basically abandoned...

You might have noticed that I have basically abandoned this blog...

I considered deleting it since I never post anymore but since I use the links every day, I decided to leave things for now.

Maybe in the future I will have more time to post. But for now...catch me on facebook :)

TTFN

forever & ever since a post...

Here is the wrap-up since the last post:

Thanksgiving was very good. Normal family meal, but very fun time.

Christmas was way too much snow!! we got snowed in for 2 weeks & my daughter missed a couple days d/t school closure. I did have to laugh because Portland just shuts down when it snows. Nothing was open, the roads were empty of cars, and no one was going anywhere. It was very peaceful.

I stayed home for 2 1/2 weeks (2 weeks of vacation & 1/2 week d/t snow) and I couldn't wait to get back to work last Monday. I also was ready to send my daughter back to school! I love her dearly, but she was driving me nuts.

We did however have a very beautiful Christmas. A white Christmas was something we only wished for in the past...now, as I found out, I will never wish for it again!

New Years Eve was hanging out with a few friends, nothing crazy. We did pop some champagne at midnight....I was the only one that enjoyed that though :) New Years Day was mom & dad's house.

Now it is on to my birthday! My husband took me shopping yesterday & I was able to pick out 2 of my presents. I bought enough yarn & notions to make the Cable Lux Tunic from Lionbrand & started that last night. Today I joined the Cable Lux KAL.

I made 2 resolutions for this year. #1 to actually complete a sweater & #2 to not buy any new yarn & only work from my stash! I am trying to fulfill #1 with the yarn I got yesterday & decided that gifted yarn & shop hop yarn doesn't count for #2! There are exceptions to everything!

My husband also bought me a new game for my DS (DS was a Christmas present from my mom & dad).

The only thing that slightly marred this holiday season was that we lost a beloved great aunt, Mildred "Mickey" Wilson. Actually I think she might be a great aunt X3 or maybe X4! Anyway, She was one of my favorites. She ran an antique store outside of Lincoln City, OR & we always stopped there on the way to the beach. For many years my family would go to the beach every weekend, and we always chatted with Mickey & her husband Snooker. The Oregon Coast will always remind me of Mickey!

She is also very special to me & my husband because we spent our honeymoon at the beach house that she was the caretaker of. She gave the week to us as a wedding present and not only had the house all ready, but stocked the refrigerator. My husband had never been to the Oregon Coast, so that was one of the best gifts that we could have received.

I will miss her very much, but I know she is in a better place now and as she told us...she was ready to go to the next stage. Her Memorial service is this Saturday.

That is all for the updates for now. I will try to post some snow pics tonight.

post halloween & election....

Thank goodness the election is over. I am so ecstatic that Obama won. I think he is the breath of fresh air that this country needs. This whole election has been a pretty happy process around my household (we are all Obama supporters) but I have been very upset by comments my daughter has been picking up at school. For weeks now, practically every evening I hear..."Samuel says..." and then the sentence ends with something inappropriate or completely derogatory against Barack Obama.

The final straw came on election night. We were waiting to drop off my ballot & I heard "Samuel says...". I rolled my eyes but listened anyway. "Samuel says that if Obama wins all unborn babies will be killed". I stopped the car & said "what did you say?" She repeated the sentence again. At that moment a billion things raced through my mind. First & foremost, how do I explain that statement to a 7 year old without getting into what abortion means, especially when she is already too young for "the talk". And secondly, how irresponsible can some parents be! I wanted to smack Samuel's dad upside the head! Now, I have no idea if this was something Samuel heard his dad say, or if it was said directly to Samuel, but either way...get some responsibility!

So, what could I do? All I said was Obama stands for change & Samuel is wrong. I left it at that and went on to another topic, but I did write a note to my daughters teacher today :) Hopefully, we won't be hearing any more "Samuel says..." in the future.

As for Halloween....it went great. My little girl dressed as Hannah Montana & had a great time for most of the night. Halfway through trick or treating her cousin accidentally pulled her wig off. Even though we got it fixed, little miss diva was ready to go home.

This Halloween was especially good because my daughter & I designed the costume together.

She told me exactly what she wanted to wear & I went about making all of her requests. I made the skirt, fingerless gloves, scarf & headband. Everything else we already had on hand. And yes, those are her real fingernails!

I was so proud of her! She went against the store bought norm & really got into putting it all together. We had a great mother/daughter week & the total price...less than $10 (made my husbands heart go pitter-patter!)

All in all, a fairly good week.

Ok, that is enough for today...

TTFN

I know, I know...

I know I haven't posted in a while, and I rarely post anything about current events....BUT, I have been listening to CNN every day on my way home from work (love your show Nancy Grace) and had to speak up. Thank God they finally arraigned Casey Anthony!! I do realize that the cops wanted to have their ducks in a row before they went to the grand jury, but this gal didn't report her daughter missing for a month. Then lied to the police repeatedly! As a matter of fact, Casey Anthony has not told one truth since this whole thing started!

Well, she is paying for it now...she is being charged with first degree murder & has 7 counts against her....and finally she is back in jail!!

If my daughter was missing, I would freak. I would be frantic to find her & I would be completely and absolutely cooperating with the police, but I, on the other hand, would never harm my own daughter...

OK that is all I have to say about that whack job!

TTFN

New Red Hat Blog

My mom has had a Red Hat group for a while now & being her only daughter...I am in the group too! It is pretty fun & somehow most of our meeting end up at restaurants, so I guess I can't complain too much :) For instance, this last Saturday we had a pajama party...breakfast in your pajamas, great idea. Breakfast at Denny's in your pajamas...a little intimidating! But we all survived & have pictures to show for it (will post those later).

Since I am the Hysterian (combo of historian & hysterical) & I am supposed to be documenting our history as a group I have decided to push all the ladies into the 21st century...

Our newest venture is that I have started a new blog to detail all the hysterics of the group.

Should be interesting...

TTFN

A Scarf for a Great Cause...

Today I ran across the 2009 Special Olympics World Winter Games Scarf project (yes, I know I am a bit late). This is one cause that I can absolutely get behind. My Uncle is mentally handicapped & he had competed in the regional games many times. He no longer competes, but our family still supports the Special Olympics when we can.

Here is an official explanation from the World Games homepage:

WANT TO GET INVOLVED?

This year, the Scarf Project is already back in action for the 2009 Special Olympics World Winter Games! With the national outreach received from Scarf Project sponsor Coats and Clark, the World Winter Games has already received over 1,000 scarves, and we are confident we will reach our goal of 5,000 by January 15, 2009.
Anyone can make and submit a scarf for the 2009 Special Olympics World Winter Games Scarf Project, we just ask that you follow a few simple guidelines in order to maintain consistency:

Colors: Red Heart Yarn Color

0885-Delft Blue and

0311-White

Length: Approximately 4 ½” x 50”

Once finished, place scarves in plastic bags with your name and address on a note card** along with a personal note to the athlete and mail or deliver them to:
2009 Special Olympics World Winter Games Scarf Project3150 W. Main Street Boise, ID 83702

**Please note, personal information cannot be shared with the delegation members and should not be included in the notes that accompany scarves. We ask that you separate your contact information from the personal notes, so the World Winter Games can thank you appropriately for your support. Within the personal notes, please include only your signature on these notes and do not include contact information such as phone numbers, addresses or email.**

Scarves must be received by no later than January 15, 2009.

Here are a few free patterns I have found:

A beginner scarf from Crochet Today.

A very cute scarf from the Crochet Dude.
And for the really adventurous (or for those that need a lot of options), here is a whole list of scarves from the Crochet Pattern Central website.
And for those of us who knit....a list of scarves from the Knitting Pattern Central.

I am thinking about doing the Garter & Stockinette Scarf by Piece-by-Piece. I am planning on doing the garter portion in the Delft Blue & the Stockinette in White. And I am pretty sure I have this exact yarn in my stash...yay :) If not, I heard that Walmart is the best place to get the correct yarn....

Happy Knitting (and Crocheting) everyone,

TTFN

Crazy for Pattern of the day...

What is it about the pattern of the day that gets me crazy? Every day I go to Annie's Attic to check out the free pattern of the day. Half of the patterns I will never, ever make but I print them anyway! Why is this. Is it the threat that I will never see the pattern again...you must print this pattern today because it will never be offered again and you will never find it again, no matter how much you search, it is gone!!...why does this get me crazy. And how many doily & tablecloth patterns do I need? Have I ever made a tablecloth...the answer would be no, but I printed today's pattern anyway (the blue heaven tablecloth!)

Oh well...

That is all for the moment...

back at you later.

Fall Knitty...

Last week the Fall issue of Knitty was released & they have some fabulous patterns (like usual). I wanted to report on this the day it arrived, but like usual the site was too jam packed to check anything out. So here are my top 3 patterns that I have to make (in no particular order):

1. The OpArt blanket. OK no, I don't have any babies to knit for, but this is just a fabulous blanket! I want it for my house :)

2. The Maple messanger bag. If anyone knows me, then they know that I love, love, love purses & bags. Most of the patterns I buy tend to gravitate towards bags...so yes, this is in my top 3 :)

3. The Twist & Shout sweater. I have never finished a sweater (I know the shame overwhelms me) but I get bored with sweaters. But if I ever get up the nerve to knit a sweater again, this will be one of the first patterns I will try.

Thank you Knitty for a wonderful Fall episode!

Oh, and to top everything off, to celebrate Knitty's 6th anniversary...we got a surprise! I love surprises....Knitty patterns are now going to be printer friendly!! This is probably the best news I have received all week.

As a side note, and totally off the topic but had to be said....to the Little Republican: Thank God we never talked politics this last July!

TTFN

Pics...

Last night I was unable to upload any photos of the birthday party. Our lack of food in the house prompted us to go to the grocery store :) And since all my pics are at home rather than here at work, it won't happen today either. So for your enjoyment, I have included some of my darling daughter to get you through the day...enjoy.

DD at Depoe Bay, Oregon. We were waiting to get in the car & enjoying the scenery.

DD visiting with great-great aunt in Lincoln City, Oregon.

The Dahlia Gardens.

DD finding Sand dollars at the Oregon Coast.

So that is all for today...maybe tonight I can upload some actual birthday pics :)

TTFN

the whirlwind that is my life...

This last couple of weeks have been crazy. My lovely little girl turned 7! Yes, I am feeling older every day.

She, being the princess that she is, had 3 birthday celebrations. Her birthday party was on friday the 5th, but her daddy had to work until 11pm that night...so we had a Korean dinner on daddy's day off (with presents of course). Then I allowed her to open one present on her actual birthday. And finally we had a big Hanna Montana Party on the Sunday after her birthday with all the bells & whistles a 7 year old princess deserves. I think she now has enough Hanna outfits to wear for at least a month without any repeats!! Thank God it is over!

This last weekend I went to the Portland Knit & Crochet show with my grandma & had a fabulous time. We shopped our little hearts out and I found out that grandma loves to spend other peoples money.

One cool thing that happened, involved my new favorite knitting person. During a needle felting demonstration, I stood next to Cat Bordhi, which just got my little knitting heart a pitter-pattering. The mobius cowl I have been obsessing over (and completed) was her pattern. I also heard that Lily Chin was in the house, but unfortunately missed her!

That is about all for this post...tonight, when I get home, I will update with some pics :)

TTFN

Seascape stole update...

Well for now I have given up on the Seascape stole. There are a few reasons for this...

1. I was really getting frustrated with the pattern. Not because of the pattern itself, but because as I said before, I hate reading charts.
2. I really wasn't sure if I had enough yarn (I was only hoping I did...but it would have been a very close call).
3. I saw the Mobius cowl on Knitty Gritty & had to make it!!
4. The Frog Tree Alpaca is really soft & really nice against my skin, so perfect for a cowl :)

So, I have currently frogged the Seascape Stole. I may try it again someday, but I think it may be a while.

I am also working on an iPod sock for my husband's iPod...he is getting tired of the green one I made (actually, I made it for myself & he has stolen it!) My husband has requested his iPod sock to be, black with a blue stripe...but he's not picky (yeah right)

As for the non-knitting news. All is well. We have had family in town all week & it has been a whirlwind of activity.

BBQ's, birthdays, zoo trip, oh my...yes, I'm tired...

TTFN