SP10 questionnaire

1. What is/are your favorite yarn/s to knit with? What fibers do you absolutely *not* like?
I dig it all a enjoy trying all sorts of yarns. I really like the soft wool blends most and really dig colors.

2. What do you use to store your needles/hooks in?
I put my extra needles in a large cloth lined basket with my yarn in my living room closet. I keep my hooks and other must haves in my knittin’ bag, I always need to use them for something.

3. How long have you been knitting & how did you learn? Would you consider your skill level to be beginner, intermediate or advanced?
I am new to this hobby I have been knitting actively for a year and a half. I learned from a co-worker. She began a weekly knitting lunch hour group and I wanted to give it a try. I instantly loved and have been clicking ever since. My skill level is nearly intermediate.

4. Do you have an Amazon or other online wish list?
Sure do. There’s plenty of nifty things to be found there.

5. What's your favorite scent?
Peony, Magnolia, Rose, Lilly of the Valley. Light floral types of scents.

6. Do you have a sweet tooth? Favorite candy?
I like dark chocolate, good dark chocolate. I do not count Hershey’s brand anything as an edible chocolate. It never sits well with me. Godiva is my favorite. Godiva raspberry truffle and cappuccino truffle are a very sinful treat.

7. What other crafts or Do-It-Yourself things do you like to do? Do you spin?
I do not spin, maybe someday. Other crafts: cross stitch, scrap booking (not as much), jewelry making, and paper crafts.

8. What kind of music do you like? Can your computer/stereo play MP3s?
My music taste is rather interesting. I dig mostly the classic rock variety. (Hendrix, Clapton, Led Zepplin, Dylan) I also like 80s, folk music, alternative, blue grass, Celtic and classical. (Beck, Joss Stone, Dido, Cure)

9. What's your favorite color(s)? Any colors you just can't stand?
I dig red and deep pinks. Love blues and greens. I like color. Not a fan of the 70s goldenrod or avocado.

10. What is your family situation? Do you have any pets?
I am married with two little girls. We have, I mean, I have a cat, Gaea. She’s cool. She plays fetch and attacks dogs that get in our yard. So she’s sort of a dog-cat. And she's a good snuggle fuzzy friend.

11. Do you wear scarves, hats, mittens or ponchos?
Yes.

12. What is/are your favorite item/s to knit?
I like to make hats. The derby hats a pretty fun to create. I’m digging the felting.

13. What are you knitting right now?
I have a few things going on right now. I have in progress: 1 hat, 1 scarf, 1 sweater and thoughts of a blanket and funky kids' hats. Whoa I totally have the multi-project thing obsession. I have to knit when I’m out and about so I try to have little projects that can fit in my purse. The biggies stay at home.

14. Do you like to receive handmade gifts?
Oh do I ever!

15. Do you prefer straight or circular needles? Bamboo, aluminum, plastic?
Umm, circular? Yikes! I haven’t tried those yet, but I’m going to real soon. No bamboo, no aluminum and no plastic. They and I do not mix well. I use wood. I prefer to use my Rosewood Pony brand needles. They are so choice. The Brittany needles are good too.

16. Do you own a yarn winder and/or swift?
Nope.

17. How old is your oldest UFO?
3 months. I just haven’t finished that blue hat yet.

18. What is your favorite holiday?
Christmas. I love winter and all the family time. I like entertaining so really this is the big holiday for me.

19. Is there anything that you collect?
I like vintage beads. Demdaco Willow Tree angels. Oh how I love those! And vintage kitchen stuff like dinnerware, teapots, spice bottles. Hello Kitty is a big fave too.

20. Any books, yarns, needles or patterns out there you are dying to get your hands on? What knitting magazine subscriptions do you have?
No knitting magazine subscriptions. I’d like AlterKnits by Leigh Radford and Knit 2 Together by Tracey Ullman et al. Yarn is always good. Any baby alpaca yarn is a pleasure to get.

21. Are there any new techniques you'd like to learn?
Oh am I so wanting to do lace. That’s the big hurdle for me. My goal is to work on learning how to lace this year.

22. Are you a sock knitter? What are your foot measurements?
Not yet. I am practicing that now. My foot is 10 inches long and 8 1/2 inches around the widest part of the ball of my foot.

23. When is your birthday?
May 6.

Now for something new

Ok, now I am trying to move forward in my skills and make something wearable other than hats or scarves. I bought this cartwheel yarn made by Moda Dea in raspberry from Jo-Ann's and thought that it was so pretty. I like the way the yarn was twisted and uneven yielding a really neat fabric. Intially this was purchased with mittens in mind, it looks like a fun mitten yarn right? But then that means I need to learn how to make mittens. I know, I should stop being a loser and just learn already. I'll get on that right after this sweater. As I was saying, this yarn sat in my knitting basket waiting to be used. I picked it up a few weeks ago and had to touch it; to let it feel not so lonely in that basket. And well it wooed me into thinking of a way to use it for something. Mittens are not in my mind anymore. I want to move forward into the making of clothing. And I'm going to make a sweater for Olivia. Do I know how?

Nope.

I found an easy pattern (Berroco Daisy) with what I had in my mind. A sockinette sweater, no ribbing thank you, with a wide rollneck collar and a bit on the big side, just the way my girl likes. I am making my own changes such as no daisy and no stripes. There is no need for stripes with this yarn and I think the daisy looks silly.

Wish me luck.

Surprising sNOw

Well I expect there are several folks in the DC area that are a bit upset with the result of today's weather. A winter snow storm passed through and left behind a wet heavy 3+ inches of snow. I rather enjoy the snow as does the rest of the family. We like winter and this was a fantastic surprise. I fully expected to see more rain than snow. The girls spent a good deal of time outside and the parents were happily shoveling around.

We got a fire going and that is a pleasant addition to a snowy day. Even the kitty likes the snowy days. For her the highlight is keeping warm by the fire and watching the birdies forage for seed in the snow. We had quite a load of visitors pass by, I counted 4 pairs of cardinals, and of course the Mourning doves were here too.

I was able to get a few rows on that sweater going. I think this will take me some time as the size of this project is the largest thus far. I will be very proud of myself once it's complete.

It was a good day.

Washer: round 2

Yep. It leaked again. All over the basement. Thankfully the kitchen throw rugs were waiting to be washed and absorbed a good deal of that water. We called the repairman from last week. He determined that the water level gauge thingy is not working properly. The tub jut keeps filling up and spilling the water all over. He'll need to call in the part and we hope to get it fixed before the week's end. I wonder how long we can go without washing our clothes?

This is great. I mean I really dig spending hundreds of dollars on appliances that do not work. I am so not going to buy GE anything. Well, except that our new house will have GE kitchen stuff, but I'll be dammed if I'll pay for another washer and dryer. We are getting something else, like an elephant or washtub.

Growing fast

Olivia was telling me all about Chris Melon on the way to preschool today. Chris Melon has been up to plenty in the last few months. She got a few dogs, moved houses and changed schools. A very busy young lady indeed. Yet the biggest change is that Chris Melon apparently has grown up and had a child. Oh yeah that fast. Just a month ago I think that Chris Melon was 6 years old. She must be some sort of child on one of those daytime soaps, those kids always grow up fast.

I really enjoy these stories that Olivia creates. Everything is very detailed and organized. She is becoming a fantastic storyteller.

New baby

My good friend Marla had a son and I am so excited. Congratulations!

Presidential thoughts

President's Day cannot be celebrated without presidential accomplishments. So I give you my list of decisions-actions-achievements for today.

I woke up. On a cold day like this with no work to attend, that my friends, is a difficult luxury to overcome.

I fed the children because, well, they get to eat on Mondays regardless of holiday status. *

Washed an unreasonable amount of laundry. The folding part has yet to be fully achieved.

Made all 3 beds with freshly washed bedclothes. It all looks so Martha perfect.

Drank a pot of coffee.

Watched the little birdies eat the seed thrown out in the yard. I noticed how effective the local bruiser squirrel has managed to terrify the birdies when he wants to eat the seed first.

Put away the folded clothes. Oh how I hate putting away clothes.

Solved the "we don't have any more socks" mystery. Almost every one's socks were in the shopping sack labeled "Onesies" and I have since matched them all and they will be able to sleep in their respective sock drawers in peace until the next 2 dozen loads of laundry separates them.

Managed to super glue my fingers together as well as to the pink belt I was fixing. I did repair the broken horse leg prior to gluing myself together. The belt is now bejeweled again. I will wait for the 4 year old fingers to pry off the pink jewels to repeat this process again.

Saved 4 year old from the flood of books spilling out of the corner hutch in living room. They remain in a pile on the floor until tonight.

Remarked how I need to work on the non-profit books yet kept the pile untouched. It has, I might add, been in proximity to me most of the day. So as to say "Hey you, lazy, insane, woman, you still need to take care of this mess you volunteered to take on." Yeah I'll get to that later.

Painted little fingernails pink. Have since scouted out the house to ensure nail polish did not make it onto furniture or walls.

Cursed the sugar ants that have been slowly creeping back into my house to escape from the bitter cold. No worry, those mofos will be subjected to chemical warfare in a few hour's time when the bug guy comes for his visit.

Partied like it's 1999. Prince is never a bad thing to blast.

Thought about washing the windows. Was I serious?

Put a cleaning plan together to attack the germ terrorists living in the bathroom and kitchen. The implementation failed as funding was not fulfilled.

Knitted a little bit. Learning, that by starting a new project, one that I have no ability to complete, is rather foolish. Alas I will still move forward because that is how stubborn I am.

Affirmed my belief that Billy Joel's music is not something I'll ever like.

Replaced the living room furnace air intake filter. That deserves a cookie.

Remembered that Lent is approaching. And I must eat as much chocolate as possible for the next day since it will be 40 days until I can enjoy its taste again.

Baked a loaf of bread. Made meatloaf.

Burned some old bills in the fireplace. Nothing like laughing as the bills go up in a carbon release.

Cleaned up a broken wine glass. It was thankfully drained so no real harm done. Just a wasted buzz devoted to cleaning the floor.



*okay before the child protective services are sent to my home that was a joke.

Prizefight sandwich

While Daddy was minding his own business eating his sandwich Olivia made her way over to him. She began to try and climb on his lap. He pushed her away indicating that he is trying to eat his lunch and prefers not to be bothered. This continues for a few minutes until he asks "What are you trying to do? Do you want my sandwich?"

She replies "No! I want to fight you. Move!"

He then chased her around the dining room.

Come let me pay you for nothing

The washing machine repairman came and took our $68.00 for nothing. Our washer is fine. Nothing wrong with it. That flood a weekend ago was just a figment of our imagination. So why does it just leak water all over the basement?

Okay. I will accept his reality. He says it is O.K. to use and that we will. The mop is ready and buckets are waiting.

Love

I love that......today is a snowy cold day.
I love that......we do not have to go anywhere.
I love that......I can spend the day with my family and not at work.
I love that......my girls have made me Valentine's Day cards.
I love that......my husband was concerned that my surprise won't be delivered due to the weather.
I love that......he's still worried about it.
I love that......the girls had fun playing in the snow.
I love that......the wind is blowing and the sun is shining yet it's still cold outside.
I love that......I've had a fire going since 11am and will keep it going until bedtime.
I love that......I can watch my girls play dress-up.
I love that......my kitty wants to snuggle on the couch with me.
I love that......I can watch the birds singing songs in the sunshine.
I love that......I did some housework....but not too much.
I love that......finally potted those houseplants desperately needing larger pots.
I love that......the packages filled with goodies from the grandparents arrived today.
I love that......I was able to drink my coffee in relaxed bliss.
I love that......leftover Indian food was my lunch.
I love that......there were still a few pieces of good chocolate for an after lunch treat.
I love that......I still have time to read and knit before the day is over.
I love that......the Mourning dove pair frequents my yard even on cold winter days.
I love that......my girls play together all day long.
I love that......there's plenty of love in this little house.

Pinkie

Another one finally done. This is for Sarah. And it was supposed to be a Christmas gift and well it took longer than I had time for. In the mail it goes.

Paul's son

Keith's high school friend Paul and his wife Becky had a baby. Here he is in his sleepy baby-ness.

House = Sold

We sold our home. Yea! No more cleaning like mad everyday. I can let the laundry sit in the baskets and fold it whenever. Socks can linger all over the floor and the trash can be taken out when it's full not every day. Hey I also get my weekends back. No more being forced to leave all day long.

Except that we are no longer homeowners with a home. Or well, at least until the new home is finished. So this is scary. We are renters again. I hate the insecurity of not being in my own home. I understand that a part of the contract is that we rent back until our new home is done....but the house is not ours anymore and well.....it's not ours. Good thing is that we are not responsible for any repairs that need to be done if they need to be done. Did I mention it's not my home anymore. I am so having a hard time with the house not being ours. My first house. It was sold.

The next few months will be wild. I have to get more boxes packed and start to think about colors for a new home and prepare for a move in 3 months.

Lavender Fluff

This is one I made for Laura. I finished it a while ago and have yet to weave in the ends. I am a little behind on these projects. Now that it's nearly (boxed up) in the mail I am relieved.

Neighborly

Last night I was given a fantastic surprise. While I sat near the fire watching tv thinking 'Dang I really should be knitting instead of watching tv' I received a call from our friends down the lane. A quick moment later they were here with a very large bag of organic tulips to share. Thanks to the book promotion for Flower Confidential by Amy Stewart. They were so beautiful. There were several colors and wow. Just wow. I agreed to help take a few bunches off of their hands, you know, that's how I help my friends. I put them in water and in this morning I put them in a vase. I often put flowers on the dining room table but, see I have a cat, and well, she'll try to drink water out of ANYTHING. Even a vase filled with flowers. I have had one too many vases broken and flowers damaged. Nope, not this time. These beauties are going on the mantel out of cat range. And you know, they do look great there. Ahhh such pretty little tulips. I think that I am experiencing flower happy. Do you blame me?

Thanks A & R you sure are the niftiest neighbors ever!

Book I read: You're Wearing That? Understanding mothers and daughters in conversation By: Deborah Tannen

I checked this thing out so long ago with all of the best intentions to read it and be all educated with its wonderfulness but then life sort of got in the way. And what I mean by life is all this bloody keeping the damn house in perfect condition so that for the one chance that someone will want to buy it and think "Dang this house rocks and it's super clean I think I'll buy it." to put me out of my misery so I can get back to having hobbies and stuff again.

What was I writing about again? Oh yeah this book about women and how they converse. Really it can be applied to any relationship, basically this book comes down to the meaning of language. Both verbal and nonverbal. How well you can express your needs and the true intentioned meaning is how to master the art of good relationships.

If you are a woman and have a mom and sort of keep in touch with her then you may find this book helpful or at least interesting. I did not really need to read this book as a way to help me guide myself through the brambles of conversations with my own mother. Actually in that manner this book is useless. My mother and I, at least from my perspective, never really had some of the issues covered in this book. I have never left a conversation with my mother feeling angst or anger on the level described in the chapters. Okay so there were a few times of incredible irritation, but hey, I was a teen and the world revolved around me so there. Anyway. I can't say that my relationship with my Mom has been riddled with judgement. I have never felt judged by her, not to the point of being guilt ridden and depressed. I wanted her to be proud of me (and still do) we're all kids inside, and we desire positive encouragement. So that's what I got. Up front honesty and reality.

Example: I never really had a curfew just plain 'ol communication and responsibility. She made it very clear in a non-Mom tone, more like a, just so you know tone, that if I chose to be out doing whatever that's cool. But I had to still maintain my end of the teen-child world bargain. I had to do my chores to contribute to the family life, I had to be at school at 730am every day, I had to pass all my classes and graduate, I had to pay for most (she did often treat me to movie nights, shopping, etc.) of my goofball extracurricular activities with friends, I had to tell her where I was when out with friends (because since I was still a minor she was ultimately responsible for my well being and she preferred to know in advance if I were to say put her in jeopardy of sanity, and/or needing to pick up at the jail.)

R-e-s-p-e-c-t tell me what it means to me......

It prevents lots of problems that's for sure. By respecting each other you can understand one another's perspective. She knew and understood my need to grow and build my own life experiences; making my own support network of friends. And I knew that she was Mom and in charge until I was truly ready to walk away. I'm sure there were things that I did that were cringe worthy, maybe not, I was really a boring kid. I tried to have fun but knew myself to be too responsible to be that uninhibited with my social actions. Stupidity never got anyone into college or a decent job. And those were my motivating factors throughout high school.

I had problems more with my father. And for a bit I wondered and self doubted myself and then it hit me. It was not me, not my problem. It was him. He was the jerkface loser. At that point I realized that his judgmental dominating force could no longer choke me. I could breathe and break from that haze of hate and free myself to see the glory of the world ahead of me. A path that I chose to go where I need. No barriers or perceived failures. He was never pleased and most likely never will be. And when I came to terms with that my life became better. Yeah sure I really wish I had a normal relationship with my father where I am glad to see him but that won't happen. When a person is a harbor for so much hate it can only seep out and infect those around them.

Okay back on point. The book was very insightful. I read it to improve my interactions with people. I work full time in a public service profession and I never know what sort of person I may encounter every day. Because of that I tend to read books with this topic. This book is meant for mothers and daughters but certainly be for any relationship between women. Women really know how to push buttons; We master the art of icy jabs and that can be detrimental to our relationships. Understanding how to decode those metamessages being thrown around will be an asset for me.

Closed for Snow

We went to WV Canaan Valley for some wholesome winter goodness. We have spent far too long in the warm weather winters of DC and have been suffering from lack of snow. We were very pleased to see that winter still does exist in the region. The location we chose for our winter exploration was the Blackwater Falls State Park. A great park that has many things to see and do and most importantly, snow. We arrived at the park around 8am. That was of course after an early departure. Yet when we saw all that snow we eagerly jumped to getting on our gear.

We spent a bit of time exploring around the falls. The trail to the falls viewing area was blocked off to keep people out. Considering all the footprints that were leading down those stairs I doubt many were abiding by those signs. We avoided being naughty and stood at the top and peered down at the frozen falls. After confirmation of seeing the falls we moved on to go explore in the forest. We followed a nice trail and made our way through the forest. The girls were more of a problem than first expected. We thought that we would put them in the sled and then drag them around as we made our way through the forest. That was not what happened. Well to be fair they did sit in the sled for about 10 minutes after that it was too much closeness. At another part of the park we began to trek through the forest with the expectation of going a fair bit further. The girls became more unruly and determined to walk in the waist deep snow. At this time our progress through the trails was so slow. Both of us grownups were getting irritated with our daughters shenanigans. After much complaining we found the trail to the huge sledding hill. We had our very own South Park episode in that sled. Two kids bundled up and vocalizing like Kenny. Rather funny. We took the hill down to the warming hut. There we took a moment to rest and warm up. Both girls were very cold. We purchased some hot chocolate and sipped on it to warm up. I told the girls to be careful use two hands and sit still. Then Olivia dropped her full cup of hot chocolate all over the chair, floor, her, me and wall. So we cleaned that up while she is threw a tantrum about her hot chocolate being lost all over the floor etc. We poured some of ours into another cup and about 10 seconds later she dropped that one too. It got all over me, Olivia and the floor. By this time we had made it clear to everyone in that hut we were idiots and not the outdoorsy people we are. We left after the second cleanup. It was time for lunch to pacify the cranky girls.

After a quick lunch Olivia needed a nap and Daddy needed to get out an explore on his own. While I remained in the car with the girls I knitted a bit and watched people. There were several folks coming to the park site to walk down to the falls. Some visited the little store there and some others played in the snow. When Keith returned it was my turn to go out and enjoy the snow. I made my way up the road and then broke through some bushes and wound around in the forest. I was very happy to be outside in the snow. The silence was perfect.

It was sad to go but we were all tired. This is certainly going to be a great place to return.

"We need a people map to find our way." Spoken by Olivia as we made our way through the forest.