharmacy on the way home...hope we both don't have "roid rage!") and said she should improve. And, of course, to call/come see her right away if needed.
And there she is...didn't even want her sweater/dress removed...she just wanted back in bed with Mama (that would be me!).
Doxies....love 'em so, but I'll tell ya this...they don't back down from anybody or anything!
Praying my 4 legged baby is better very soon!
Oh...almost forgot! Knitting a pair of socks for Lonnie and have a list of accessories to knit for my kids to help keep them warm during this COLD winter....STAY WARM, everyone & God Bless!

Christmas Holidays 2010 - What a BLAST!!!

2010-12-31T23:28:00.033-05:00

We were so fortunate....had one of the greatest Christmases in years! What a blessing! Our daughter, Shannon, who moved out of town a few months ago AND our son, Adam and his lovely wife, April were home from Kansas! GLORIOUS! If our middle daughter, Amy and her family had made it it would have been perfection! But, with that said, 2 outta 3 kids is great!
Allow me to show you some of our family fun!
A few pix on Christmas day:
Shannon with Uncle Mike!
Some family members unwrapping & enjoying gifts.
My Honey Buns, aka "Music Man" - Lonnie!
My sister, Shannon and Uncle Mike
My beautiful sister with the pretty gifts from Shannon (sis didn't want to unwrap them because they were wrapped so nicely!)
Daughter in law April and our son, Adam - gorgeous, aren't they?! LOL, it's a family thing!!

We, of course went to church the day after Christmas. Shannon had to return home after church. We then explored a bit with Adam and April while they were here:
LOL, Adam with Santa on River Street!
My boys, Adam and Lonnie - good looking pair!
Lonnie, April and Adam by a cool grave in Bonaventure Cemetery (yep, I've always loved to explore cemeteries...especially around here!)
Gracie's grave in Bonaventure Cemetery - this girl died in the 17 or 1800s; her likeness has been on her grave since her death, I believe. Well, when I was 17 yrs old I'd ridden my bike to the cemetery with some friends. AND, it looked like Gracie's statue was looking @ me, following me with her eyes! I jumped on my bike, took off like lightning and wrecked on Bonaventure Rd, got 17 sts in my leg! To this day, "Gracie" freaks me out and follows me with her eyes...of course it's because it's a fabulous sculpture, but still freaky.....just sayin'!
Another very beautiful grave in Bonaventure Cemetery
April is kickin' it with Santa on River Street!!
Adam thru an O
Adam, Shannon & April by one of the Christmas trees @ church 12-26-2010
Me with my "boys"....Adam and my honey, Lonnie!
Adam and April - so much in love!!

Hope you all have a wonderful 2011
God Bless you all!!!

Christmas Knitting

2010-12-26T21:45:00.064-05:00

Hello Friends!
As I've said so many times in the past - I'm so sorry that I've not been blogging! Seems as though Facebook has taken the place of blogging! Well, let's see if I can actually (finally) remember to blog....I know, a song I've been singing, my apologies.

This Christmas, the 1st in several years, I decided to do a few small knitted items. It was fun and not at all rushed (which is why I've declined to knit for Christmas in years past). This year I knit small items, each and everyone was greatly appreciated, which, of course, makes it all worthwhile!

My dear nephews' dad died the fall of this year. He was quite the racing aficionado and had been all of his life. So I decided to design and knit a black and white mitered lap throw for each of them which represented the winners flag: "The Finish Line Lapghans"
(these are folded, of course!)

For my dear sister, I knit a Haruni. She loves it, I'm afraid I didn't get a photo on her, rather on my glass head, LOL...not MY head, you'll see, LOL!!! To go with her Haruni, lovely fingerless gloves (again, my photography isn't up to par, my apologies!)
The gloves are Chevron Lace Fingerless Mitts from my fave new book Sock Yarn One Skein Wonders (of which I'm blessed to have 2 new patterns in!)

For my daughter in law, April a scarf (totally forgot to write the pattern...duh me!), Crazy, Beautiful Mittens and Meret Beret:

Next are a few stocking stuffers!
For my son, Adam, a simple knit cap (again, no pattern because...as we all know...a pattern isn't needed!) with raglan decreasing on the crown.

For my daughter in law, April I knit Mae's Slippers with the addition of too cute yellow flowers!

Last, but not least, our youngest daughter, Shannon's stocking stuffers included another pair of the Chevron Lace Fingerless Mitts from Sock Yarn One Skein Wonders (cool book!) and Mary Jane Slippers

All in all, I thoroughly ENJOYED this bit of Christmas knitting!
By the way, we had the very best Christmas in years! Two of our 3 children made it home - GLORIOUS!!!

We finally got our daughter moved and she's FANTASTIC!

2010-11-11T23:01:00.010-05:00

Well, we moved Shannon over 2 weekends...WOW, what an ordeal! She had to move quickly because of her fantastic promotion and we packed and moved her very quickly, PRAISE GOD!

After her move I was able to go spend a week with her...that was SUCH FUN! A wonderful time! I babied my baby as much as I could! She certainly enjoyed having a homecooked meal when she got home from work AND I enjoyed cooking for her!

As a housewarming gift I knit an afghan for her, the lovely pattern by Jared Flood, Girasole! She LOVES it! And I LOVED knitting it! It's really a very fun knit, too...I hope to knit a few more!

Rather than invading her privacy & posting pics of her home on my blog, I have a few pics of Elvira (FYI, she changed the kitty's name...she was adopted and really needed a name that was hers and Shannon's!) As you see, Sally loves Ellie and certainly cared for her after her surgery (declawed)! A great kitty and, of course, fantastic doxie, our Sally!

On a very, very sad note....
Our beautiful cat, Moshi died in Oct. He was 17 years old, but I'm sorry to say that he had to be put down because cancer was all over him! He had lost over 1/2 his body weight and just didn't feel well and the only humane thing to do was to let him go. He was, for 17 great years, one of the best cats ever...and MOST BEAUTIFUL!
Moshi....we loved you very much, pretty boy! YOU ARE MISSED!!

Will I Ever Return?!.....

2010-09-28T23:20:00.000-04:00

OH me, oh my!!
Here I go saying I'm going to blog regularly and what did I do...NOT blog regularly!
Life has been a whirlwind around here...to say the very least!
Our youngest daughter got a FAT promotion and raise and had to transfer to another city with 3 (yeah, that's right THREE) days notice!!
Of course, her company put her up in the Hyatt until she found a place, which she did .... PRAISE GOD! She has wonderful landlady/landlord, too! And that means a LOT to parents when their baby is in another city!
Well, not only did she get transferred...had to come home in the midst of opening the new college to have knee surgery!
while she was home for a week she helped up pack up...and the girl has more stuff than anyone I know!!! My goodness, no way, no how do we have nearly as much stuff as she!!!
Took us not one, but TWO huge loads to get all of her stuff to her new home!

In the meantime she had to find someone to keep her gorgeous hairless sphinx! A dear friend of ours kept her for a while, but youngest daughter can't get her until she's been declawed...our friend couldn't keep Giselda any longer, I picked her up tonight...I pray that she gets along with Sally (mini doxie) and vice versa. I don't have a photo of her tonight, but here she is in all of her glory @ their old home:

She gorgeous or what?! And...the most loving cat ever!!!

FYI, in the move I sprained both ankles and 5 fingers, I'm such a klutz!!

Or, perhaps...moved too many things that were much to heavy (that's the truth, actually, but shhhh, my hubby and doc would both be SO MAD if they knew!!)

Until the next time....perhaps some knitting!

But, of course, gotta wait till these fingers heal before I can knit, LOL!

Here's wishing all of you a wonderful end of summer/beginning of fall!

Finally, some knitting pics for 2010!!

2010-08-19T21:03:00.000-04:00

Hey People!
Okay, I have finally edited some photos of knitting that I've done this year! And, away we go.....

Recovery and Stuff

2010-08-11T11:20:00.000-04:00

Hello People!
I'm very happy to finally say that recovery from surgery is better!

With that said, I thought a little explanation may be in order...
My family and most of my friends know that I'm disabled and have a pain pump that helps with pain control. I've had one now for around 8 years, works wonders, allowing for low doses of medication to be delivered directily into the spinal fluid 24/7, very high doses of oral narcotics no longer needed (PRAISE GOD!). Anyway, I'm on my 2nd pump (battery life was expected to be approx 5 yrs, mine last 7 on the 1st pump). That pump was replaced last year. In the last year I've done better than I have in many, many years, thanks to this therapy. Well....the pump malfunctioned & I went into severe withdrawals (leads one to question, how to junkies live?! And how could anyone think recreational drug use was fun?!). I knew what it was, started oral meds immediately, which slowed it down & saw my doc the next a.m. He thought the tubing had become unattached @ the pump due to my weight loss (70 lbs, thank you very much) and, frankly, because freaky medical things have happened to me my entire life !!!
Okay, I had to then see my neuro surgeon, he thought the same thing. Surgery was scheduled the next week (this was 2-3 wks after malfunction - if it ain't actually full on "life-threatening" one doesn't have the luxury of immediate surgery). The withdrawals were under control with oral meds for pain and nausea....a very, very, very bad time was had by all, this I assure you!
Well, when the doc opened me up everything looked fine....no disconnection of the tubing @ either the pump (lower left abdomen) or in the spine.
What?! you may asked happened!! A freaky occurence, like I said has happened to me many times! The tubing had been blocked by a granuloma had formed on the tip of the tube, thus blocking the delivery of meds. So, the doc had to replace the tubing and reposition my pump (it had dropped from lower left adbomen to kinda hanging over my pelvic bone [this, too, of course, was very freaky].
Okay, surgery went well, I went home the next day, but with the worst headache ever....made a migraine feel all sweet and nice! Well, both my docs were on vacation! I kinda suspected I had a spinal fluid leak because every time I raised my head this incredible headache hit. I was scheduled to see my pain doc in a few days, so I dealt with it.
Of course, when I saw him he told me that I was the only patient he had ever had that had had this granuloma....we all laughed because....only me!
He told us (my Music Man and me) that he would correct the spinal fluid leakage the next day by doing a blood patch - freakishly painful procedure when done right below spinal incision! But, YAY....it worked, no more terror heachaches!
The stitches in my back were removed yesterday!! Steri strips on abdominal incision are to 'fall away' (this has internal stitches and steri strips). I'll see neuro surgeon soon for info on when my life can continue (working out, etc).
I'll continue seeing my pain specialist weekly 'til we get back the the proper level of medication....can't just go back to the dosage I had because we have no way of knowing if the granuloma had been blocking the flow of medication.

All that to say....I'm trying to post much more regularly than I've done in past couple of years! Lots of good things, happening in the knitting world! For example, the good people of Verena Knitting magazine want me to review a bit of each magazine (cool, huh) and a publisher of an upcoming knitting book wants me to do the same....(so cool!).

Stay tuned.....(please).....

Surgery....

2010-08-06T16:15:00.000-04:00

Hi Everyone!
A very quick note...I had to have what my doc called "urgent" surgery July 29.
All went well...'cept for that pesky leakage of spinal fluid!!! Headache that has no words! Made a migraine feel all warm & fuzzy. With that said, my wonderful pain doc corrected it Wed. by doing a blood patch, now that said ....a VERY painful procedure, but worth it! 1st time I've been physically able to lift my head since surgery, well, without mind altering pain!
All that to say....surgery went well, thus far and recovery should be down hill from here on in....

Onto important things, like knitting!
A publisher was kind enough to ask that I advertise an upcoming knitting book on my sites and I will have a review of this surprise book in the near future.

God Bless you all,
Becka

LOOKIE LOOKIE!!!

2010-07-16T19:26:00.000-04:00

1st of all, I have not one excuse, no valid reason for not having blogged in months....I'll say this, I'M SORRY! I will really and truly try to do better! I even updated the look of my blog for inspiration! Now, let's see how I do....

I have to have surgery soon and I've been rather bummed about it....well, today I got the GREATEST surprise in the mail!! "What?!" you might ask, well, allow me to show you.....

Yeah, BABY....the one and only Socks a la Carte 2 !!! So made my day!! I am honored to tell ya that I am privileged to have several designs in the book! Sooo

RUN, SOCKNITTERS, RUN to the nearest book store and get yours! It's chock full of designs and toe up socknitting, it's wonderful if I do say so myself!!!!
The sweet Jonelle and Kat from my fave yarn/knitting company, SWTC surprised me with a copy! I gotta tell ya, I'm so very proud to be a part of this project!

2010 is a banner year for me & publishing knitting designs (I'm so blessed), not only are my designs published in knitting calendars, Socks 2, individually @ SWTC, but also in a wonderful knitting book that will be available this fall, Sock Yarn One-Skein Wonders!! CAN YOU BELIEVE??!

Hope everyone is having a great summer, we are around here (well, 'cept for that surgery deal). God bless you all!

New Design!!

2010-05-05T19:10:00.000-04:00

This is so EXCITING!!

My very fave yarn company, SWTC has published another one of my designs!
SEE:

Diamond Mens Socks

Photo Courtesy of SWTC
(click to enlarge)

I am happy and honored to tell you that "Diamond Mens Socks" design is now available from the one and only SWTC and is found on Ravelry, a button click away!
Click this little Ravelry linky:

or here for the info.

OMGoodness, I'M HORRID!!!

2010-03-25T12:30:00.000-04:00

I apologize a million times over! I've become an absolutely awful blogger...pretty much non-existent, actually! So sorry.

Okay, here's the deal! I have knitting to finish for Easter, then several photos to edit so that I can actually have decent blog posts...and then, I'm BACK (I promise!)! My goodness, so much has happened, so much to share!

Stay tuned.....

URGENT PRAYER REQUEST!!!

2010-01-13T13:24:00.000-05:00

I would like to ask each of you to please pray for a family friend. This young lady and her infant child are currently without a place to stay. I'm not sure of their current living arrangements (or if they even have a place to stay tonight!), but have been told that they don't have a place to live.
Please pray that Our Lord and Father provide a place for them. I have complete faith that He will do so. I know that He will not leave them on the street. Our Lord is all powerful and can very well handle any and all situations, but, as we all know, He wants us to come to Him and ask Him to help us.
This young mother and her baby are in desperate need of His help.
God has blessed us with His power in prayer, please use it today for them and continue to pray for them, please. She doesn't know Our Lord as her savior and I pray that this will be one of the stepping stones to her salvation, to opening her eyes to the love of Jesus.
God bless you all and thank you so very much for your prayers.
I'll update the post as I hear about the situation. Again, MANY thanks!

I've Knit....

2009-11-30T23:10:00.000-05:00

I'm so excited!!!

I'm actually knitting again!!!

I knit several items for a new baby in the family!!

AND, I'm knitting __________ for __________.

I have not one photo...so sorry! I have a new laptop, but decided to wait until my Windows 7 software arrives in the mail before I install my new PSE 8 (yeah, both surprises from my Honey!). Then...pictures galore!

Hope everyone had a fabulous Thanksgiving and wishing everyone......

A VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS!!

PRAYER NEEDED!

2009-11-24T14:48:00.002-05:00

I would like to ask that you please pray for my husband, Lonnie. He has had trouble with his back for many years. It's gotten much worse of late. His primary dr. is referring him to a pain specialist to see if epidurals will be helpful. It's our hope that these will help and surgery will not be needed now.

He was told in the past that he needs back surgery but that it wasn't something he should do unless he could no longer stand the pain. He very rarely mentions his pain...well, he told me he's ready to get it fixed now...that told a BIG story - he's in bad shape!

If it's time for surgery, please pray that God direct him to a wonderful neuro surgeon and that all goes well, a great recovery. I know medical advances are made daily and I hope and pray this surgery isn't as bad as the docs said in the past.

I pray for God's will .... and that it gets Lonnie out of pain, or as much as possible. It's also my prayer that we hear from these docs asap!

Thanks very, very much for your prayers!

My Music Man Sings & Plays Guitar AND a bit about knitting....

2009-11-01T16:22:00.002-05:00

Hello Friends!
Yeah, I know - I've had no business owning a blog this year! Goodness, my skills are non-existent! I have to say that my discovery of Facebook has become more like an online addiction and that is where I spend my time! Again .... my sincere apologies.

As for knitting, not much happening lately. I'm afraid I've had a tough time with my hands and couldn't knit a stitch for several months! AND in the last month I've knit several repeats on a lovely Cozy from Knitty using Debbie Bliss Silk Alpaca...it will be gorgeous! But, alas, I have to set it aside to knit a few baby garments for a new family member, Peyton! AND, if you know anything about my knitting habits...I DETEST having more than 1 project OTN!! But, for this little angel, I'm happy to put Cozy aside to knit a few items for her.
A shocker...I canNOT knit socks for a while! (AND...don't miss the VIDEOS of my Music Man singing and playing....)
Can't use the small needles! Small needles hurt my hands a great deal. Yeah, my passion for socknitting has been put on the far back burner! But that's okay, I'll be socknitting again in no time (Lord willing).

For those of you who loved reading about the way that my wonderful husband spoils me with surprises, just wanted to let ya know that he continues with this wonderful habit! Latest surprises - new laptop, latest Photoshop Elements, newest ITouch, to name a few!

Speaking of my Music Man, I have a couple of videos that I would like to include. LOL, now please, please, please know that I've not shot a video in 15+ years! LOL, and it's very evident when you see these shaky videos shot with my camera! No tripod, nor actual video camera. He and the church band were invited to play in the monthly Folk Festival last month and I decided (after the songs began) to video a couple of my faves! They are FANTASTIC...even this little camera video which was shot from the very back of the room shows their talent! My sweet Music Man is the tall blond, (wearing a black shirt) sitting on a stole on the far left, playing rhythm guitar and singing harmony during these 2 songs. The songs are Bob Dylan's "Serve Somebody" and "There is No Excuse" by someone like the Blind Boys of Mississippi or something like that (will have to check with Bobby [harmonica player] - he knows the original songsters). I hope that you enjoy them as much as we do (again, my apologies for the video quality [lol, more like - lack of quality]). "Serve Somebody" OH yeah, the line that Bobby inserted "You might walk with a limp.." is about yours truly, LOL!!! AND, next: "There is No Excuse"

PRAYER NEEDED!

2009-08-20T16:58:00.002-04:00

Hey everyone!

I'm so very sorry that I have been bad at blogging....seems as tho Facebook has sucked my brain into it and I've forgotten about blogging....so sorry.

BUT, this new post is VERY IMPORTANT!

I would like to ask for your prayers. This is not about me, but prayers for a loved one, something that I can't go into details here, but we all know that God knows what the request is all about!

Thank you so much for taking your time to pray about this and adding this prayer to your prayer lists. We know that the power of prayer is incredible and I know that with our prayers, our faith and God that He will see us through this as He does with all things!

Surprise from HUBBY & another....

2009-07-30T13:02:00.004-04:00

Hey People!

Hope everyone is well!

I've been trying to knit for my fave yarn co., SWTC....but, alas, I've not been able to make myself knit....SHOCK OF ALL SHOCKS, I KNOW! Well, I was diagnosed with high blood pressure and as my body is becoming adjusted to the meds I've felt horrible and unable to do anything! But, PRAISE GOD, I'm finally beginning to feel more like me and happy to knit...that was scary, not wanting to knit, it's like not wanting to breathe!

AND, remember, just had surgery in May, then messed up my back at the end of that recovery and THEN sprained both ankles (and wrists, but I've not told anyone about that!)! I don't know if you recall the lovely army boot looking

braces that I had to wear in the past, but I'm not happy to say I'm wearing them again, LOL! They are a fashion statement, NOT a good one, but a statement! Yes, when it rains it pours on Becka, LOL...but, PRAISE GOD, I'm okay, I'm not dying, my high blood pressure was found on a fluke (work of God, of course) and it's under control and my ankles hurt and I look funnier on crutches, NOT a problem, LOL!

NOW for the GOOD STUFF that I was saving for the end of the post!!!!!!!

My SWEET HUSBAND walked in last night and said, "I have a surprise for you!" and he had a diet pepsi in his hand, which I had been craving, I assumed that was my surprise and was VERY happy about it. BUT NO, not my Music Man...he pulled an IPhone out of his pocket!!! I mean, CAN U BELIEVE?! I had wanted an ITouch for Christmas, but he ran across a deal with a friend at work and decided that I shouldn't wait until Christmas and BAM, he gets the IPhone for me and simply said, "We'll get a 16 gig Touch for you for Christmas and I'll take this for my phone." I AM MARRIED TO AN ANGEL!

I won't use the IPhone as a phone, rather a touch to play with all sorts of apps and (possibly music, LOL, I have a nano for music!) update contacts, etc....I'M SO EXCITED!!! I am, once again, happy dancin' all over the place (LOL, figuratively speaking, can't dance today!). I could go on and on and on about the wonders that are my husband, but I'll not this time....let's just say, there's not a better man on the face of the Earth...AND, that's not because he surprises me with goodies all of the time, that isn't even a tiny drop in the bucket! But, I digress, I wanted to share the fun with ya'll.

I'm off to knit...........

Who knew..... AND, the copperhead experience!

2009-07-21T13:00:00.003-04:00

OMGoodness...I never even imagined that I would begin to Twitter and Facebook, who knew?! I don't even blog regularly! But, alas....I caved! And in caving, have run into a LOT of friends and family on FB that I've not seen nor talked with in a while...so that's a good thing! But, I'm addicted to this game...FarmTown (YES, I've become a virtual farmer, me a CITY girl!) and it seems to be have virus troubles...so, what's a virtual farm girl to do?!

Knit, of course, that is the answer! I've recently finished a very cute sock design, but, alas, it's a stealth project, one that won't be seen for a year, I think...but they are cute! AND, my SWTC friends sent a package of yarn & patterns for additional knits that may be chosen for the cover of Socks a la Carte II - Toe up! THAT IS SO COOL! I've been told that these socks and several of the socks that I designed and knit will be sent to the publisher for the cover socks to be chosen! I may have something that I knit on the cover...THAT IS SO COOL (did I say that already?!)

Okay, you all know Sally, Right?! Well, last week (Wed or Thurs nite) she got bitten by acopperhead around midnight! Oh dear, it was a HORRID experience all around! We thought we were losing her!

We called and then took her to the emergency vet, where she had to spend the night for IV fluids and a LOT of meds...we then had to pick her up @ 7:30am & take her to our vet where she stayed several more hours. Came home with meds, etc. She was lethargic from the meds and the venom for a couple of days, but PRAISE GOD she's okay...got a clean bill of health from the vet Sunday. It was then that the vet told us that she was very worried about Sally and the bite & was very happy to see that she had done so well.

You see, the vets told us that if one is to get bitten by a poisonous snake in this area that the copperhead is the snake "of choice" because it doesn't attack the central nervous system the way in which pit vipers (rattlers, etc) do. The bite area is very painful, swells, etc and if not taken care of in a timely fashion then the animal (or person) can easily go into anaphylactic shock.

Oh yeah....my husband put up the cutest little iron fence so that Sally will stay out of the back yard (where the snake attack happened) and can easily be seen!

We think this happened because the woods directly behind us have just been chopped down for a road and critters are trying to find a home! This is the 3rd copperhead we've seen in our yard in the 20 years we've lived here....hopefully the LAST!

Well, I'm off to knit...was going to do some "virtual farming" beforehand, but alas, until I know that the virus trouble is taken care of (even though I have a well protected Mac) I will limit my "farming" to my farm alone....so knitting it will be...I LOVE knitting!

Happy Summer, Everyone!

INCREDIBLY EXCITING NEWS!!!!!!!!

2009-07-03T18:57:00.001-04:00

HEY knitty (and all other) people!!

You may recall a previous post in which I mentioned some of my "stealth" projects. Particularly, those involving Storey Publishing.

Okay....maybe you don't recall, I'll tell ya! Okay, Storey Publishing is known in the knitty world for the One-Skein series of books (as well as a wealth of wonderful books), those being:
, then came , and next

Well, Storey had a contest for another book! IMHO, the best one yet, one in which the one-skein is none other than SOCK YARN! And we all know that sock yarn comes in all sorts of wonderful skeins!

Sorry, BRB...Okay, I'm back....considering the fact that I was chatting about sock yarn (yes, an obsession, a big one, I admit!) I just had to step away because I had an overwhelming desire to go through a couple of my bins (yes, I said BINS!) of sock yarn for a bit of luxury and fondling of yummilicious yarn....I then had to stop and sketch a bit on knitters graph paper because I got an idea for a new sock pattern. Like I said...obsession!

Oh....oh yeah, about Storey Publishing and the one-skein sock yarn contest for the new book, sorry, I was lost in the land of sock yarn (come on, you know exactly what I mean, you love you some sock yarn, too!).

You know that I submitted 3 designs for consideration for the new book, right?!

Well, we were supposed to hear in June if our designs were or were not accepted.

I received an email on June 30.

Guess What........

TWO OF MY DESIGNS WERE CHOSEN AND WILL BE PUBLISHED IN THE NEW BOOK!!!

I gotta tell ya, I experienced (and still am!) a wave of emotions!

SHOCK

Jumping for Joy

HAPPY DANCIN'

all over the place...

I'm talking all sorts of happy dancing going on.....

line dancin' .....

ballroom dancing

DISCO dancin'

Like I said.... HAPPY DANCIN'

I have to say to Storey Publishing for choosing 2 of my designs. I am OVERJOYED, HONORED and so very THANKFUL!

Surprises from My HoneyMan

2009-06-30T13:25:00.001-04:00

As anyone who has ever read my blog knows - I have the BEST HUSBAND in the WORLD! He shows me in so many ways. I don't know what I've done to deserve such a man, but he is one of God's greatest gifts to me and I thank God for my Music Man (check it out, I used a code name! Perhaps I am getting back into the bloggin' swing of things, I used Lonnie's code name....OOPS! Well, I'm trying, all I can say.....).

As I was saying, the very best husband in the world! He spoils me rotten in so many ways! My goodness, because of my surgery, I can't bend over very far.....when he gets home there is often a trail of items that I've dropped that he picks up without one word! Does the laundry without a word, tells me it's easier for him to do it - this is after I've asked him to please set the clothes on top of the washer dryer set (similar to these: ) so that I could easily reach the clothes & not have to bend....but he does the laundry, vaccuums, whatever....without a thought. Well, I take that back, he thinks about me!

And, of course, he's kind to everyone! All of the people at work come to him with all things, he is a good listener, gives good advice; people enjoy working for him and with him. And, they always take notice of what an exceptional husband and father he is....hard not to!

And, my goodness, EXTREMELY FUNNY! LOL, keeps us in "stitches" around the dinner table at family get togethers.

I could go on and on and on, but I won't right now.

I want to show you what he has done since my surgery (May 26) ..... by way of surprising me, that is, with gifts (today's date is June 24, I will post this entry in my blog later since I've already made 2 posts today - thank God I'm feeling better!)! Now, I'm not showing photos of the countless (not even kidding) bottles of my favorite lotions and bath soaps from Bath and BodyWorks, believe me when I tell you I'm set for several months with lotion (and the shower soap scent to go with) for months - and I use lotion and cream all day & night (dry skin as a result of my meds).

I collect vintage lucite purses. The ones that have had for years have a hard shell - notice the purse in the photo in the header, this is one I've had for over 20 years, it's from the 1950's. Well, I saw some on Ebay that were made from lucite beads and loved them. Of course, they appeared in the mail: and this clutch: I LOVE these bags! Of course, he knew that!

And another one, almost forgot.....I don't know if any of you are of age to remember the retro "magazine" clutches from the '70s or not...but, a friend of mine had one when we were kids and my mom told me no, that I didn't need one. Well, I was looking on Ebay after surgery, saw a replica and wanted to watch it to see what it the replicas were going for, it, too, was a gift from my Music Man: (it is cool, don't ya think?!)

And then there are the watches! Oh, allow me to preface this with I love the "Girl M&M" character - she's sassy & sexy! And, 2 of my favorite classic movies are The Wizard of Oz and Gone With the Wind (both of which I have collector's editions of VHS tapes and dvds, yep, for my honey!). I love watches, different watches, remember the Mickey Mouse watch that he surprised me with a few months ago?! One day he came home with her: Is she SASSY or what?! And these guys: "Tomorrow is another day......." I can hear Scarlett saying that now! And then one day, he calls me and tells me, "I have a surprise for you!" LOL, he loves to do that because it makes me crazy having to wait to see what it is! The surprise: I love the tins that these watches come in, too! The Wizard tin looks exactly like the basket that Dorothy carried Toto in!!

Oh, that's not all, either! Two days ago a lovely vintage lucite Very colorful, goes with all of my watches! And purses, too!

Yep, I'm spoiled rotten by this man on a regular basis, and he amps up the spoilage (way up) post operatively!

And, when all is said and done, the gifts, from Silly Putty to diamonds are not what spoils me, that would be the unconditional love that I am blessed to receive from this remarkable man! I love you, Music Man (Guitar Man, Honey Man, code names I won't share here, LOL!!). Yes, I am blessed.

JUST ...... WOW!!!! Okay, today, a few short hours after I finished this blog post and saved it to draft to post another day (because I posted twice today!) my sweet husband called me & told me he was headed home early (always nice!) and going by the vet to get Sally (got shots today and a recheck). In the middle of the conversation he told me that he had yet another surprise for me....CAN YOU BELIEVE?! I was stunned, and, of course, tried to pry any information out of him and I was, as usual, not a bit successful!

So, he walks in, Sally runs in to say "Hey, I'm home!" and hands me 2 boxes! Okay, I know you see the theme that we have going, Lonnie gets "theme" watches for me from a friend at work. Today, Fabulous Minnie Mouse

AND, Marilyn Monroe!!!!!

OMGoodness, I'm flabbergasted, gobsmacked, really, really thrilled!!! I do really love watches, always have....but, not a simple watch that just tells time, a watch that makes a fun statement, and these certainly do!!!! And the tins that they are in are simply stunning...Marilyn's lips, how cool is that?!

Like I said, best husband in the world!!! And, on top of all of this and all that he is....he's taken ?Friday off so that we can just hang together. Yeah, I'm a happy wife!

PS - July 7, 2009

My WONDERFUL husband has continued spoiling me rotten!

He popped in last Sunday with a new plasma TV for me! The picture is amazing! Because of my disability I have to spend a lot of time in bed and the TV is always on whether for a movie or show.

We have a plasma in the living room and said we wouldn't get another, but, My Honey decided I needed one, too!

And, as if that weren't enough....he came home a few nights ago with a new dvd player that does something to improve dvds so that they are almost high def. It's not a blu-ray, because we have MANY, MANY dvds that I watch all of the time.

AND, this weekend, came home with LOTS more Bath and BodyWorks lotions...LOL, looks like we have a store in one of our cabinets! But, he knows I LOVE lotion and Bath and Body Works was having their semi-annual sale....and I'm set until the next sale!

Like I said...he spoils me rotten!

I'm so overwhelmed by all that he does that I just have to share it with the world!!!

Stealth Project News.....

2009-06-24T12:20:00.006-04:00

ALMOST,

but not yet the news about some of my "stealth" projects, but VERY COOL news nonetheless.... The one and only Annie Modesitt and friends are putting together a MARVELOUS book of 1000 Fabulous Knit Hats (get info here, you will want to join in the fun!)! Annie messaged me (& many Ravelry peeps) asking if I would please send photos for the project, I'M SO EXCITED and HONORED! I so hope I can get some good hat photos this weekend (please pray I feel like photography over the weekend!). She is inviting everyone, please checkout the site and submit photos of your hats (crochet and/or knit), submission deadline is July 1, 2009. This is going to be a very exciting book!!

DRUMROLL, please
Okay, Okay, Okay, I have been about to BURST with excitement for several months!!!! I so wanted to tell everyone, but, alas, I could not. BUT, since it (the book) has been approved and my friend Jonelle, prez/owner of my fave yarn co., SWTC shared the news on her blog a few days ago, I can share, too!!!!! On with....the NEWS!

SWTC is publishing another Socks a la Carte book: Toes Up, this book is going to be chock full of all sorts of goodies (can't give anything away, of course). AND,

Pardon me, I become so excited and get the ibbity gibbities when I think about this that I sometimes faint, I had to pick myself up....

now, on with the story....

Where was I?!....

Oh, a few months ago when they were thinking about publishing a toe up Socks a la Carte book Jonelle emailed me and asked if I designed toe up socks!! CAN U BELIEVE?! Talk about an honor! Well, just so happened that I had just finished several toe up sock designs and was about to post them on my design blog (I mean, I was going to post the designs that very day! God works in all areas of my life!)! Instead, I sent them along to SWTC for a look see and began working on stitch patterns for the book!!! HOW COOL IS THAT!?! I've spent a LOT of time (many wonderful hours, days, etc....each one precious and joyful!) with knitters graph paper, pencil, yarn and needles, experimenting with new st. patterns and knitting socks for SWTC, getting ready to help pitch the book to the publisher - I still can't believe that I was helpful in the pitch to the publisher! Now, the work begins, getting the book ready! Wow, it's quite a process that they go thru, let me tell ya! Just the bit I know about is daunting! I have to say, I am extremely honored to have been a small part of Socks a la Carte and am SO looking forward to Socks a la Carte II and helping with it!! Needless to say (and this is NOT because I have something to do with it), this will be an extraordinary book, as are all things that come from SWTC! I have loved this company from the moment I touched bamboo yarn several years ago and continue love them, they have a standard of excellence that is unparalleled AND they are wonderful people...what more can one ask for?! Allow me to say this, I am so touched that she thought of me when the book was "on the drawing board" (for lack of a better term), words can't express exactly how honored I was/am, to be a part of this project....thanks, Jonelle and SWTC family!

I think that I will spill the rest of the "stealth" knitting beans, so to speak... I would love to share this with everyone!

Everyone is familar with the One Skein books (1 skein Wonders, 101 One Skein Wonders, Luxury Yarn 1 Skein Wonders), yes?! These are published by Storey Publishing. Well, my dear friend, Jonelle from SWTC (she is a sweetheart, I'm telling ya!) emailed me in March telling me that she had been told that Storey Publishing was having a 1 skein contest with sock yarn, the designs could be anything, but could only use 1 skein of sock yarn (50 gr./100 gr., etc., but had to be 1 skein)!! I was fortunate enough to design and enter 3 projects for consideration. These are 3 of the "stealth" projects that are listed on the sidebar. I received a post card acknowledging their receipt of submission; part of it states, "We will be in touch with you in June to let you know if we are able to include it in our book." June is almost over and I've not heard from them. I'm not expecting to have a design chosen; goodness, hundreds of designers and countless designs were entered and only a few can be chosen! But, I would ..... (I don't know what I would do, actually)....anyway, it would be supercalifragilisticexpialidocious if one of my entries won a spot in the book!! I'm trying not to get my hopes up, but it is SO COOL and such an honor to have entered, I've never done anything like that! It felt really good to step out and enter some of my patterns for a contest! Thanks to Jonelle, Amy, Julie, my sister and hubby for their encouragement and belief in me, it really means a LOT!

So, there you have it, the "stories" about my stealth projects....still can't reveal them, but I'm happy that I could share my excitement and a bit about them!

I have many projects in my design notebook, ready to hit the yarn and needles! But, I think they will have to wait until after the completion of a few other things.....

LOL, okay, yes, yes, yes, it's a well known fact that I am NOT one for short posts when I blog. BUT, I am feeling a bit better today and had SO MUCH to say that I had to get it all said in this post. LOL, I have much more to say, but, I'll stop now and save it for the next post, I think it will be a tad shorter, LOL, never can tell!

Happy Knitting and God Bless

Knitting Projects....finally!!

2009-06-24T09:29:00.010-04:00

Hello Everyone

so VERY MUCH for all of your prayers and well wishes during my recovery from surgery. A brief update....I'm doing well, recovery is much longer than I expected and the pain worse than expected...BUT, that is A-OKAY because the result is well worth it. By the way, I choose not to go into detail about the surgery, please feel free to email me if you have questions, not shy, just not something I'm comfortable putting on the internet...LOL, no, it's not plastic surgery, that I would shout about, LOL!

Okay, on to the KNITTING!

Finally I have photos to share! These were knit for my nephew and his wife's new twins (boy and girl)! 1st, allow me to say that I felt really hinky about knitting 3 tops for 2 babies, but, I'm sorry, the cotton was KILLING me...my hands are still sore (of course, it's not just because I have a problem with cotton yarns, I didn't take breaks as often as I should have, either! Please, let my pain be a lesson for you! Take breaks when knitting!) I've not been able to knit for a week because of it. But, I had to go for cotton (KnitPicks Shine worsted, which is a great yarn!) because of the summer weather! With that said, I will be more than HAPPY to knit other items for the babes if they would like! Baby clothes are so fun to knit, don't you think?! Cute and fun and QUICK!

Okay, I tried to stay in a "non" gender mode for the patterns, but, this Yoked Cardi by Hannah Fetig is a design for girls (pattern has sizes for newborn thru very large, I highly recommend the purchase)....but, who knows, it may be pulled off by a boy (LOL, doubt it, it is girly)...couldn't resist, love it! I subsituted ICord ties for buttons, I think this will allow for longer wear because the ties can be loosened; have a look:

Next was my take on Linda's baby eyelet cardi...I love her original pattern, but wanted to do something a bit different, shortened the sleeves and chose to use seed stitch on the bottom portion. I sewed snaps on the inside and buttons on the outside, buttons for "show" snaps for the ease of dressing twins! I think that my pattern tweaks have made this top a bit more suitable for a boy; so, one for a boy and one for a girl....or, they can switch them, parent's choice, yes?!

The last (and my favorite) top is the baby kimono. You know, there are a LOT of baby kimono patterns out and this is hands down, my favorite! (LOL, the more I type and think about the fact that there is one kimono, I so know that I will knit another, LOL!)....sorry, my bizarro world of over analyzing my knitting is shining thru - this is what happens when I don't blog as I should (LOL, well, that wrote like a good reason, actually, that's just the way I am....).

Oh, yeah....the knitting....WOW, I'm way past "rusty" when it comes to blogging...apologies all around....

The WONDERFUL baby kimono...bulky seamless baby kimono by Jacki Kelly, I do so love it! I didn't use bulky yarn, rather KnitPicks Shine; I simply altered the pattern for the yarn, size, & fiddled with the crucial gauge. I also chose to use an ICord bind off which worked nicely.

This kimono is now my "go to" knit for babies! The pattern is well written, a nice, fun, quick knit!

I really enjoyed knitting each of these designs! Each one is great for a baby & perfect to welcome a new life! The way in which the patterns are designed allow for "growing" room so that they (hopefully) will be able to wear them for a few months.

Recovering from Surgery....

2009-05-29T16:51:00.002-04:00

Hey Knitty People!

An update as why my "bloggin' feelin' " has not yet returned....

I'm recoverying fromsurgery and will be okay (LOL, as "okay" as I get, that is!) soon.

And, as far as knitting....."stealth" projects is all that I can say at the moment, probably for a while - but they are fun knits.

Happy Knitting (or whatever fibery goodness tickles your fancy) and God Bless!

Say It Ain't So.....I've NOT Lost that Bloggin' Feelin'

2009-04-30T13:22:00.003-04:00

Life has gotten in the way and I've not blogged in forever!

I am SO SORRY

I'm knitting ....stealth projectsall that I can say......... (fun, too!)

I've had a battle with pain over the past year - hinky weather = increase in painwhen one has my condition. BUT, that's okay, I'm not dying or anything, just happen to live with pain.

But, I'm afraid I have dropped the ball on blogging.

With that said - the time has come for me to pick it up!

So - I'm saying (again, hopefully I'll follow thru) that as soon as I finish a few small projects that I will ONCE AGAIN be the blogger that I was!! (or something like that....)

Hey, I think I'll have a contest soon.....who knows?!

So, with no knitting pics to share, I leave you with my fur babes....

Sally (queen of the manor)

And, of course, Moshi, the most laid back cat in the world! And, the boy weighs around 17 lbs - HUGE!! And, of course, GORGEOUS!!!

(Like I said - laid back!)

All I Can Say....

2009-03-26T13:41:00.001-04:00

Oh, I'm bursting @ the seams with something!!!

But, alas....

I canNOT share this knowledge!!!!

I'VE GOT A SECRET!!!!

AND

It's a BIG one!!!

Did I Ever Say............

2009-03-18T17:29:00.004-04:00

MY HUSBAND SO ROCKS!!!!!
I don't know exactly what I've done to deserve such a wonderful man, but God has certainly blessed me with a gem in my wonderful husband!! This May we will celebrate our 20th wedding anniversary, PRAISE GOD!! What a blessing!
This man is extraordinary in virtually every way!
He is a man's man. He is a woman's man! He is a man among men!
He is the person that everyone @ work goes to with problems and concerns of all types - and he listens to them and counsels them! He is liked/loved by all (LOL, yeah, I'm sometimes a bit jealous of the women @ work who hit on him!) who know him!
He is a very good singer and guitar player. Used to play professionally, but plays in church now (we have a very rockin' band @ our church!). Does anything and everything that he can @ church and, of course, for God.
And, on top of all of this - very good looking, too!
OH, I can't forget, he lovingly does vaccuuming, laundry, whatever housework just because he wants to! He has taken care of me on many, many, many occasions when I was bedridden because of my disability!! Oh yeah, he doesn't do these household chores because of my disability, just because he wants to! Don't get me wrong, he has had to do everything around the house because I wasn't able to do so. But now he'll start a load of laundry and I'll ask what he's doing, that I was going to do it, his reply, "I just wanted to do a load!" CAN U BELIEVE?! Cooks, too, makes the best homemade soup you can imagine! As a matter of fact, he went to the grocery store Saturday (yep, he takes his mother every Saturday!) and we were putting away groceries and he told me that this and that was for our daughter, he had told her that he would make her some soup - LOL, and take it to her house!
He cares for ALL of us!!!
And he continues to take care of me all of the time, in more ways than I can list!
AND, he chose me! God made him for me and me for him - what a plan God had!
Okay, I could go on and on and on about my hubby's many qualities, but I may share others at another time, LOL! It's just that I've not blogged in so long and the best thing I can chat about as I finally begin blogging again is My Man!!!
Those of you who have known me for a while know that My Honey spoils me rotten. LOL, I won't make a list of all of the ways and goodies he's spoiled me since last I blogged regularly - but I will start with today!
Okay, I'd not slept well last night (I had been up for some time writing patterns for some new designs and just couldn't sleep) and had fallen asleep watching TV in the early afternoon. Well, all of a sudden I saw awoke to a man standing over me - LOL, it was my hubby, but he startled me because it was midday and needless to say, Sally is a poor watchdog when it comes to alerting to her master arriving home! We say hello to one another, etc. I was so excited that he came home in the middle of the day and knew that he had come home to give me my new Bare Escentuals Pink Diamond kit that was shipped to his place of business from QVC (he had called me to tell me it was there). He's just sweet like that, even though it wasn't something I needed, he wanted me to have it because it had arrived (yeah, he does this whenever anything ships - fyi, we have items shipped to his place of business because it's just easier because he deals with UPS all the time).
WELL.....little did I know that he had yet another surprise for me (and him, too!). I love, love, love all things Disney and especially love The Mouse. Well, he walked in with this: I can't even tell you how many Disney watches he's given me! But, oddly enough, I've been without a watch for about a year - very unusual for me. He knows me so well, got the exact watch that I would have picked....very cool shape, with Mickey toward the side in the dial and a few shots from movies and shorts in the background...a very cool watch! And a MUCH cooler husband, don't ya think?!
I was so happy to see that he had actually gotten something for himself, too...a Mickey pocket watch: I LOVE, LOVE pocket watches! Both of these came in cool tins, too. If you are interested, check with your Avon Lady (or gentleman). Lonnie comes home twice a month with goodies for me from Avon because he's helping a girl he works with because she's selling Avon to make extra money...AND....well, because he's Lonnie!!
In case you are wondering, I spoil him, too----try my best, but I'm afraid I'm not as accomplished as he! And he's gotten a few new guitars lately, he tells me that many of his friends' wives fuss and don't want their husbands to buy guitars and things like this!! I'm happy as a lark to see him allow some spoilage in his direction!

Ah - knitting...I'm loving it as always, but afraid I have NO photos to post...sorry!

I'm Not Really Lost...........

2009-03-11T22:17:00.002-04:00

Hey Everyone!!!!

I'm so VERY, VERY sorry to have been away for so long!!! I'm afraid that the 1st of 2009 has had me in the bed due to increase in pain from my hip/leg. LOL, that's what happens when we have such hinky weather - I'm afraid the bad bones and joints act up rather badly, LOL! Sounds like I'm getting old, yes?! NO WAY, young at heart!!!

I've done a bit of knitting, no pics as of yet....I'm afraid I forgot to take photos of a couple of gifts that I knit (duh, can u believe?!). And, I'm working on a few new patterns that I may submit to my fave yarn company or just post them on my blog....can't yet decide!
I'm afraid I'm still not up to par, so I'm going to post a little slide show of a few of the pics of our December vacation to Sea World - it was a BLAST!!! Enjoy....

"Rebecca's Design" in Socks a la Carte

2009-01-15T03:58:00.001-05:00

Okay, I didn't post this @ the beginning of the year because it was going in a book by SWTC ---- HOW COOL IS THAT?!! I'll tell ya.....WAY COOL!! EXTREMELY COOL!!! VERY EXCITING!!! I could go on and on!!
Okay, the design was originally called "Twist and Shout" but the girls of SWTC renamed it "Rebecca's Design" (that is so cool!). I can give you no details. But, I can tell you this....run, run to the nearest book store, yarn store, online retailer and get the book! It is extraordinary! You really need to check it out to understand!! The variety of socks is practically endless...SUCH FUN! A fun knit....did I already say that?! Not only was I fortunate enough to have a pattern in this wonderful book....but, my sweet buds from SWTC, Jonelle and Kat, sent an autographed copy of Socks a la Carte to me!! I'M SO HONORED!! And, "Rebecca's Design" is right there: and: Yeah, I'm extremely EXCITED, HONORED, OVERWHELMED and HAPPY!!!

Remember Christmas

2008-12-24T08:47:00.005-05:00

As I sit here this Christmas Eve morning doing my devotion and reading about the meaning of Christmas, I would like to share my thoughts.

2 Corinthians 9:15
“Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!”

And wish everyone a

Very Merry Christmas!

Silent night, holy night
All is calm all is bright
'Round yon virgin Mother and Child
Holy infant so tender and mild
Sleep in heavenly peace
Sleep in heavenly peace

Silent night, holy night
Shepherds quake at the sight.
Glories stream from heaven afar
Heavenly hosts sing Alleluia
Christ the Savior is born
Christ the Savior is born

Silent night, holy night
Son of God, love's pure light
Radiant beams from Thy holy face
With the dawn of redeeming grace
Jesus, Lord, at Thy birth
Jesus, Lord, at Thy birth

Thank You, Father for the gift of Your Son.

Thank You for redeeming grace.

Leaf Lace Shawl for Amy :-)

2008-12-20T04:31:00.000-05:00

I forgot to take photos of the shawl....CAN U BELIEVE?!
My dear friend, Amy, for whom I made the shawl took these photos of Fiber Trends Leaf Lace Shawl for me!
I knit this shawl with 10-12 skeins of SWTC's Therapi yarn. A truly fun knit! LOL, I then blocked it for about a week, spritzing it often so that the edging would block properly and it did. I loved and so did my bud, Amy!

I love knitting for loved ones who truly appreciate it and she does!

2008 was a slow knitting year....several designs, though. Several picked up by SWTC, HOW COOL IS THAT?! Who knows....maybe 2009, too, one doesn't know what the Lord has in store for us!

Now.....I've got to start another blog for 2009.........

Another New Pattern is Up!

2008-12-16T04:39:00.002-05:00

Hello one and all!
A brief note to let you know that my latest men's socks design is now available on my design blog (and linked in the sidebar). They were designed and knit for my Honey, Music Man (lol, the 1st time I've actually used a "code name" in over a year!)...he told me yesterday that they are his favorite socks thus far!!! COOL, HUH?! These are the "Big Boss Man Socks"! A fun knit, a different pattern on the front and back! . A bit of cable action, very masculine, too!

Merry Christmas and God Bless!!!

Happy Holidays!

2008-12-15T10:11:00.003-05:00

Merry Christmas

Everyone!

I would like to share a favorite Christmas Bible verse

(LOL, it's had to pick just one!)

Luke 1:30-33

“But the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God. You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end.”

I wish a very Merry Christmas and wonderful holiday season to each and every one!

New Patterns are Up!!

2008-11-26T20:04:00.009-05:00

Hey Hey Hey!!
A quick note to let ya know that some new sock designs are posted on my design blog.
They are.....
(click photos to enlarge & names to link to patterns)
A Touch of Whimsy Socks

A Touch of Whimsy Socks Version 2

A Lotta Whimsy Socks aka A Touch of Whimsy Socks V3

and....

Rhythm Man Socks

Happy Knitting and God Bless!!

Happy Thanksgiving Friends (almost)

2008-11-23T19:10:00.002-05:00

Happy Thanksgiving

Everyone!

I hope and pray that each and every one of you have a very blessed holiday season!

I love this time of year as we come together to give thanks for our many blessings

....BUT....

remember to give thanks each and every day!!!

Okay, so sorry I've not been around for a while! I really and truly do have new patterns to post, I promise! LOL, I don't blame ya if you don't believe me, LOL, I've spoken of patterns yet they've not all been seen! Of course, I'm still so stoked about the Hearts of Faith Scarf becoming available from my fave yarn company - SWTC!!! I don't know if I'll ever get over that!! AND the book is coming out in Dec. and Jonelle (from SWTC) has recently seen it and said it's spectacular! I'm so blessed, I have to say!

So, since I've been fortunate enough that my fave yarn company has opted for a few of my designs that I've decided that it's FAR past time for me to design free patterns for my fellow knitters! With that said, I have 3 ladies' sock designs and 2 men's socks, too...I have to take the photos and I hope to post them over the Thanksgiving holidays! you see, I've been designing and knitting, not much blogging!

I've also designed a cool new scarf, have placed an order for some yummilicious SWTC Gianna yarn to knit it up (with matching accessories, I hope) for our annual Christmas vacation! I hope to post the scarf before we leave for vacation - I have a bit of vacation knitting to do, so I hope to get it up for anyone who may want a yummy, bulky scarf for the cold season! I can't get enough scarves - I love, love them!

Oh, this year we are off to Disney World for vacation! We've not been to Disney World in over 15 years! I so love Disney! LOL, I'm a kid @ heart, that's for sure! Some of you may know that I wanted a Tinkerbell tat for my 50th bday (Dec 6!!)...well, I decided to get it after our vacation...who knows what kind of ideas I'm gonna get in Disney World!! I'M SO EXCITED!!!

Okay, sorry to have yet another post without knitting or yarn porn - perhaps the next one!

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!!!

Just - WOWZER!!!!!

2008-10-28T22:56:00.006-04:00

It's like this............................
just read ahead, I mean is this cool OR WHAT?! I can finalllllllly let the cat outta the bag.... as if the ENTIRE knitting community didn't know that SWTC is my FAVORITE yarn company when I said in earlier blog posts that "my fave yarn company" had opted for a design of mine....OF COURSE IT'S SWTC and I'm tickled PINK!!!!!

Hearts of Faith Scarf

Photo Courtesy of SWTC
(click to enlarge)

I am happy and honored to tell you that "Hearts of Faith Scarf" design

is now available from the one and only SWTC and is found on Ravelry, a button click away!
Click this little red linky:
or here for the info.
This scarf was knit with one of SWTC's newest yarns, Tranquility, 70% of the finest wool & 30% of lush bamboo - an extaordinary mixture and an absolute pleasure to knit with!

Happy Knitting and God Bless!

GOTTA SAY IT AGAINTHIS IS SO COOL

SOCKTOBERFEST!!!!

2008-10-16T15:34:00.005-04:00

Here I am smack in the middle of Socktober and haven't yet posted about !!! Gotta wonder what is wrong with me!!! I've not been blogging, I've been knitting socks, that's what!

Okay, as everyone surely knows, Lolly began a few years ago! She graciously hosts this event each year. We all get together and knit socks all month - LOL, as if I don't do that all year!

I'm an all out Socknittin' Ho! I LOVE socknitting, I'm a hopeless addict - no 12 steppin' for me, I will be keeping this addiction, thank you very much!

Okay, there is a very cool group on Ravelry and a group on Flickr - hop on over to see some AMAZING socks!

Sorry, I have no photos! Some of the socks I finished knitting this month have been shipped to my FAVE yarn company (I'M SO EXCITED!) as new patterns for their yarns. And then, drop roll please - I have finally finished the 1st "A Touch of Whimsy Socks" design - then decided that I wanted to do 3 designs, I'm currently knitting the 3rd & when I'm done I will post photos and 3 new sock patterns - for girls this time! Of course, Lonnie is itching for a new pair of socks, so I will, of course, design & knit a new men's pair and then I have some AMAZING girl's sock designs that I'm working on - FUN, FUN, FUN!!!

3 new sock designs coming soon!!

PS - I'm still in dire need of that new tattoo!! My goodness, I'm gonna be 50 this year, I must mark myself with INK!

I Need I Need.......

2008-09-16T18:22:00.005-04:00

Okay, I don't know how many of you have tattoos (1 of mine) - How many know JUST how cool they are! AND - how addicting they are! AND, of course, how very much I NEED a new one! I'm SERIOUSLY in bad shape, I HAVE TO HAVE a new tattoo!!!

And this is it: !!!! The one and only Kim Reed has agreed to do the honors! I'M SO EXCITED!!

Trouble is - as Bob says in the movie, "What About Bob?!"

I Need!! I Need!! I Need!! I'm in BAD SHAPE!! GIMME!! GIMMEE!!

And, I've even been babysteppin'!!

(LOL, as if I have a choice what with the !!)
Okay, in this clip, I'm "Bob" and money is the "psychiatrist" that is talking to Bob/Me!! I NEED money, NOW! Not next month, or the month after, or on my actual birthday. You see - this will be my 50th bday tat - Tink is a classic, and well .... so am I

FYI, all knitters know "tink" is "knit" backwards, too!

OH yeah.... I'm a tad impatient when I want somethin'!
for reading about my NEED and DESIRE ..... it feels good to let the world know, LOL, I know that you feel better, too...

LOL, I just gotta spread my insanity now and again

I'M SO EXCITED!!!!!

2008-08-15T16:01:00.002-04:00

HEY EVERYBODY!

I hope all is well with EVERYONE!

Sorry to have been away for so long, busy with life!

We were honored with the visit of our middle daughter & family (including our 1 & only grandchild!!!) - goodness, it was WONDERFUL, we hadn't seen them in years! What a glorious time!

I designed & knit 3 pairs of socks (LOL, FYI, the "fake" photo of the other pair of socks is in the previous post, LOL!) for Lonnie's birthday (I'm happy to announce my MOJO has returned!) - he so loved them! I must say, he makes a wife proud - he shows off his socks to EVERYONE (brings a tear to a knitty wife's eye!)! Not only that, the 2009 Knitting Pattern Calendars arrived and he took one to work to put on his desk because some socks I designed for him are in it! My goodness, no telling what that calendar may end up looking like by 2009, LOL! But, I was sure proud when he walked out the door with it!

Not only did he love them,

but my very favorite yarn company loved the new designs, too! So much so that they wanted the designs!! As well as a new scarf design that I came up with -

HOW EXCITING IS THAT?!

I'm sorry that I can't show you the photos of my finished projects - they will have the photos when they make the patterns available - then I'll show the photos of these AND those that I have the pleasure of knitting with their YUMMILICIOUS yarns! And let me tell ya, these yarns are DELISH, I so LOVE them!!!! It's like...wow, I don't have the words to explain - let's just say it's a really yummy experience to have this yarn glide through the knitty fingers as I knit!!!! YEAH, BABY!!

I had to pop in briefly and share my exciting news - now, I must go, I've got yummy knitting to do!!!!

In a Flash...........

2008-07-23T11:44:00.002-04:00

Yep, believe it or not, I'm actually going to make a quick blog post - yes, I know, in the past my "quick" posts have been as long as my regular ones! What can I say?! I'm a talker - therefore a long, drawn out blog poster.........
With that said - ONWARD to the post @ hand.
I'm not going to be around for the next few weeks, My Honey Man's birthday is coming up and our middle daughter & family are going to be here on vacation YAY!!! And before either of these occur I will be spending every waking, available moment knitting.
Yes, my has returned!!!! Oh yeah - I'm excited to be knitting again!!

I'm sorry, I've no photos to share. I've designed and knit another pair of socks, am working on another design; have a few written and waiting to be knit. Anyway, I'm submitting these designs to a fave yarn company so I can't share the actual photos now Should they say no, then the photos and patterns will be made available right away! LOL, I told my Honey that the socks I was working on were MESSED UP badly, they are currently put away, awaiting his birthday. I'm sure he won't fall for that with these socks, so he knows he getting new socks as part of his bday gifts, what can I say, I can't hide my knitting - I do it all the time! AND, he asked me to knit a pair of gym socks - I have the perfect design for them - wish me LOADS of luck, please!! LOL, I say that because I'm trying to accomplish the impossible (for me) and that is to knit the pair I'm currently knitting AND the pair he asked for by his birthday. I'm a slow knitter - I need of speed knitting!!

One more thing.....this is HILARIOUS!! Have a look @ THIS - give it a few seconds, don't stop, it's TOO FUNNY!!

Okay - so this isn't a post in a "flash" - I promise I tried to be quick!!!

Happy July!

2008-07-16T12:23:00.004-04:00

Oh Dear, I thought that I would actually be back with a post a bit quicker, oops again!
I did find out why I had the blues, though! Yes, I've had health problems for several months, but in doing so both during the problems and afterward I'm ashamed to say that I absolutely quit doing my daily devotion with God and my prayer times! I have a routine in which I do devotions and Bible reading and prayer every morning....this starts my day, gives me energy, etc! I then, of course, pray throughout the day, I talk to God all the time. LOL, I'm not some crazy lady who chats about having tea with Jesus or anything like that, LOL! But, I do pray all day, the bible tells us in Thessalonians and Ephesians (and other places) that we are to talk to God all the time and I do....usually! But, I've been in a slump, had the blues, allowing depression to set in and it's as if God has this "invisible bat" that He has to use to get my attention! I all of a sudden realize...DUH, that I've not been spending time with God!!! Well, I'm happy to say that I have returned to devotions, Bible reading and prayers (I pray for many of you all of the time, by the way!) and I am REFRESHED!! I want to apologize to all of you for not stopping by your blogs, being a DUD in general and most especially...for not having been praying for you!

Onto knitting! Well, I'm happy now and when I'm happy I'm creative! I finally finished the last of the Pay it Forward gifts to my dear friends that have been patient for so long, Colleen and Jacquie - I'm afraid that they had to wait months for me to send their PIF gifts and I thank you angels from the bottom of my heart for your kind patience and understanding! My other PIF angel, Julie had received her 2nd gift a (Hope Scarf much earlier. I'm so thankful to have been a part of this wonderful exchange and to have had such wonderful angels - both in giving and receiving!
Okay, to Colleen I sent Lana & Clark Ascot, a couple of kerchiefs and some st. markers (FYI, making st. markers are as addictive as knitting!)

And for the wonderful Jacquie I sent a Bath Ensemble along with some of my very favorite soap! (Jacquie received st. markers as the 1st 1/2 of her PIF gift) I happened to get one picture with everything for Jacquie, which included washcloths, a headband and backscrubber both of which I fashioned from the designs from a couple of the cloths.

I have to say it again, Pay It Forward is one of the best exchanges I've ever been in, I hope it continues for years!

I'm currently working on a new pair of socks for Lonnie, after that, another pair for him (he's asking for more socks, and if he asks, I knit!). I hope to finally finish the "A Touch of Whimsy" socks because ya'll know how much I DETEST having more than one project OTN!! And I have several designs on the "drawing table"...more like the "graph paper"...oh, and I found this top that I so want to knit for me!

I just joined another new Ravelry group which should be fun, it's the Blog Comment Train in which we go about reading and commenting on each others' blogs! I hope to keep up with them and to finally set about catching up with all of my fellow blogging buddies!!

God Bless and Happy Knitting to One and All!!!

I'm Back........finally!!

2008-06-25T17:37:00.004-04:00

Hello One and All!!!!

Sorry to have been away so long! My goodness, let's just say I've had many health issues going on this year, so much so that I've done very little blogging and knitting! I am extremely happy to report that even though I spent a couple of days in ICU with the docs thinking I'd had a heart attack that tests showed I didn't - PRAISE GOD!!! It was a bit hinky because the stress test showed I'd had one and then the cardiac cath showed all is well with my heart - THANK YOU, GOD! And then there were other health issues that have gone on, but I won't bore you with that!

I will share some VERY EXCITING news with you! I am HONORED, STUNNED, & EXCITED about this....the 2009 Knitting Pattern a Day Calendar has some of my designs AND I won THIRD PLACE with my Christmas Flapper Socks HOW COOL IS THAT?! I am absolutely floored that I won 3rd place, it's INCREDIBLE!

Okay, on to MORE EXCITING NEWS! My fave yarn company, SWTC has a new book coming out in Dec., "Socks A La Carte" (you can read about it on Jonelle's and Kat's blogs). I HAVE A PATTERN IN THE BOOK!!!! Well, a sock "leg" pattern (Twist and Shout is the name). This book is going to be a big hit, you can choose from different cuffs, legs, heels, toes, etc. to build your own sock! AND, you can hop on over to Amazon to pre-order it!! OKAY, IS THAT EXTREMELY EXCITING OR WHAT?!!!

Even though I've been away for a while and not even done any knitting these honors have actually inspired to return! I've written a couple of patterns - now I need to put needles to yarn - wish me luck!!!
FYI, sorry about lack of photos, my camera is on its way to Sony to get the flash repaired!

I'VE MISSED YOU ALL
xoxoxoxo

Oops, I did it again!

2008-04-12T12:27:00.002-04:00

Oh My, I just deleted my entire post!
There wasn't much there to begin with! I shall begin again with...sorry I've not been online and a faithful blogger in checking with my fellow bloggers! I'm afraid I've just not been online very much at all in the past year for many reasons of which I will not bore you!
I have updated my 2008 knitting and wip in my sidebar AND as I was doing so noticed that I've not even posted photos of a few FOs from this year! And I so want to do so! But, rather than editing them, which will take a LONG time because I will spend a great deal of time playing with the Photoshop Element 6 my Honey gave me and it will take away from my current work which is finishing the Pay It Forward gifts for my angels and that is more important. So, I've refrained from editing these photos....I will post them all in the future after my PIF angels' gifts are completed, which will be soon! I have photos of them, but, alas, can't share those, now can I?!
I also can't post without at least one photo! I found this picture of one of my 1st scarves which I gave to my mil for Christmas 2004!
I'm off to work on _____________ for my Pay It Forward angel and finish _________ for my other PIF angel!

Such fun!

Oh My, Not Even a Photo...(well, not for knitting!)

2008-04-04T09:37:00.003-04:00

Once again the week has flown by! My goodness, it's getting faster and faster, this thing we live by - Time!
So, I'll be on with the Friday ritual!

Friday's Feast #186!
Appetizer
Invent a new flower; give it a name and describe it.
The petals are light and delicate, much like the "Horse of a Different Color" in the Wizard of Oz, it changes colors often! It has a light, springy scent, nothing heavy, very lemony. And the name is "Petals of Oz."

Soup
Name someone whom you think has a wonderful voice.
So easy!! My sweet husband who has a beautiful singing voice, makes a girl weak in the knees - lots of girls, so they tell me! He sang to me when we were married. Used to sing/play professionally, but now sings & plays strictly for church!

Salad
On a scale of 1 to 10 with 10 being highest, how clean do you keep your car?
0.5-but I don't do it, that wonderful, melodious husband I was just speaking of does it!

Main Course
How do you feel about poetry?
Depends entirely upon the poem!! I'm not a huge fan all around-which is why it depends on the poem!

Dessert
What was the last person/place/thing you took a picture of?
Again, back to my sweet husband! Who called me from work earlier this week to email some recent photos of Sally to him for his computer screen background. She's lost weight and he wanted a recent photo or several, LOL! It's quite hard to believe she will be 5 this summer!

As for knitting! Well, I have completed a project (except for minor details) and will add the pattern when those are completed, which will be done after my Pay It Forward I and II projects are completed, I'm waiting for the yarn to arrive. In the meantime I'm working on the cutest kerchief, Harriet's Eyelet Lace Kerchief for a surprise for another friend. It's such a fast and fun knit that I must have one or 2 kerchiefs for me, I think!

New Socks and FUN FUN FUN today!

2008-03-25T02:44:00.002-04:00

Well, I didn't get new socks today, I was editing the photos of a pair of socks I designed for my daughter's friend, Sarah. The socks will be called, "The Rings of Sarah." I've been having such FUN editing them with the present I told you Lonnie surprised me with - Photoshop Elements 6 and it is really FUN FUN FUN! AND I think the socks are just too cute that I have to show ya even though it's pretty close to 3a.m., what can I say, been having fun!

So, what do you think?! Cute, huh?! A closer look at the photo (click on it) and reading the pattern will explain the name. I should have the pattern available tomorrow...I have to edit about 40 more pics of it before I can post the pattern. FYI, I often take 30-50 photos of items that I design because I love to play with Photoshop software (especially this one!) and I like to get good shots of whatever. Anyway, a peep show of the "Rings of Sarah."

I also wanted to let you know that I put an addendum in the Hope Scarf which is simply "Hope Scarf II." This addendum is an addition of 8 sts for those of you who may want your scarf a bit wider....all directions are in the pattern!

Okay, I'm actually off to sleep, I could stay up and play a few hours more, then, well, what would I do tomorrow?!

Good night and God bless!!!

Oh, I knew there was something else I wanted to tell ya'll...Shannon LOVED her new (new to her) car with stereo (which Lonnie put in, of course!) equipped for the iPod we surprised her with for Easter!! Not only that, my goodness, we have a new preacher and he is wonderful, we had an exceptional Easter service, by the time we had communion (at the end of service because of a few changes in the service due to Easter and the reason for communion) I had tears streaming down my face after he spoke very gently of exactly what Christ did for us, then showed clips from a film of our Lord being tortured, etc., leading to the cross and, PRAISE GOD, He arose on the 3rd day, but I was so blessed to see the short clips which were a vivid reminder of all He's done for me...for everyone!! Yes, I am a very blessed person!!!

And again....good night, be looking for the pattern for the socks (and a few other things ).

Good Friday to You All

2008-03-21T10:45:00.003-04:00

It's very hard to believe that it's already Good Friday, the day Our Lord and Savior died on the cross, but, PRAISE GOD, Easter is in 3 days, the day Our Lord and Savior rose from the dead!!!! As I thought about all of this during my morning prayer and devotion I did a lot of crying and reflecting. I just wanted to say that I hope that I can be a better Christian and to remember what Our Lord has done for us - for me and I wanted to say so publicly, no, I'm not gonna preach, don't worry, LOL! Just email me if ya want to chat

It is Friday and lately it seems the only day that I blog! With that said, let's see what is being served Friday's Feast 184

Appetizer

Given the choice, would you prefer to live in the country or in the city?

City, medium size as I do.

Soup

Who is the cutest kid you know?

Duh - my daughter, of course, she's an adult, so it's my granddaughter!

Salad

Fill in the blank: I couldn’t believe it when I heard ___________.

Myself scream as I opened the package Lonnie gave me Tues. night

Main Course

If you could star in a commercial for one of your favorite products, which one would you want to advertise?

The new Photoshop Elements 6

Dessert

What type(s) of vitamins and/or supplements do you take on a regular basis?

Basic vitamins plus calcium.

The Feast is over so I must continue with the EXCITING NEWS! Well, I mentioned Lonnie and my screaming and PSE 6 because he surprised me with it Tues. night!!!! CAN YOU BELIEVE?! YEAH, he walks in the bedroom, I was knitting the socks for Sunday and tosses onto the bed!!! Yeah, that is when I did the screaming! I wanted it so badly because it has several of the features of the new Photoshop CS3 and it's just cool! I requested it for our anniversary in May and got it this week....just makes me SQUEEEEEL!!!!!

Needless to say, I'm off to finish knitting the socks today (they must be ready Sunday!) so I can play with the PSE6 tomorrow!!!!

EDIT: Changed the name of the socks to "Rings of Sarah" - pattern should be available Sun. or Mon.

I've said it before, I say it again, the best husband in the world...but, again, not because of the surprises, if I told you the list of the things my man does out of the goodness of his heart to and for any and everyone you would really know what I mean....and be jealous...LOL, j/k (sorta ) Seriously, I have been blessed by so many things in my life, my husband is just the best man in the world, obviously my soulmate, the man God made for me, we go together like puzzle pieces - a perfect fit and only God could have done that!!

Here's hoping you all have a wonderful Easter with family and friends!

Hope Scarf

2008-03-15T16:12:00.004-04:00

Hey Everybody!
This is for real a short post, I promise! Announcing a new pattern, the Hope Scarf pattern, of which you can see linked in the sidebar.
I HAPPILY made this for one of my PAY IT FORWARD angels, Julie.
I designed and named Hope Scarf in the spirit of what Pay It Forward is all about. And now, I'll shower you with pictures of her! She is a fun, easy knit, one that I knit with love for my good friend, Julie! Should one like, you could add fringe or pom poms or any number of treatments to the end of the scarf, but I decided to let the cables do the "talking."

Happy Knitting and God Bless!

Ziggin' and Zaggin' and Stuff....

2008-03-14T16:14:00.002-04:00

And here we have Ziggin' and runnin' right behind is Zaggin' Z & Z is a pair of socks I'm designing for my daughter's best friend. She called and asked if I would please make a pair of socks for her and I, of course, said YES! That made me feel very good for one of my daughter's friends to ask for me to knit a pair of socks for her! So, these will be her's for Easter. The pattern will be written and up before then, I hope. The socks are a fun knit and teenager and/or young adult ready....well, my daughter's friends will love them, they all attend art school, I hope I've not gotten myself into trouble by designing kinda funky looking socks.....LOL, never know! They should be done shortly.

Well, it's Friday, let's see what's shaking with:

Friday's Feast #183

Appetizer
On a scale of 1-10 (with 10 as highest), how much do you like your own handwriting?

5 - it was a 9 or 10 when I was younger, but I tend to not write as nicely after taking notes so fast when I was in school for Respiratory Therapy!

Soup
Do you prefer baths or showers?

Shower, baby!

Salad
What was the last bad movie you watched?

LOL, I apparently like "bad" movies! I say this because others will say "Such and such movie was awful" and normally, I will have liked it! Oh, I know one, "Children of the Corn"...back in the day I thought it was scary and I thought it was still going to be scary, it wasn't, it was just really bad!

Main Course
Name something you are addicted to and describe how it affects your life.

Duh - knitting! It helps me in many ways, helps me when I'm hurting a great deal by keeping my mind off of my pain, thus helping to reduce the pain. Gives me something to do when I have nothing to do due to my disability and inability to work. AND, I've been blessed to have met many, many people in the knitting community as a result of this addiction....socknitting being the biggest portion of this addiction as the above photos will attest.....

Dessert
Which instrument is your favorite to listen to?

Another....DUH!! Acoustic guitar, of course, my sweet hubby plays and has for years. He not only "plays" but he plays well, very, very well. And he sings, his voice is much like that of Art Garfunkel, very pretty, very sexy.....not Art G., Lonnie playing and singing....well, and any other time

Ya'll have a good weekend!

God Bless

I CAN'T BELIEVE IT!

2008-03-07T16:00:00.003-05:00

IT'S FRIDAY ALREADY! My goodness, is it just me or is time flying by at an abnormally fast speed this year?! I can't believe it! With that said, I will continue on with:

Friday's Feast #182
(fyi, I am sure I told ya'll in the past, but I'll do so again, I read the questions as I post & answer, not beforehand, I've been left without words once or twice, but you know me, I always find something to say, LOL!)

Chef Knitterie has returned after an extended stay abroad and he is serving today's feast. Welcome back Chef, you have been missed!!

Appetizer If you could be any current celebrity for one whole week, who would you want to be?

Queen Latifah, she is just too funny!
Soup
On a scale of 1-10 (with 10 being highest), how much do you enjoy talking on the phone?

2
Salad
Name a charitable organization to which you have donated (or would like to).

Our Church
Main Course
What is a food you like so much you could eat it every single day for a month?

Dannon Vanilla Yogurt
Dessert
Have you or anyone in your family had the flu this year?

Not so far, thank God!

Onto the Important Things: KNITTING!

Well, there's nothing I can really tell you about, LOL! I'm knitting for my girls, well, one is done and, of course, I can't show you a photo because I've not yet sent it, it's blocking (It's for Julie, comes with a lizard and everything! - oops, did it again, told part of her gift!). So, after she receives the "gift" (LOL - be afraid, very afraid~!) I'll write a pattern.

I don't know if ya'll remember, but I sent "pre-PIF" gifts to everyone at the beginning because with my health I didn't know if something might happen and I would be late, etc. Well, we all know it did with my taking so much time off from using my hands for anything because of the carpal tunnel. Well, the other other 2 angels (Colleen and Jacquie) so understand that their's will be a bit late. This is because my daughter's best friend has asked and asked me for a pair of socks and I decided when I saw her a few days ago that I was just going to have to design a very special pair for her....they are TOO CUTE! Beware, I have a feeling that teenagers everywhere will love them, IMHO, anyway, I like them, I want a pair, LOL! I hope to have them finished in a week, then the items for my other PIF angels....

So, with something I've knit for Lonnie, the socks and PIF gifts, I should have 5 new patterns next month.

OMGOODNESS, I CAN THEN FINISH THE "A Touch of Whimsy Socks" so I can post the pattern! I will be one HAPPY KNITTER when that happens because I will then be my normal, happy, monogamous self....YIPPEE KIYAY!!!

And, I've had a few patterns accepted for the 2009 Knitting Pattern a Day, too. I've forgotten which ones, but they are just a few of those you have seen. As I've said in the past, I believe this pattern is targeted toward those who aren't internet savvy. I say this because I've gotten some of the nicest emails from people who have seen patterns in the calendar - what an HONOR!

There are a couple of other exciting things happening in my life, but I'm sure not exciting to you!

So, ya'll have a GREAT WEEKEND!

HELP KNITTY GRITTY!!!

2008-03-02T13:43:00.000-05:00

I was looking at one of my fave yarn sites, SWTC and immediately noticed a link in the upper left corner about KNITTY GRITTY....Help Save Knitty Gritty! Click here to fill out the online petition written under the photo!!!! I, of course, clicked (as you should NOW!) and signed the petition and had an opinion to leave, too! I saw Jonelle's (president of SWTC) blog asking that we sign the petition, too. Well, I'm here to ask that YOU PLEASE, PLEASE sign the PETITION now!
I did some research and found the website for the parent "company" for DIY, Scripps is found here and the their contact info: here, should you wish to contact them directly, which I certainly shall and urge you to do the same!
My goodness, Knitty Gritty, Vickie Howell and her outstanding hosts have done so much for me, I know for you, for every knitter in one way or another and it will CONTINUE to do so if they only allow it to do so!

I beg you, get out there and let your voices be heard,

SIGN THE PETITION!

SEND AN EMAIL, make a phone call!

Tell other knitters....SPREAD THE WORD!

WE ARE KNITTERS, WE ARE A FORCE TO BE RECKONED WITH...

WE ARE FIERCE!!!!

Happy Leaping Friday!

2008-02-29T16:04:00.002-05:00

HAPPY LEAP YEAR ONE AND ALL!

Friday's Feast #181 on the Leaping Day of Our Lord, February 29, 2008

Appetizer: Who was the last person you hugged?

Lonnie, my Sweet Hubby, of course!

Soup: Share a beauty or grooming trick or tip with us.

Put your face moisturizer in the fridge and you will feel very refreshed when you put it on the next morning.

Salad: What does the color yellow make you think of?

My bathroom, it's decorated in red & yellow (the accessories, not the entire bathroom! And it's rockin'!).

Main Course: If you were to make your living as a photographer, what subject would your pictures revolve around?

Knitting...LOL, just kidding! The outdoors, God's creations in the outdoors are breathtaking and I would love to learn to capture some of them with photography.

Dessert: What was the longest book you ever read?

Goodness, I've read many long books, I couldn't begin to answer. I do like a nice book with at least 1000 pages, though! But, alas, my disability doesn't allow me to read as I did because I will drift off to sleep and audio books just don't do it for me because I put myself in the story as I read a book, this may sound odd, but each character has a persona and a "voice" and a "look" in my mind's eye as I read - that ain't happenin' with audio books, sorry!

FYI, had to throw in some knitting news, Julie, I'm working on your project and I really don't know how well it's going to fit the lizard that I picked out because he's growing so fast, no worries, I'm using stretchy yarn!

Ah man, I just let the lizard out of the bag!

New Blogger, New Name!

2008-02-24T14:23:00.002-05:00

Hey Peoples, what's shaking?!

A few posts ago (this one scroll down a bit) I introduced my dear friend (might as well be family - and, yes, she's as crazy as me!) to Blogland and asked ya'll to stop by and say hey. Well, the blog has a new name, so will you sweeties please, please hop on over to The Inclusive Schoolhouse? and say HEY HEY HEY and give her a great big LAND OF BLOG welcome?! Thank you ever so much!

It's true, she's not a ...but she is a woman of many talents and a HUGE !! LOL, my bad, almost forgot, her name is Janet, as I'm sure you remember from the previous post!

Oh Me, Oh My....I have started the most divine (click on photo) goodies that as much as I hate to duplicate items that I've knit that I'm just going to have to do so and knit them for me, too! So - obviously ya'll figured out you are each getting something different - but, I wonder what these things could be ?! LOL!

Oh - botheration, I'm just not goin' to worry my lil' ole' head about such things, just might give me the vapors and I sure can't do proper knittin' with the vapors , now can I?!

Ya'll all have a good day now

AND
Ya'll remember to stop by and say hey to Janet, please!

PAY IT FORWARD reminder!!!

2008-02-23T12:01:00.002-05:00

Hey Knitty Peeps!! What's shaking?!
Okay, I thought it time to remind everyone about the (click on photo for info). It's hard to believe that I began almost 6 months ago! WOW!
We also have a cool PIF group on Ravelry, if you are a member, come on by and check us out!
Okay, we have a few new members in our Ravelry group who are in need of PIF angels and I said that I would HAPPILY post their names and blogs so you could stop by and check them out and, if you would like, join with them....let me tell you, IT'S A BLAST!!!
1st of all we have the one and only Sabine and you can find her right here (just leave a comment, apparently Blogger takes care of the language stuff! Cool, huh?!). She needs 2 angels...fly on over and help her out, k?! OH yeah, she is known as strickzicke on Ravelry.
Secondly we have Amber from Knit My World and is known as knitmyworld on Ravelry. Amber also needs 2 angels. So, give her a hand....ya know you want to!
I found this so appealing not only because I'm making something (anything) and giving it to 3 people that I don't know, but have the pleasure of getting to know and becoming friends. AND, not only that, we have 6 months in which to do it...HOW COOL IS THAT?! Even I can make something for 3 people in 6 months! Although, I readily admit that mine will be late due to illness and my angels completely understand...that's the way these people are, all loving and understanding...it's so worth joining and having this fun, it's very rewarding above all things! And, of course, the greatest gifts...new friends!
So, stop by and see these girls and join them (join all of us)for the Pay It Forward Exchange, it will be one of the greatest things you've done this year. AND, is they are full, the beauty of this exchange is this, you can then sign up with one of the people that signed up with them!
Thanks for your time and thanks, most especially, for joining us!!!

Absolute GLEE!!

2008-02-21T17:27:00.002-05:00

A quick note to say...I am VERY CLOSE to being MYSELF again - a MONOGAMOUS knitter!
WHAT JOY!
I'll finish the mystery project tonight (sorry, but that's how it must remain). Then do my Pay IT Forward projects (see sidebar) and I have such cool ideas in my mind....hope I can bring them to fruition, one never knows!
THEN my daughter's friends's crazy socks and.....yes, the one, the only, the last project that is OTN..."A Touch of Whimsy Socks"....SUCH EXCITEMENT!
Therefore, I had to share....and look..it's brief and without photos.
FYI, I had had a finished project in the sidebar with "pattern soon to follow" well, changed my mind because I have other ideas for the pattern, too, so, new things will happen later in the year!
God Bless You All.

I must be quick....and I will, promise! (well, I tried....)

2008-02-12T16:27:00.000-05:00

Okay, my sweetie just called me to tell me that he had gotten my Valentine's Day gift! He's like that, such a tease!
Well, here's the deal...ya'll know I collect vintage yarn holders. Last week I broke my favorite one ...YES, BROKE IT! Well, thank God, it's a very clean break and Lonnie can fix it without it ever being seen...yes, he is very, very multi-talented ).
Okay, I was shattered, thankfully, much more so than it was, and decided to look around Ebay for yarn holders, hadn't in months! Well, last night (middle of the night, couldn't sleep because of pain, so I was prowling the house) I saw the very same person that sold this one with another one that I had wanted for sale (for whatever reason, it hadn't sold the last time, I think it's the location, but I digress, imagine that, LOL!) - BUY IT NOW! Anyway, I clicked "watch it."
Well, with my hip/leg bothering me today I was in the bed and My Honey called to tease me about having gotten my Valentine's Day gift....he so knows it drives me crazy! Then he told me he got the yarn holder! Now, this isn't the same photo as the last time, it was much clearer, the colors more vibrant, so, imagine this with much brighter colors like the one I broke...well, not that bright because there's no white in it, but GORGEOUS just the same.
NOW tell me, how sweet is that man?!

Ladies and Gentleman, I would like you all to welcome a very, very good friend of mine, Janet, to The Land of Blog , drop by and welcome her at the Electric Blackboard. Janet has a very sweet handicapped child, Lindsay and this blog is (as I understand it) for those with handicapped kids, work with them, have contact with them, etc. to have a voice. It's centralized for our area, but I'm sure all voices are welcome. Anyway, stop by and say hey to Janet....she may not knit, but you will NEVER find a nicer (or funnier) person, she's part of our family and has been for years!

Friday's Feast & a Bit of Trivia.....

2008-02-01T10:52:00.000-05:00

It's been a very long time since I did Friday's Feast, so I thought it would be fun to see what was being served today, so.....here we go!

Friday's Feast - Feb. 1, 2008

Appetizer

What is your favorite kind of cereal?

Golden Grahams, of course.

Soup

When was the last time you purchased something for your home, what was it, and in which room did it go?

I think it's called the Mac Mini or Mini Mac, anyway, it goes in the great room in the computer armoire....we are still in the process of switching over to Mac and learning the system.

Salad

What is the funniest commercial you’ve ever seen?

Hand's down, the old Wendy's commercial where these old ladies are looking at what seemed to be a large hamburger, but it was just a big bun and one of the ladies repeatedly said, "Where's the Beef?!" and it became a catch phrase for at least that year, I still hear people saying it today!

Main Course

Make up a name for a company by using a spice and an animal (example: Cinnamon Monkey).

The Curried Lemur - FYI, not that I would even consider eating a Lemur, the name sounded different

Dessert

Fill in the blank:

I haven’t had any alcohol since 1986.

Okay the Feast is over....

Now for a bit of trivia...I want to show you one of the OUTSTANDING gifts that my dear friend, Amy gave me for my birthday and Christmas...both were in Dec., but as you know, I've not been online. (This one I love so much that I'm showing it alone...well, I love everything, but I love this photo!) This cup really says it all, don't you think?! (remember, click on it to make it larger.)

Now, for the last bit of business...I designed a new pair of socks, these were for my buddy, Amy, by the way, one of my very best friends, and I thank God for her and each and every one of friends ! With that said, Best Friend Socks pattern can be found here! Friends are a gift ...surprise one of your's and knit her a pair of socks...or anything for that matter! And, if your best friend is a guy, well, I have a few men's sock designs that Lonnie just loves!

FYI - please forgive the inconsistencies with the colors in these pictures, Lonnie surprised me with a new camera a little while back and I'm still learning how to use it, LOL, I'm happy to say I discovered what I was doing incorrectly with these photos, but, they had been shipped to Amy and I couldn't (nor would I have retaken so many photos - ya know, you have to take a LOT of photos to get one that can possibly pass as pleasing!!) retake the pics!

I wish each and every one of you a very blessed February....you know it's leap year - what are you going to do on the 29th?! Let us know.....

EDIT - I NEED YOUR ADVICE, please!
Your help is needed, please! I am in DESPERATE need of (at the present) size medium Fiber Trends sock blockers, like these: I have several pair of girls' socks that need to be done, then, of course, I'm back to knitting socks for Lonnie when I will need the Large, but, now, as I said...I NEED size Medium. Do any of you know of a reliable online business from which I can order these. I just saw that Elann for $23.95, (which seems to be the going rate) has them and there business has always been stellar when I've done business with them. If you have any other suggestions, please, please let me know. I tried my lys, but she woudn't even entertain the idea of ordering a size medium for me (she only had a large), then when I emailed her to assure her that I would buy them & would rather do business with her than an online business she didn't return my email....so, it's online shopping for me!

My dear friend, Julie brought these to my attention, but I know myself so well that I would end up spending just as much if not more $ trying to make them, LOL! So, Julie is gonna try them out 1st! Long ago I made this type of blockers....which is why one sock is always shaped differently than the other, LOL! And, Lonnie had to use one of girl blockers to help a neighbor with her keys so I'm down to one..which is an excellent excuse to get some! YOUR SUGGESTIONS, PLEASE, where should I get them?!

Oh Yeah....since I'm finally feeling better and am up and around a bit more, I'm thinking about a blog contests...any ideas?!

A Quick Peek....

2008-01-23T19:10:00.000-05:00

As promised in the previous post ..... I promised to make my posts shorter, so I shall do so....LOL, you don't even believe me, do you?! I don't blame you, but watch, read......

This is the 1st yarn porn of 2008, yes, indeed, the very 1st yarn that I've gotten this year. HOW GORGEOUS IS THIS?! I didn't even know that Noro was making sock yarn (I'm way out of the loop!) until I received an email from the one and only Little Knits (they know I'm usually good for at least one purchase per email, LOL!). This is #182 colorway with many, many colors, as you can see, LOL! AND I will be making a pair of socks for ME with this yarn! Yep, design and knit a very colorful pair of socks for me....but who knows when?! I only have the promise of 27 or so pairs of socks to knit 1st - my turn will come about one day. As it stands, tomorrow morning I will begin on yet another mystery project! I will be quite happy when I can share these mysteries with you, but I've no idea when that will be, so I thought that I would tease and taunt you with the mere knowledge - hahahahahahaha!

GOD BLESS AND HAPPY KNITTING!

PS, see, that was a very short post for me! But, I've got one coming in which I show off the many Christmas goodies that I received from my best pal, Amy. AND, of course, the photo of my new & beautiful tattoo!

PS

2008-01-22T23:33:00.001-05:00

I promise I'm going to work on short posts.........

Happy Almost February Friends!!

2008-01-22T14:59:00.000-05:00

CAN YOU BELIEVE IT?!

Yep, Feb., 2008 is right around the corner! AND -it's a leap year, too! WOW, time really is flying! And, I've not even begun a knitting project this year!

BUT

I did finish a few very important ones in Dec! Many of you know that I had never finished my personal A Touch of Whimsy Scarf...well, I did finish it in December, thanks be to God! It was one of those WIPs that ya'll all know I don't like to have, I mean, it was OTN for like a year! This is why I'm a monogamous knitter, rather, prefer to be - I decide on a project, cast on, knit it and I'm done, no waiting for months and months! I digress, I won't get on my monogamous knitting soapbox, I promise, LOL!

Anyway, my few FOs for 2007 are all right here....not that I mind showing them off here! I played a bit in photoshop elements with these last FOs, with this one (although it's not very effective because it's winter) I took out all of the color and then painted the pink in the scarf I gotta say, I was so happy to be done with this scarf...it's NOT EVEN a difficult knit, but it was put on the back burner for everything else that came along, so it wasn't finished for so long. Seems as though the same thing is happening with the socks to match the ensemble...the pattern is written and 1/2 of a sock is knit, but they are put away for other projects. I have a mystery (sorry, all I can say) project going on and I have to do it before the Whimsy socks.

AND, I'm happy to say that I've taken up making stitch and row markers...they are such fun, very addictive! I so know this will lead to making wire jewelry! I've only made a few sets of markers, several to a friend for her birthday and my very 1st st markers to one of my Pay It Forward girl's "pre-gift" - Jacquie.
Like I said, they are such fun to make! I use sterling findings (and closed jump rings so that your yarn doesn't get caught [or so I hope!] in the st. marker) and lovely and unusual (IMHO) beads. I will show you a photo or 2 (can't help myself, LOL!) Sock st markers: freshwater pearls & Swarovski crystals oh, and some faves: these are for larger needles (size 8 or 9, I think): and the row marker: fyi, even though it looks like there are some gold jump rings, they aren't gold, all are sterling silver...I have a new camera that I'm playing with AND I simply need to get "Digital Photography for Dummies," I love the Dummies books - I learned to knit with "Knitting for Dummies!" Great resources!

Now, tell me....what's shaking with all of you?! I've not been online much in the past year and I miss not knowing EVERYTHING!

My goodness, I just found out that Noro makes sock yarn (ordered a skein from LittleKnits last week!).
Oh My, my computer is acting up....again! I'm off to see if I can save this post!

HAPPY KNITTING AND GOD BLESS, EVERYONE!

**EDIT, EDIT**LOL, you so know if I have an edit that it's about a little surprise from my Sweetie, right?! Well, as most of you know, I've been in the house & bed most of the last year, so I'm not aware of new stores we have in town. Well, I was thrilled when Lonnie told me about a new store in town, Ulta. This tells you how much I get out...I had no idea that it was an upscale makeup/haircare/etc dept. store...well, Lonnie went in & checked it out & said I would like to have a look, he was sure. He was correct! We were able to get out last week and I noticed many cosmetics that I was interested in, but, I'm the type person that doesn't buy such things without 1st seeing the items and I'd seen them on TV on HSN, QVC, etc. & was quite curious about a few of these products. I was quite happy to see that they carried Bare Escentuals, as well as many other nice cosmetics. I'd been interested in Bare Mineals for some time and several of the girls on Knitting Help really like it. Anywho, the store was quite busy and crowded, I was able to glance around a bit, but then asked Lonnie if we could leave because my pain was increasing & needless to say, I didn't get anything that night...just the TLC from my hubby as he took me home, etc.... Okay, a few minutes ago he walked in with this kit!! He is AMAZING! Got the beginning kit, in the right color, he so amazes me. AND, as we all know....SPOILS ME ROTTEN!! Speaking of spoiling me rotten, I'll have to see if I can sweet talk him into taking a picture of the gorgeous tattoo that he got me for Christmas! Okay, I'm done, but I HAD to brag about my HONEY-MAN! Gosh, there are so many other things, too, but I'll save the rest of his wonderfulness (a word?!) for later in the year!Okay, onward & upward & back to the knitting & st. marker making, etc.....

Knitters Gallery

2008-01-07T16:30:00.000-05:00

Come One Come All! Come see the GORGEOUS WK Designs that have been beautifully and lovingly knit by our fellow knitters! YA'LL SO ROCK!
Detailed info found here.

FYI, I'm working on the other Knitters Gallery, my ISP has expanded and upgraded - therefore my computer skills must do the same - wish me luck, lol!

HAPPY KNITTIN' NEW YEAR!

2008-01-05T22:27:00.001-05:00

Here's hoping each and everyone of you have a very happy & blessed 2008!!

PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE forgive me for being neglectful of all of you, my many, many online friends. I have been so blessed by God to have made so many friends and yet, I have neglected you...my deepest & sincere apologies! I'm afraid life has gotten in the way of my blogging and, most importantly, keeping up with your blogs! So, one of my 2008 resolutions is to try my best to see you more often! I shall work on developing a working schedule so that I can pop in and say hello, etc. at least once a week...so, please remind me of this when I do the unthinkable, allow "life" to get in the way of your all important friendships!

I'm terribly sorry to have been away for so long. My goodness, many happenings, I was sick, sick, sick during a great deal of Dec., thought I would be hospitalized, but our hospitals were full because we had the "I'm Going To Make You Wish You Were Dead!" bug running rampant through the city and it beat me silly! But, PRAISE GOD, I got better & we had a marvelous Christmas, then went on our annual Christmas vacation...for those of you who don't know, Lonnie and I don't exchange gifts on Christmas, rather our gift to one another is a vacation and then we get what we want....and, OH BOY, you are gonna SO LOVE what I got!

LOL, you think it has something to do with knitting, don't ya?! Not even close! A GORGEOUS, original, new tattoo of a beautiful Chinese cherry blossom branch (pink blossoms) on my upper back, left shoulder and a bit on the neck....I'm afraid I don't have photos yet, she's still healing, I'll post later this week, I hope! I could have done this in town by the AMAZING Kim Reed, but when I decided that was what I wanted it was 2 days before Christmas and we didn't have time...she'll do my Valentine's Day tat....fyi, she does all original art, no duplications! Anyway, I reseached artists in Orlando/Kissimmee area and found the one and only Zachary Sparrows of Scratch the Surface in Orlando. He is amazing, I told him what I wanted, he sketched it and Lonnie dropped me off while he went to check in @ the hotel because the sketch (and his work) was so amazing! Next time I'm in Orlando, I'll be seeing him again!!

Okay, among the other happenings going on ..like one of the usual - with my bones (ha ha-NOT!) I found out yesterday that I have carpal tunnel syndrome (so knew I did, had to have the diagnosis, though!) and something wrong with both elbows. Got shots of cortisone (big OUCH) in all 4 places yesterday and typing is a tad painful...anyway, doc said I need surgery, but is concerned with my walking (lol, I know, sounds funny, can't walk because of surgery on one's hand, LOL!) with walker or crutches. I tried to explain how it can be done (I am a pro on crutches after 20+ years!) but he wants to try therapy 1st, then discuss the surgery. The PA was amazed that he wanted to go that route instead of scheduling surgery on the left right away, but I'm just praying he knows best and that therapy fixes the elbows, anyway! In the meantime, the steroids should take effect (affect? I forget) in the next day or 2 & help relieve the pain, because the shots have considerabley increased it, especially in the elbows where I had none! OH, and braces to wear @ night and I can still knit, yay! Well, let's say I can in a day or 2, still much too painful to do so at the moment.

That aside, hope to have a new sock pattern soon, one for girls this time! And I've done the hat & gauntlets that go with the #15 Lace Wrap from winter Vogue last year (or perhaps the year before)...anyway, pics are coming soon. AND finally finished my A Touch of Whimsy Scarf, too! No pics there, either....Sorry, I'm falling down on all jobs, it seems! Oh, the gauntlets are not derived from the wrap as the hat is, rather, it's the very cool & easy pair from a Knitty Gritty show, as seen here...a very fun knit & warm, too. LOL, when we got to FL it was in the 70s, as we were leaving town it was in the 30s so I packed for warm and cold weather...never know when it can turn on you, LOL!

I have to tell ya'll that I have a couple of surprises coming about this year, but that's all that I can say....tease a bit, but I think them to be quite cool....and these are other than the new tats, too. FYI, for those of you who don't have ink, it's like the chip commercial says (or said back in the day) you can't have just one! This was #7 for me, I had thought it was 8, but I was mistaken....I must have been thinking about the Valentine's Day tat, the one that I've decided I get for VDay and as a treat because of the carpal tunnel mess...LOL, glad I didn't go with having one on the underside of my wrist .... just in case surgery is in the future, LOL!

Ahhh, forgot to mention, Cherry Blossom Tat has put me in the knitting cherry blossoms frame of mind....I'm thinking, hmmm....socks, perhaps?! But, since I am ... finally... pretty close to my lovely monogamous knitting - A Touch of Whimsy Socks OTN & on standby with only a pair of socks for my daughter's friend OTN & almost done now, but, I'm afraid I have 2 projects that must be completed before the Whimsy socks, BUT, they will be done one at a time as it should be!!!

I'll have pics of my FOs next post, so sorry!

My apologies for my fellow knitters who sent me photos for the Knitters Gallery while I was on vacation and recently, my ISP is upgrading & I must learn how to drive the new photo gallery, I think that it will look divine when it's done, too! And, as always, thank you so much for sending your photos of your Whimsical Knitting Designs, I'm so very, very honored, excited, and happy when a fellow knitter enjoys one of my designs....THANKS TO ALL OF YOU. The photos galleries should be corrected this week, too....I so hope!

To all of you....

God Bless

and

HAPPY 2008

Like I was saying......

2007-12-04T18:42:00.000-05:00

Like I was saying in my last post (and a time or 2 before!)...I have the BEST HUSBAND IN THE WORLD!
My birthday is the 6th and I had already gotten yarn and several other things that were supposed to be my birthday gifts, which is more than fine for me! Well, yesterday Lonnie asked me if I would like to drive to a small, tourist town near here this Sat. because it has a yarn shop that I really like and he wanted to get some more yarn for me (I'm telling ya, the man is a prince!). I was quite excited, duh..YEAH! And have been looking forward to the short trip and our time together.

Well, just a few moments ago he walked in with this EXCEPTIONAL camera CAN YOU BELIEVE?! Well, I'm still in complete shock!

Okay, here's what happened: I had an appt. to see my pain specialist today and when Lonnie picked me up he asked if I felt like going by Best Buy because he needed a certain type of wiring to install the sub woofer that goes with the new iPod ready stereo for the van. Okay, I was about as interested in looking at wires as one can imagine, so I went to look at cameras. I was a bit disappointed that mine was wearing out after only a year of use!!! So, I was looking at the cameras and BOING, saw this one and loved it. At the same time, Lonnie walks up and said, "Whatcha looking at?!" I said, "Nothing really, you know my camera is giving me problems and I really like this one. I want to get it next year sometime." He said, "Okay, I'm going to check out the line is long." he giggled and said, "I won't even be @ the register by the time you get there!" Then I started laughing because it was so true! (fyi, yes, we laugh about my "speediness" all of the time, laughter is the best medicine!) Okay, I couldn't even remember the name of it, I walked back to look at the name of the camera so I could research it online when I got home and in the split second he looked at it (amongst the 57 other cameras around it) he remembered exactly the one it was AND PICKED IT UP ON THE WAY HOME FROM WORK !!! So, Happy Birthday to Me from the Best Man in the World!!!!

My Man SO DESERVES a Medal!!

2007-11-28T17:56:00.000-05:00

My goodness, ya'll know already that Lonnie is the best husband in the world, that he spoils me rotten on a very regular basis. Well, he has gone far and beyond his normal spoiling! I have controlled myself & not posted about each thing (which has been very hard! because he's wonderful!), but after this surprise today I just had to hop on here and share just a few of the things he's come home with for me in the past couple of months...it's a steady flow from one of my very favorite stores, Bath & Body Works! He knows me so well, knows my favorite lotions, creams, body butters & the fragrances of each. The man even knows my favorite facial treatment & brings home Patricia Wexler MD items all of the time (her products are amazing!)! The man is a saint, I tell you!
He knows if I'm feeling kind of blue because I'm hurting, even though I try not to say anything to him or act differently around him, he just knows. Well, I say that, but that's certainly not the reason....surprises fly in the door no matter how I'm feeling, he's just SPECTACULAR (in many more ways than gift giving, too!). Okay, a few of the things (and many in multiples): FYI, thank goodness, I have finally talked him into indulging himself in such niceties, too! He has also stocked up on nice shaving lotions & men's toiletries, etc, too (and I'm so very HAPPY to see that he treats himself to such goodies, too! For whatever reason, he didn't like such things for himself until recently when he sampled some things in the store that he liked!)!
Not only does he do all of this for me, but he came home Saturday with their Wallflowers (the Linen fragrance - so fresh and clean) aromatherapy for the house, got one for almost every room!!!

AND the weekend before he comes in and hands me THIS spectacular, huge overnight bag!!!
I am OVERWHELMED! My goodness I'm truly married to an absolute ! And you know what?! I've not even covered but a fraction of the surprises that have come into the home from this man. AND he is the most considerate person in all of the world! He has a heart of pure gold. He's had young men that have worked for him and these kids didn't get paid much, had very tight budgets, etc. and Lonnie would take them various things, a TV we didn't use, or a dvd player, take them out to lunch regularly & he always takes them under his wing. He always, always offers a listening ear at work (often to people others don't even want to speak with). Like I said...a saint! His mother has lived with us part time for many years, when she was out of town a few months ago Lonnie remodeled (big time) the 3rd bedroom for her so that she can live with us full time (we are currently making the transition) but even before she began living with us every weekend he would get her every Saturday and they would go & do whatever just to spend time together, just the 2 or them. How many 50 year old sons do you know that do that?! How many sons of any age do you know that do that?!

They do so to this very day & always will. LOL, she's in her 80's but you would never know! I know that a few hours every Sat. belong to Lonnie and his mom and I think that's just outstanding! Yes, he is a man among men, My Man is and I thought you should all know (lol, as if I'd not said so in the past once or twice, lol!)
Okay, the reason that I created this post, "My Man SO DESERVES a Medal!!" was the icing on the cake today...he's working late tonight & had a late lunch & came by the house to check on me as he often does and he had a huge Bath & Body Works bag that he handed to me with in it!!!! CAN YOU BELIEVE?! Oh Me, Oh My, the softest, warmest robe I have ever had! So, as you can see, I had to share, I had to brag about this man of mine, this gift that God gave me & I thank God for every day because I am one lucky girl!

From Our Home To Your's Merry Christmas & Happy Holidays to One & All

OH Me, OH My, OH Punkin' Pie!!

2007-11-26T18:32:00.000-05:00

Okay, 1st of all, I did NOT even realize that I'd not been blogging (because of other endeavors @ hand)! I didn't even notice, for real, until last week when I was talking to my niece about knitting and she asked what was up with my blog?! She said she missed reading it....now, that made my day...thanks Deb (fyi, my fave niece!). So, I'm back at it, this is going to be a short & sweet post (LOL, seems like I say that and it's always long, LOL, what can I say, I'm a talker!).

I hope that all of my USA pals had a great Thanksgiving Day! Of course, we don't need a national holiday to be thankful, it should be a part of our daily lives! As a matter of fact, I've got some AMAZING thanks to extend to a few people! So, let the THANKING begin.....

1st of all, check out my sidebar, have a look @ Vickie Howell's podcast badge entitled, "Craft, Rock, Listen." Well, I was reading her blog & read about her upcoming blog & while supplies lasted whomever put the badge on his/her blog and commented about it got this yarn! A skein of "Love" sent my way...HOW COOL IS THAT?! I'll tell ya how cool, not nearly as cool as the things I'm about to show you!

I have been blessed with the greatest of internet friends since my disability has worsened and it's not uncommon to find surprises from them! I must apologize many times over for not having posted these a long time ago, I could give you the list of reasons about why it wasn't done, but that doesn't matter, I should have found a way to post!

My dear friend Ellie is way more than a knitter (I say this because I met her in a knitting forum and she's an outstanding knitter!), she is quite the artist in many areas. Look at this beautiful card she made for me, the butterflies are made using the lace making technique, tatting! I was OVERWHELMED when I opened the card and saw this: gorgeous cross bookmark she made for me (using it for my bible, of course)!! It is just beautiful! I have to say, Ellie is the sweetest of friends and NOT because she made these lovelies for me, she has a heart of gold, as those who know her can attest! Thanks so much Ellie, you ROCK, my friend.

Last, but not least, a HUGE apology goes to my dearest of friends, Amy, for not postng this long ago! She is my bestest buddy, the very one who got me hooked on vintage yarn holders by giving me my very 1st one last year for Christmas. Well, she didn't stop there, I could go on & on with the surprises I've received from her, but this one, this one makes me cry with joy even now! One day she told me a surprise was headed my way and I had no idea what it could be! And to my wonderful surprise and joy I opened the package to find yet another: vintage yarn holder!!! To say the least, I was THRILLED! I opened it to see the size of the ball of yarn it could handle and I found something that stopped me dead in my tracks....you see, she and I had been emailing for a long time about her knitting her Icarus shawl and loving it, I was so excited, couldn't wait to see the photo...I NEVER dreamed it was for me. Yes, this lace (fyi, with lace wt yarn) Icarus shawl she had been working on for months was for me ..."Why, you might ask?!" Simply because she is my friend and loves me (okay, I am crying now) (fyi, I tried many times, but couldn't get a picture that came close to showing the true beauty of this STUNNING shawl, pictures just don't do it justice!).

The moral of the story, among the greatest gifts that I have received friendship is the greatest one of all. Thanks so much God for such friends! And thank each and every one of you for being my friend. Mere words don't seem to express how very thankful I am for each of you! Thank you so much for all that you have done for me and most especially for the gift of your friendship.

LOL, like I said at the beginning whenever I say this post is going to be "short and sweet" it's never short...but always sweet, don't you think?!

Happy Holidays, Happy Knitting & God Bless Each One of You!

ANNOUNCING! The Last Minute Gift Countdown!

2007-11-02T16:45:00.000-04:00

It's that time of year, my friends , and, the holidays are right around the corner! It's past time to make prezzies

NO IT'S NOT!!

WHY?! You might ask! Allow me to announce the

which is sponsored by Karen from Cotton Spice & several designers! You can find all of the information right here and it goes like this:

"Well, here it is October (oops, Nov. here) and Christmas seems to be years away. But it’s not! Barely 2 months remain and you want gifts to be Made by You, but there’s little time. Upcoming parties, swaps, unexpected guests… there’s just not enough time! Not to worry, join us November 5-17 for The Last Minute Gift Countdown. Every day during this 2-week period on this blog and the designers blog will be a brand new, never before seen Gift Tutorial for you your own gifts, quickly and beautifully. There will be something for everyone, not just quilters! Embroidery, crochet, knitting, paper goods… the list goes on."

Now, you pop on over to Cotton Spice and you and take a look at the list - and it's a GOOD ONE, designers of all kinds are participating! Now, that's pretty cool, we are guaranteed a new, never before seen project from these designers that we can whip up for Christmas or any time that you would like! I don't need to get hit in the head with a brick to know a good deal when I see one!

Thanks, Designers Ya'll ROCK!!

Pay It Forward Exchange Paid Off - BIG!

2007-10-28T02:10:00.000-04:00

First of all, allow me to say this, I'm ever so blessed with friends, friends that have given me gifts for no reason at all, just because they are my friends and I'm not going to post the other gifts now, each one deserves its own post, as does each special friend! Ya'll know who you are, please, please forgive me for not having posted already. I'm afraid that on top of everything else years of being on crutches have caught up on me and my hands continue to hurt quite badly. And, I was pleasantly surprised this evening around 8:30 when my pain doc's new P.A. called about a rx request I had called about Friday and they have been so busy that she has just gotten to it and she called me on the weekend to let me know that she was calling it in...ON THE WEEKEND! Needless to say, I'm already happy & impressed with her! These meds are for the increased pain in my hip/leg & ankles due to weather, but will help with the hands, too. So, I ask all of you to please, please pray that God allow my hands to take a turn for the better so that I can knit (which keeps my mind off of the really bad pain in The Leg) and walk (need the hands for crutches & the walker-hard to admit I must use one now & then, took the doc years to talk me into it!) and I promise that I will go to the hand specialist to have them checked out after the 1st of the year.....right now dealing with the ankle therapy & other painful deals are quite enough, thank you! But, I do know that if I need to have it taken care of right away that God will show me in some way! I do so hope I'm not sounding selfish...I just have things in the works that must be finished and then there are my PIF angels! But, I digress...on with the show:

I certainly wasn't expecting it, but my lovely Pay It Forward sponsor (would that be the correct term, I'm in her group, she is my gift giver), Wendy has already made my gift!!! I received it today and I am absolutely overwhelmed!
Okay, this is what I did, I'm a card reader, I always read the card before I open the gift. Well, needless to say the card began the teary eyes! And I opened the package to find this G.O.R.G.E.O.U.S. scarf! CAN YOU BELIEVE?! I must find out what yarn she used and buy a ton (give or take!), it is so very, very soft! Just look at the flower, it's perfection! In the note she said she made it imagining me wearing it against my neck on cold mornings on the way to church, which is exactly what I thought when I looked at it...oh, it will be ever so soft against my skin! Notice how it tapers at one end, I SO LOVE IT! Wendy, thank you seems insufficient, but ...thank you, thank you, thank you, I dearly love it! OH, and notice her PERFECT sts, absolutely beautiful work!
Thank you, too, Wendy, for allowing me to be in your group which has me in the Pay It Forward frame of mind for many, many things! Not only that, I've met so many wonderful people and have made such wonderful friends which are, as we know, the greatest gift of all! Thank you, Wendy, for the gift of your friendship!

I have been knitting and stuff.....

2007-10-16T11:54:00.001-04:00

Yes, I've become a slow knitter and the main reason is because I have more than one project OTN and this for some weird psychological reason...slows me down!

Okay, I've not been able to post these for a while because they had to be sent to my pal Colleen as a way of welcoming her baby to be (soon, very soon!). Now that she's seen them and likes them I can share:

1st up is the Mason Dixon baby kimono I knit this with Lionbrand Cottonease, perfect for baby, soft and machine wash & dryable! Boy...babies are tiny, I just hope these things fit!

Next we have the lovely 10 cable hat from Julie Also knit with Cottonease...it's so cute!

And last, but certainly not least! The baby socks from another friend of mine by the name of Julie! How cute are these?! They may not fit for very long, but they are certainly fun to make! And, I readily admit....these socks have turned me around on my thoughts of toe up socknitting! I really enjoyed these, the figure 8 cast on did it, I think!

So, here we are in mid Oct and I've not even knit 30 items....a slow, slow year for this knit girl! But, lots of designing for my honey, that does take up a good deal of time, even if it's only for socks! And, I don't see that ending any time, soon, LOL! As a matter of fact, I hope to finish a pair for him today, but I didn't write a pattern, these were a simple toe up pattern I was trying, hate it...but, it's a different cast on toe, I'll try the figure on adult socks...who knows, one day in the future I may even design toe up socks....stranger things have happened!

So sorry, much more to say and show, but must rush........

If ONLY I Could Share....

2007-09-23T09:38:00.000-04:00

Hey Knitty People!
I have such very COOL things in the works, but I can't tell ya about any of them!! Some involve prezzies, some are part of and one thing is just TOP SECRET! But, I can tell ya this...everything is so COOL!!!!

AND, ya know I'm telling the honest truth if this involves putting another project OTN or starting any other type of projects!! Because, as THE KNITTING WORLD KNOWS, I hate to have more than ONE project OTN and I currently have 3! One being another my long ago started, patiently waiting A Touch of Whimsy Scarf (fyi, it is much longer than that now, and will be @ least twice as long as the one in the pattern!) for me! And, last, but certainly NOT least, the best of all...the socks, the, oh, so soft, so yummy "A Touch of Whimsy Socks" .... yes, pattern is written, and socks are OTN and were going to be finished soon had not these several cool things come about!! I will just be so happy that I will JUMP WITH JOY (lol, as if that is gonna happen with the LOL!) I will then be ladylike and curtsy with joy...'cept I'll be in jeans, of course!

Okay, : my friend, Jeanie started a GROUP on (GO.....JOIN!) so much, Jeanie, you ROCK, my friend!!!

AND....THAT'S NOT ALL!!!! I've had some amazing knitters contribute photos of their simply STUNNING WK Designs to the Knitters Galleries linked in the sidebar, one gallery is here and the other (photos, linking to the knitter's blog) is here.....please, please, stop by and see their GORGEOUS work! to each and every one of you, ya'll are super knitters, there is NO DOUBT!

I'm off to work on some of those amazing things that I can't tell ya about until a later date....

PAY IT FORWARD EXCHANGE Buttons!!!

2007-09-19T02:29:00.000-04:00

So many of us are a part of the very quickly growing Pay It Forward Exchange that I thought we needed a button! Well, I happened to mention making a button to one of my PIF angels, Colleen (the Rock Star, you see, PIF angels come in all forms....go by her blog and sign up, she needs PIF peeps!)and she sent me the artwork ( Dahlin'!) and I did a bit of cropping and various things and then create MANY, MANY, MANY sizes (so you can put one any & everywhere!)of buttons for the wonderful exchange.....so, GRAB ONE (remember to save it to your computer & photo host, please.) And....away we go........
Come one, come all, pick a button, pick several buttons, let's Pay It Forward around the world!!!

8 Things About Me

2007-09-18T11:12:00.000-04:00

Before I begin the 8 things deal allow me to talk a bit about how the Pay It Forward Exchange is going....and GROWING...like the branches of a tree OMGoodness, if you want to join hop over by Julie's and Jacquie's blogs and see if you can join some of the people's groups that have joined them!!! Don't feel leftout, come on and join us!! I have things in the works for my 3 already, but...I have SIX MONTHS to get them done! How cool is that. Not only that, in the next 6 months I will received something splendid from my friend Wendy because I'm in her group! This exchange so ROCKS!!!

OK, my good friend Lis has TAGGED ME!! With 8 Things About Me.
Before I begin I must post the rules for those of you who are going to be tagged by me are to follow:

Once tagged, you must link to the person who tagged you. Then post the rules before your list, and list 8 random things about yourself. At the end of the post, you must tag and link to 8 other people, visit their sites, and leave a comment letting them know they've been tagged.

8 Things About Me
1. I have the best husband in the world (lol, no where in the rules does is stipulate that I must say something that you don't already know, LOL!)
2. I am disabled and have been for over 20 years. It all began with a wreck, a guy ran a stop sign one night (Oct. 21, 1981) at a very high rate of speed and hit our car (I should have been killed instantly, but God had other plans) and after the car spun around, hit the phone pole & popped it in 1/2 I could only think, "Get out of the car some way, it's going to catch on fire" I fell out of the car & pulled myself into the middle of the street with sheer will power and (oh, I forgot to mention: at the time, I was a clinical instructor in Respiratory Therapy @ a local university) I then heard a voice that I recognized behind me and to the right....the guy that hit us was one of my students, LOL!!! Let's just say I'm very happy is was late @ night & he didn't know he was going to hit a car & that I was going to be in it or I would certainly have felt as if I had "lost the attention" of my students...or that I was really doing a bad job!
3. Lonnie and I had our 1st date March 17, 1980 - we were married May 13, 1989. Yep, God does have a perfect mate for everyone! Yes, there is really such a thing as "Love @ 1st site!
4. I am a Christian and have been since April, 1987
5. I have 3 children, all grown, and 1 grandchild....BUT, nobody is allowed to call me by the "G" word, so she calls my "Honey"...."Grandma Honey"...I tried, but she had to throw the "G" word in! For goodness sakes, I'm a rock n roll girl, always have been, a rock n roll chick isn't supposed to be addressed by the "G" word....but, my heart melts when she says it, so it's okay!
6. When our youngest left for college Lonnie got for me and we are now a couple of "THOSE" people that take their dog on vacation and she goes to places like Doggie Day Care (that has a shaped like a bone for their babies)for the day when she can't go wherever we are going (of course, we check their references!).
7. I've been knitting 3 years and I originally began after praying and asking God to please show me something that I could do that would help keep my mind off of my pain and occupy my time with something fun!....and...I'm HAPPY to say it does both!
8. I'm afraid I've become a reality TV junkie...well, not all shows but, I do watch Big Brother; Top Chef; Trading Spouses; Wife Swap (because those last 2 are HILARIOUS!) and, of course, Trading Spaces.
NOW....I'm off to tag 8 or YOU before someone else gets to you!

I'm so happy to read that ya'll like Lonnie's iPod, I was so HAPPY to finally be a part of such a purchase for him....you see, Lonnie is a musician and very particular about electronics and all things on which he listens to his music and will change his mind from moment to moment! So, the very day the new generation of iPods was announced & when we sat down and looked at the Apple site and I saw the one he wanted I told him, "Get it now, Baby, or I will order it tonight, and who knows what I will engrave?!" And, he had his in hand, showing his friends before the 1st one ever hit a store, he was so proud! LOL!! He LOVES it, it's huge, not the iPod, but the storage 160 GB! Our 1st computer had 16 GB...CAN U BELIEVE?!
I want a Nano, have absolutely, positively no reason for one, I would use the hard drive more than the music portion (we have several mp3 players, I've no need for one!), I just think they are cute! So...I think I'll get a Knitting Bag because, frankly, I've got to have a bag that will not only protect my knitting, but protect my vintage yarn holders! I just have to decide which one.....decisions, decisions...........

Just A Quickie!

2007-09-17T03:54:00.000-04:00

Once in a while I'm cool with a "quickie" (doing something fast, writing a short blog post, etc)...my blog life is like my real life, I'm not at all cool with Quickie anything (I take my time with most all things, trying to do my best, but, I digress ..... )

I want to tell ya'll how EXCITING that the Pay It Forward Exchange is already...and I've only just begun! You know we have 6 months to complete it! I have my wonderful 3 PIF and I want to encourage any of you who are interested in joining to stop by one of their blogs and leave a comment to be one of their Pay It Forward participants!! Please, Please...this is going to be such BLAST!!!! Stop by Julie's and Jacquie's blogs. I know that Julie still needs participants, but i'm not entirely sure about Jacquie. I do, of course have my 3rd PIF , Colleen (the rock star, the very rock star!) who will be Paying It Forward a bit in the future.
As a matter of fact, 2 of my PIF are ...both Colleen and Julie!!! I think that is OUTSTANDING!
I have SO VERY MANY PIF ideas, but, of course, I can't share them until after I've sent my gifts .... and that is driving me so because I want to SHOUT TO THE WORLD that I am Paying It ( love for those of whom I share this planet!) Forward!!!! But, alas, I cannot. I will be secretive and imaginative!!!

Oh Me, Oh My!!! My Honey Buns, My Man, the Love of My Life....you know Him....LONNIE, got his brand spanking new Ipod in the mail last week before they were ever released to the stores (with engraving, also not available in stores other than Apple) , he was so happy and I was so PROUD & HAPPY to be on the giving end of the spoiling for once....finally! Well, truthfully, we decided together, but I did tell him that if he didn't order it at that moment that I would order it after he was asleep! Isn't it nice to see goodies that Lonnie has received?! I think so!

I had to pop back in to add this! My dear friend Cheryl from the rockin' knitting store and blog, DivaKnitting has tagged me as a HOW COOL IS THAT?! , Cheryl!!

I'm looking forward to seeing your Paying It Forward on your blogs!!!!
So far today my angels are full! CAN YOU BELIEVE?! This exchange is growing like crazy, OUTSTANDING! Come on, join us!! You can be a part of one of their angel's group or one of the next set...and so it grows!!! If you need help to find an open spot, I'll be MORE THAN HAPPY to help!!

PAY IT FORWARD

2007-09-11T22:26:00.000-04:00

It’s the Pay It Forward Exchange.

Pay It Forward is going around the internet and it seems to have just begun within the last month. I am SO EXCITED to be involved in Chan's Pay It Forward idea.
I found out about it from my friend Wendy. I, along with Stacey and Wendy's anonymous Knit1Tea2 swapper are Wendy's 3 Pay It Forward participants.

It’s the Pay It Forward Exchange. It’s based of the concept of the movie “Pay it Forward” where acts or deeds of kindness are done without expecting something in return, just passing it on, with hope that the recipients of the acts of kindness are passed on. You all know I’m already a PIF type of person. So here’s how it works. I will make and send a handmade gift to the first 3 people who leave a comment to this post on my blog requesting to join this PIF exchange. I do not know what that gift will be yet, and it won’t be sent this month, probably not next month, but it will be sent (within 6 months) and that’s a promise! What YOU have to do in return, then, is pay it forward by making the same promise on your blog.

I will now Pay It Forward to you THREE, I wonder who you will be?!
Please, be a PIF

MoMo, BoBo and SockJo....

2007-09-09T01:03:00.000-04:00

Hey Knitty People!
Thank the good Lord that I am finally feeling better....regularly! Other than having some bug and I ran a fever for 5 days, but hey, that's cool, I'm actually getting up and out of the bed some!!! YIPPEE KIYAY is what I say!
OMGoodness, OMGoodness, OMGoodness! I am now really and truly set up as a (I so still and don't know if I will ever believe it)....D.E.S.I.G.N.E.R. on the one and only CAN YOU BELIEVE?! I'm so honored and it's really very surreal and exciting and Ohhhhh..wonderful!!! I still have to upload a few patterns and all of my finished designs will be on there...I do so hope to get that done in the next day or 2. Just as I fully intend to finally start reading your blogs again...thank ya'll so very much for being so patient and understanding with me this year as I've been laid up....ya'll are FANTASTIC!!

OH, let's talk about the title of this post as it came to me today, my cat Moshi of whom we call was playing with me while I was giving his ~~hair~~ grass trim today. And as I end this explanation, somebody is back because my hand feels better..... SOCK JO, my best knitty friend!!!!! I started these blasted toe up socks weeks ago before I had to stop knitting because my hand was hurting so badly (I've been on and off, now mostly on crutches for over 20 years and I did marathon knitting, etc as I wrote in the previous post) and I thought that I didn't like the toe ups because my hands were hurting, but no...I was right all along, I PREFER cuff down! I did these with a gusset so that I could reinforce the area where Lonnie wears through his socks. But, much as I dislike darning socks (which is gonna happen if you wear the hand knit socks and Lonnie does!) I do believe I'd rather continue darning than knit all of his socks toe up! Sorry, bit of a Sock Jo rant, SJ can rant when she wants to, ya know! These are simple ribbed socks, so, of course I won't write a pattern...but, I do have 3 patterns on the drawing board for Lonnie now.
Speaking of my Honey, My Man, My Husband, the best one in the world....guess what we ordered for him the day it was announced?! Are you guessing?!....go ahead guess....

If you guessed the new 160 GB iPod then you are so RIGHT!!! I am so VERY, VERY HAPPY that he agreed to order it! He never, ever wants to get such things for himself right away, he has to think about it forever and then get it. Well, I told him he had to get it because if he didn't I would order it and there was no telling what I would engrave on it! So, he agreed with me and ordered it, I'm so happy that it's him getting a cool new surprise this time, he certainly deserves it! Oh, his engraving:
Line 1: Lonnie's iPod
Line 2: KEEP AWAY!

JONESIN' FOR THE KNIT, MAN!

2007-08-24T04:11:00.000-04:00

Okay, I'm going C.R.A.Z.Y.! I've not knit in 3 weeks. THAT'S WHAT I SAID! 3 weeks! My left hand has been hurting terribly and I knit and then knit some more, so I've had to makeup for my stupidity by not knitting....and it hurts (not knitting, my hand is feeling much better), man....I need a KNIT FIX, man, and I mean B.A.D.!!

I think that I can live with myself for a bit, now that I've told you about the on my back.

LOL, I see that not too many people read the novella that was my last post. LOL, what can I say...I had a lot of things to say and a LOT of prezzies to show off!

I am finally beginning to feel better after many months (wow, over 6 months!) of severe pain, praise God! So, I will actually be reading others' blogs for a change! Thanks to all of you for your understanding!

Oh, I have to show off yet another surprise that arrived in the mail from my Sweet Man, Is this gorgeous, or what?! I had been wanting a bell shaped vintage knitting needle gauge and all of a sudden, one shows up in the mail from Lonnie...I tell you, best husband in the world! I'm afraid I took a photo of the wrong side, the other side states that it is an Abel Morral.

I was invited to join (I'm Becka on Ravelry) over a month ago and I've finally begun to explore and get this....I can be set up as a Designer!!! CAN YOU BELIEVE?! I'm talking about with the greats that write books, those that we recognize their names right away, those that we would love to meet and take their classes! I'm so pysched that it's really helping me get over the inability to knit!!! A tiny bit, I'm still jonesin' for the knit, man!

I'm Being So SPOILED!

2007-08-17T23:43:00.000-04:00

LOL after yesterday's very brief post I sounded like it would be a long time before I returned! Well, tonight as I'm kicked back in bed I decided it was time to remedy that situation!
Okay, ya'll all know about the health deal with my disability (hip/leg) and the newest bad ankles deal...well, I have been experiencing excruciating pain so much so that I didn't feel like blogging or doing anything else with people, my apologies! Good news, slowly but surely feeling better! And then, the freaky thing, my left hand began to hurt horribly because I had been knitting and walking on crutches so much, so....no knitting for the past 2 weeks....but, before then (and still OTN) I was knitting my 1st pair of toe up socks (still prefer cuff down!), these, too, will be for Lonnie.
With virtually nothing to do I told my youngest I would post items on ebay for her! I didn't realize there were 2700 items that I had to sort through, photograph, edit, research and list on Ebay! 2700 might be a bit of an exaggeration...but not much! It has been fun, though (and it's helped me through my frequent bouts of "JONESIN' FOR THE KNIT!") by giving me something to do with my hands! Get this, Ebay had a deal on Wed, the 15th that if you posted and used a gallery photo and a few other rules then you didn't have to pay listing fees.....I photographed, edited, researched and listed 20+ items ..... of which I think quite impressive. LOL, I have found that in one listing for an Aura Science item I typed Aura Scienc3, and ... what can I say I'm not the best ebay seller, LOL! I still have many more to post, but that will be after this current deluge is done, it's a bummer packaging 8 or so packages a night! I don't know how Ebay stores do it....it's really a pain, much MORE fun to shop on Ebay.

Speaking of shopping on Ebay, (I've lost track of the days from ebay listing, lol) I think it was yesterday, I was sitting at the house computer, waiting for Lonnie to come home so I could meet him at the door. I then sat back down and continued whatever I was doing on the computer then Lonnie said, "I need to get there for a minute, okay?!" I said, "Okay, Honey, that's not a problem." He was using his almost angry voice! Well, he leans over and all the time I'm talking to him so I didn't notice what he was doing and he then said, "Look at this." Showing me that he had the winning bid for !!! I had not even a clue he had been bidding on it! I had put it on my watch list, then forgot about it because I was busy helping Shannon with her Ebay items! I literally screamed! You see, this is the ONE, the yarn holder that I have been in search of and missed so many times. It's large, has a slit across the top and either a hole or slit on each side...perfect for socknitting or anything, it's big enough to carry more than sock yarn like most of the European wool holders! I can't say it enough best husband in the world!

And that's not all! We went to Charleston for a day trip a couple of weeks ago and all the way there I talked to and showed my mil pics of the socks that I want to knit, "Traveling Socks" (from the book "SOCKS SOCKS SOCKS) like Sockbug's (if only I can knit any that look that nice!). Well, I always have a list and he saw it and saw sock yarn for TS on it and asked me if that was the yarn for "those socks" and I said "yes" and he said, "Please let me order them for you so you while they have the ones you want." And these arrived in the mail today: Art Yarns Ultra Merino Sock yarn....CAN YOU BELIEVE ?!

And that's not even close to all that I've received in this past week-10 days in the mail! Oh, and when we were in Charleston I got these for Lonnie and me...I love that sock yarn!
Okay, during KnitPicks 40% off sale I've ordered a couple of books, (I must learn more about knitting with color - good book!) and ...a FANTASTIC book! Ya'll know how much interest I have in unusual and/or non-wool yarns (hot in the south for too much wool!). LOL, I do have that knitting book ~~obsession~~ ~~addiction~~ passion just like I do with all things knitty!
That looks like more than any one girl should get in a week or 2, doesn't it?! Well, my dear dear Lonnie surprised me yet again! A couple of days ago I heard something hit the door (I told ya'll I have the best mailman, he always brings packages to the door rather than blowing his horn and/or leaving a pickup notice in the box because he knows of my disability and he doesn't want me to walk out to his truck or go to the P. O. on crutches) and it was addressed to me from KnitPicks, I was at a loss, had no idea what it could be. Well, he had ordered Is that not the most romantic thing EVER . I say it all the time, he is the best husband in the world, BUT, not because he spoils me so, but because he has a heart of pure gold...no, platinum! We love to be together! Look forward to our vacations together (currently planning a train trip to DC in the spring!) and going places together, even if it's just to Circuit City or the mall! God definitely made us for one another...you really ROCK, God! (lol, not something I usually say when I talk about God, but it's so true!

I'm not even close to finished, either! My dear, sweet mil lives with us part-time and has for many, many years and we all have decided she will live with us full-time....this shows Lonnie's heart...she was out of town seeing one of Lonnie's brothers for 2 weeks, during that time Lonnie completely redid her room. I'm talking new sheetrock, flooring, trimming, painting (of course since he put up the sheetrock, duh!). This was when I was on strict bedrest, so I was of no use...he picked out the perfect pedestal sink and toilet for her bathroom, along with all of the accessories...mirror, cabinet, towels, EVERYTHING ..... and new furniture (except the bed) in the bedroom...all alone, he has great taste! Then we were in Target one evening and I saw a gorgeous bedding set on sale....Lonnie thought a minute and said we couldn't afford it because of everything else (almost forgot, new bathroom & closet doors, too!).
I was feeling better later in the week and we went back to Target to pick up Lonnie's prescription....well, next thing I knew he was in bed & bath section, got the bedding, new pillows & curtains to go over the new 2 in" blinds....When I say he redid the room to welcome her home for good....I mean he redid the ENTIRE room......heart of platinum!
I digress, my sweet mil ordered for me...CAN YOU BELIEVE?! She saw me looking at it on the computer and I commented on the upgrades and she asked me if it would help me with socks and I said, "Yes, ma'am, I'm sure it will." She then said, well, let's order it right now! Lonnie gets this huge heart from his mom! That's easy to surmise, isn't it?! so much, Mom!

Nope, still not all....remember, we've had a swap going on over at Knitting Help. FYI, I had been knitting for Bethany (and the lace top fit )and had given her some of the best sock yarns around (IMHO) the 1st part of the swap and she's making Jaywalkers with the Opal Silk...go look on her blog & see the gorgeous Jaywalkers. There's a photo of her wearing the top (it fits I'm so happy that it does!) and the other things I knit for her. I had a BLAST knitting for you, Bethany, it was a pleasure!

Now, I finally found out who my very special pal is...the ONE AND ONLY KRISTIN!!! Boy, she spoiled me, too! I told ya'll the past couple of weeks have been amazing...continue to read and look, please! I pretty much guarantee that you will be as overwhelmed as I. Oh my, this post is a mile long, so I will allow you to read what I've written on the photos, click on each one to enlarge it. She knows me so well, each and every item is as if I were shopping for myself! I cried like a big baby as I opened these lovelies because she did so very much for me. Went far above & beyond .... her emails were always fun & uplifting and the most special gift is the gift of a new friend. These are the many, many goodies that she gave me & everything was obviously from the heart. Kristin, many tims over! When I opened the book, the final gift, I was so overcome with emotion for all that she had done that I then really began to really cry, I had been teary eyed since I opened the cards and became more so as I opened each additional gift....wouldn't you?! Thank you, again, Kristin, you helped me through some very difficult times with my health during these 2 months with your gifts and your perfectly timed emails. I don't think that I will ever be able to adequately express my thanks for your overwhelming kindness! I guess I end it with these words....GIRL, YOU ROCK !!!
As ya'll have noticed...I also have the Best Swap Pal in the World!

FYI, I will (hopefully) post more often now that I'm beginning to feel better and there will be no more "book-like" posts! But I just HAD to share all of these things with ya'll.

And.....a teaser for another post, I have a very wonderful, special surprise to share with everyone!

So Much!

2007-08-16T23:15:00.000-04:00

So sorry, guys! I've not been around in a month! Lots and lots going on, just wanted to say hey and I do so hope to be back to my regular life of blogging and knitting, etc very soon!

I miss you all very much!

I'm Still Living......

2007-07-25T19:10:00.000-04:00

I'm so sorry I've not been a regular blogger lately, please forgive me! My goodness, all this going on with the ankles and my hip/leg has kept me in bed not doing anything because the pain has just been too intense. I have complete faith it will get better, though! One day I will, once again, be checking blogs, please, please forgive me for not having done so in so long! I miss everyone so much!

On the knitting front:
All of these were knit for my Swap Pal at KnittingHelp.com
I knit 4 Mason Dixon Ballband cloths, 2 for bath, 2 for kitchen. I love this cloth pattern!
The next 2 are from Interweave Knits spring and summer. Lace beverage carrier and Ribs and Lace Tank, both knit from KnitPicks MainLine yarn: (I've got to have one of these!) and the last FO: I so hope she likes everything!