in the spirit of holiday baking....

Ok I am alive... just trying to keep baby x on the inside of my body. I am on a ton of hormones, and it is making me sleep ALOT. But anyway... thought I would share some of our holiday bread recipes with you guys.

Carrot Pineapple bread

Beat
2 eggs
2 c. sugar
1 c. oil
Add
3 c.flour
1 tsp salt
1 tsp cinnamon
1.5 tsp soda
2 tsp vanilla
Add
2 c. grated carrots
8 oz can crushed pineapple (undrained)
1 c. chopped nuts

Bake 350 for 40 minutes 2 large loaves

I know carrot and pineapple sounds weird, but it is sooooooo yummy. trust me!


Cranberry Bread

2 c. flour
1/2 tsp salt
1.5 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp soda
1 c. sugar
1 beaten egg
2 Tbs melted butter
1/2 c orange juice
grated rind of one orange
2 Tbs hot water
1/2 c chopped nuts
1 c. cranberries cut in half
Sift dry...add egg, butter, oj and rind...hot water last. Fold in berries and nuts
bake at 325 for 1 hour and ten minutes...step up the heat a little in the last ten minutes. Remove from pan and wrap at once in waxed paper. Refrigerate at least 3 hours.
Remove waxed paper and rewrap .

This is my fave that we make. it is wonderful for breakfast, with a little cream cheese on it. my mouth is watering now.

Banana Nut bread
1/2 c veg. oil
1 c. sugar
2 eggs beaten
3 mashed banana
2 c. flour
1 tsp soda
1/2 tsp baking powder
1.2 tsp salt
3 Tbs milk
1/2 tsp. vanilla 1/2 c. chopped nuts
Beat oil and sugar. Add eggs and bananas beating after each addition. Sift dry and add to banana mis along with milk and vanilla. Beat well. Stir in nuts Bake at 325 5 small loaves for 35 minutes.

Warm banana bread with whipped butter on it... my mouth is watering!

If you try any let me know how you like them.

Happy thanksgiving kiddo's!!!!! I need to throw my butt in the shower so we can get headed down to lafayette. Damn time zones!!!!!

oy...

sign number 736,938,8879 That i am pregnant.... i sit here with a peanut butter and marshmellow fluff samach for brekkie.

yup still alive again... i promise to knit soon...

Still alive very little knitting going on.... and lots of trips back and fort from the hospital... my hormones are crazier then they should be so i am having a lot of blood taken to check them almost daily. and spending lots of time just laying there having my vitals checked. I am lucky enough to be able to use the laptop at the hospital. To be honest i don't know what wireless network i pick up but it is one one that will let me get most places. Oddly i can get to yahoo, and ravelry, and here.... but it blocks my main email. oh well such is life. I have today off of tests, unless i start to feel odd. my question to the doc, is i am pregnant when do i not feel odd??? I think i am going to maybe do a little yarn dying with pas easter egg colors.... and i need to go and get jack an anniversary card, we will have been married 1 year tomorrow. I have convinced him to dinner at leona's over in rogers park. i know that isn't fancy, but i want a cheese stick.

i am here i am alive... lots of things making me crazy. Bro in law sti.ll living with us. death of close family friend. covering at the bead store. FOUND OUT I WAS PREGNANT! ok that last one not making me crazy...... but still. I want to start knitting but don't know where or what to start with or if i should even start before i am outside of the scary part. lol. Today is my last day of filling in at the bead store. I need to make some sweater chains up and get them photographed.... oh jen....... i am still arguing with kodak about the camera. sigh! My secret pal has sent the bestest stuffs for me!!!!!!! Some hello kitty candies and yummy yummy smooshy yarn..... thank you so much pal. I need to look at the piddleloop stuffs and send something to my own pal.

ok now i must shower and get my self clean....

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Now playing: Crowded House - Fall At Your Feet
via FoxyTunes

yet another i am alive post....

I am still alive! My brother in law is currently living with us.. so my world has flipped upside down. My mom came to town last weekend. and I got to learn to spin on a real wheel a little. Wow i am one with the over twist! but it was fun. And she tell me to feel free to use the wheel at the house in porter. I fink i will be hanging out there more often. maybe it will be my sunday hide from football place.

this sunday i did make Lesa's Corn Chowder. And now I must tell everyone you HAVE TO MAKE THIS! It is to die for. Jack even liked it, and he doesn't believe soup can be a meal. I am still working on my sleeve for the emerald sweater. I know i should knit fast then this but well it just isn't happening lately. There will be an etsy update soon. I have some ornaments ready to go in... and some sweater clips that you guys have not yet seen. That is if we can keep Jen from buying them before I post them. Jen was at least kind enough to take some pics for me. Clicky the link and see. they are towards the bottom of her blog :)

ok now i must take my leave.. i have a house to clean, a dog to was, and a sweater to knit!

----------------
Now playing: Portishead - Only You
via FoxyTunes

Just a little note to let you all know that i am alive. Just dealing with life as it is flying at me. My brother in law will be here on saturday to turn my world upside down for an undetermined length of time. I have not gotten much knitting done, or even beading. Just lots of running around like a chicken with my head cut off. Lots of running maggie around and doing things. Jack is currently doing sidework, so he is home a lot more then usual. and always seems to be wanting to know what ia m doing. lol. I am hoping that his brother will be a good distraction for him.

In other news, we are getting a new high efficency furnace, in the next couple of weeks. Hopefully it will cause our NIPSCO (natural gas) bill to go down. I have a true loathing for nipsco. but that is a rant for the day that i get next months bill.

become a vegan starter kit....

Ok so I can get on board with being a vegitarian... and I can get on board with being vegan, or so I thought. It isn't for me, i like meat.. but if you want it for you go ahead. I can understand how animals raised for food are not always treated well, and then are slaughtered and such. And how leather is also cruel.... but this morning on one of my free stuff alerts there is a vegan starter kit....

"Free Vegan Starter Kit
If you have been considering going the vegan route, learn a little bit more, this starter kit comes with information on how animals suffer for meat, dairy, eggs and seafood, how meat eating affects the environment, the myth of free-range, what's wrong with leather and wool, vegan recipes, and free stickers. You may also request a free copy of Meet Your Meat."

Ok what is wrong with wool!!!!!!!!! nothing! From the friends of mine that i have met through my mom, who raise sheep for wool, goats, and even fluffy wuffy bunnies. All of these animals, must be "cleaned", "groomed" or "sheered" because if we as owners and lovers do not do these things, they will do it to them self. Which then inturn causes them to digest their fleece, and it will form wool block in their digestive system. In essence the fleece will get wet, and warm and start to felt, blocking any food or nutrition from getting into their system. It is like a cat's hair ball on the millionth level! I am seriously thinking about contacting the sight and asking them how they came up with the idea that wool is bad. Oy!

ok rant over!

(hey look i ranted about something other then silly tv shows.)

lets see what i got done on sunday...

ornaments are clickin' along. I just need to figure out a price for them.




That one only has one of mine in it. The very front one. the rest Sherrill made. I have 4 done so far though. :)

Back to the bead store today for me. Yesterday was pretty slow at the bead store... But funny thing that is when i do the majority of my knitting. Yesterday i was acuatly bitten by the get off of your butt and do some beading. I finished 2 ornaments and am half way through another. They will be posted on etsy as soon as i borrow a camera or get mine back. Here is a pic i took of one the other night while it was in progress.


As i said it is one that is in progress. I was about half way done with this one. they are fun to make, just take time. I need to get more glass ornaments. Hobby lobby didn't have the kind i needed the other day :(.

But i am off to the shower, talk to you kids later today. And since I am unable to do so today, go play outside for me!

Rockin' out like it is 1993 part duex!

Yup, I have another pair of shoes...... check them out! I love them, have i mentioned I have a huge huge love of shoes?

Those are the cute cute brown Mary Janes, with the 3 strap. I haven't had new docks in easily 8 years. It just feels so nice to have new docs.

Sorry the pics are all crazy and weird. i ams ending the camera in on monday. monday is shipping day.... i am going to send off my stitch markers for my swap and the camera and a bunch of stuff... :D

Today I am back at the bead store. Sherrill's aunt passed away so i have been covering there for her when ever possible and needed. I have my knitting packed. working on a sleeve for the emerald sweater and working on a sock. With 2 new pair of mary janes, i need cute socks!!!!!!! Maybe these will inspire me to get my "very tall socks" from knitty done. but we all know it won't really! That is a good pipe dream, and yes i can finish it.. but when i started i went with the recomended yarn bc it was cheap, and i was new to knitting. but now i can't really imagine wearing all that acrylic. i would sweat to death.

I will leave you with a pic of maggie in all of her glory thismorning. this is what she wore to go to the parade with her dad.


notice she has mary janes on too just not like mommy's yet.

Rock like it is 1993!

Ok so i didn't send the camera in yet.. bc i wanted to take one last blind picture. The problem with the camera is more then the back screen though.. i tried to take some of maggie and they are blury and color is off. but anyway!

May I know present my new Made in England Doc Marten, Steel Toe, T-strap Mary Janes!!!!! Yes I know you are all jealous! they are soooooooo comfy and pretty! And I love them.


Yup those are my no day but today socks in them. :D I need to get on some mroe sock making now.. but i am sooo addicted to this damn emerald sweater

I have decided i am going to frog the bottom ribbing and do it in a contrasting color. Then I am also going to do the wider collar, in the same color. I am thinking either a green (i know you are all shocked), or a navy blue.

I am on the joiner thing again. Not only am i directing the BGK KAL, which is still undecided if i will knit. I have joined the Anne of Green Gables Read and Knit a Long. The knitting part is knit something anne related. I have decided i think i may do a nice chunky warm triangular shawl, like I have always picture marilla in. Or there is this great blue cardigan that is shown in the movie. But then there are always socks! lol!

And I have my next sweater planned, it will be Mr. Greenjeans. Some people were talking about starting a KAL on ravelry, and a blogger for the non-ravers.... after tossing it back and forth I went ahead and set them up. Need to still make buttons though. If any of you readers are interested check us out. Http://mrgreenjeanskal.blogspot.com. Now i must go knit or walk around in my shoes or something.. but i can't stay infront of the computer much longer. Oh wait, i am off to the bead store for this afternoon....

TA DA I'M 2!

Yes our little Magger's is officaly 2. And I can hardly belive it myself. today we spend our day at the park, and the beach and taking naps. i really enjoyed the naps part.

I had planned on starting a new project today, but when i woke up this morning the camera will turn on but i have no screen display so that project will ahve to hold till i can get this repaired... wow i am tired bc that is one hell of a run on sentence. Good night all!

ETSY ETSY ETSY!!!!!

It is officaly, I have done the update. So go check it out *click here*, let me know what you think! During the month of October, and well the few days till then, I will not be charging shipping on earrings. Also if you are a blog reader let me know if you place and order, you guys always get a special gift!


edited... so the clicky would work.. click words not the picture... you know where it says click here. thx jen!

bulky weight rawks!

Ok so this sweater is almost knitting its self. and my guage is pretty much on... i say pretty much bc i have ripped and gone down a size and it was way off... and going up a size isn't going to help... so pretty much on.ball band says 3 sts to an inch i am getting 3.5ish. I am now 8 inches in yay! But somehow when i placed the markers the first row i knit... i knit a marker in to my work. I left it there so i can take pictures... bc well who knits a marker in to their work?


In other knitting news, Maggie has become quite the designer. She has now started making pattern edits on my shawl.....

I love the ho's!

Jen, Lesa and I got together tonight for a little knitting and a lot of laughing. So just some things i have learned....
*do not take a million hour trip into the dessert with your family. Espicaly if it consists of 2 3.5 hour boat rides, and hiking. You will be a whole bus (i think that is what jen said) full of cranky people once you reach civilization again.
*people will bring anything that comes out of them into their ob/gyn's office (not any of us.)
*scribing for an istep, can make both of your arms hurt. Making it very uncomfy to knit. (poor lesa)
*lesa is momma short bus, and she leads and all the other short busses follow her. (ok not really sure how this came into conversation, but Jen has declared it so.)

In other news, this is big... i mean REALLY BIG.....I GOT TO GET THE BIG BAG AT SHEEPS!!!! Normally i get the small bag since i am buying sock yarn, or yarn for hats or mittens. But i bought 10 skeins of lambs pride bulky for the Emerald sweater from knitty. And they packed it all up in the BIG BAG for me! Ok it isn't the biggest bag they have. But it is 2 sizes larger then the ones i am used to getting!!! I also broke down and bought my first pair of addi turbo's. Shhhhhhh... don't tell Jack!

So I know you are all dieing to see it... so here it is! The BIG BAG!



I know you want to look in the bag too!


And this is what I got done this evening about 15 rows of the 2 by 2 ribbing for the bottom of my Emerald Cardi, it is going super fast and is wonderful!

hopelessly addicted

Ok, so as i have mentioned in prior posts, my love of the teenage mellow drama runs deep. Really deep. Ok well we now have a new one. Gossip Girl, it is going to be on Wednesday Nights on the CW (formerly the WB). I tivo'd it last night. And as maggie napped this morning i knitted to it. Ok super crazy addictive crap. I love that they try and pass these kids off as real teenagers. Yes I know that I grew up in small town indiana, but come on they are living a life that i couldn't even imagine living as an adult let alone a teenager. Drinking martini's at the plaza, and no one is asking questions? Stealing dad's viagra??? Kids stowed away in a mental hospital that looks like the hotel I stayed at down in indy... yup i am hooked!

And it makes for good knitting too, you can just listen. Watching the show is not really that important.

I still haven't gotten around to doing that etsy update. I swear I will do it soon.

i knit more then socks!

That is my soon to be wild flower shawl. It is going awesome so far. I am a little worried about when it is time to knit the boarder. But that is what friends are for right? It is being knit out of the Hardly colorway in lace weight from 100 pure wool. It is sooooo soft you wouldn't even believe it.


Here is a pic of it balled up, yum yum. I will take a pic of it in the skein later this week. Once then new and improved camera charger gets here.

I will be doing an etsy update in the next couple of days. So keep your ears open. for that.

I have a quick rant though... For those of you that don't know me, I am hopelessly addicted to teen mellow dramas. Degrassi being number one on that list. But I do also enjoy the best years, and south of nowhere. Now i must stop and yell at "The N" network, also known as noggin. 4-6 weeks does not a season make. So stop calling them seasons.... They are merely teases. Hell sometimes I haven't even gotten around to watching them on my tivo, when i see a commercial telling me that the season finally is coming up. I do give you points for cliffhangers, that make me want to see next season.... but give me more then a taste of the show! GRRRRRR.

ok i am done now. /silly rant.

The new knitty......

*does a little happy dance bc the new knitty is up* I have been dancing around the house chanting "the new knitty is up the new knitty is up" To anyone that will listen. Of course, Maggie will dance with me. But beyond that no one in the house really cares. Jack and my father in law, just kind of keep looking at me with odd glances. But I am excited, I can not help it. And to top it off I had Jack take my bust measurement last night, and it has gone down. That is cause for another new little happy dance!


So there are 3 sweaters that i just adore in the new knitty. I have to admit, my favortie thing is that all of the sweaters are written to a size that fits me. And in some of them, I am not the largest size! This rarely happens to me. I am a big girl with the big rack to go with it all. I am just uber uber happy. And i know i am babbling but at the same time i am barely awake, it isn't 8 am yet.... and i have only had one cup of coffee. So lets review my favorites.

Mr. Green Jeans- I admit the first thing that drew me to this was the name. I enjoyed mr. green jeans from capt. kangaroo. He was probably my favorite character. It is a very pretty 1 button Cardi, with cables on the bottom. It is done in Miss Priss, and to be honest i am not sure if i can afford to make this sweater for a while. Well I can, but if i am going to be doing the Big Girl Knits KAL, I can't. Miss Priss is a worsted weight yarn, so maybe i can sub something a little more in my price range. But this is top on my wish list now. :)

Roam- Another cardi, this time with a hood and zipper. For those of you that don't know me very well.. I love a good hoodie! Hell I am wearing one currently. I just like the looks of this one, with the darts on the front and the back, it looks very comfy. It is knit out of handmadien great big sea. I am sure it is used bc it drapes very nicely. My mom has some of this in her stash though, and i am just not sure i like the way it feels.... So this may be another yarn substitution issue. In this size, i don't have to knit the largest size either... woooo and hooo! I am a little nervous about putting a zipper in.. but it can't be that hard right?

Boxed- This one is definantly yarn substitution.... bc well i don't spin my own yarn....yet.... And to be honest not sure if i will ever make this one... bc well i don't like my tummy enough to show it off like this one does. But who knows. it looks soft and warm and cozy. And I have a ton of pattons classic wool just laying around. So who knows maybe this one will be knit first.

But those are my 3 fave patterns.. all sweaters that fit me! I did not dig too much on the socks this time... but i think i may be getting a little burned out on socks.. but don't tell anyone.

Camera is back and it turns on.. now i just have to test it with taking pictures. We shall see. this is my crazy weekend though.. mom is flying in to do the art fair out at school house shop.. and i will be at the bead store so sherrill can be out there doing it too. maybe i will get some of my own jewelry done. We shall see.

My Knitting Badges

This came to my attention from one of my knitting lists, i think it was the indiana knits one, but it could have been knitting parents. Over on Cast on! which is a great podcast i forget to listen to on a regular basis, they have started knitting scout badges. Since i was a scout till I could not be a scout any more, I figured I might as well post them here in my side bar. I will add more as I acquire them. You can click on the badges (in the side bar) and be taken to the site where you can read the descriptions and get them for your self. :)

The “Proselytize Knitting” Badge- how do i try and present a positive light on knitting?? Mostly by knitting in public, and talking to people about it when they h ave questions. I have had some great conversations not only with other knitters who were to "shy" to bust their work out for everyone to see. But I honestly think i have turned some newbies onto it. When I am at "working" at the bead store I would say i spend 75% percent of my time knitting.... I probably should be beading but oh well. :)

The “MacGyver” Badge (Level One) - This one also most often happens at the bead store, it is where I will grab anything to use as a stitch marker, so i don't acautlly have to sit down and make one. Hair ties, twist ties, and rubber bands have been a fave as of late. i have also been know to run a life line using softflex (jewelry cable).

The “Knitting Whilst Under the Influence” Badge - I love to knit while drinking. Heck I love a good cocktail. I have learned though.... I should not knit fish, the inveeesible shawl, or pretty much anything that requires counting. Straight stockinet in the round for me. :) Of course I should stick with the straight stockinet at S&B's too. Talking can throw me off.

Ok guys run off and get your own!

quick little update....

*camera has been shipped off, received and apparently needs a new power board. I will get another email from them when they ship it back to me. :)
*Maggie and I both have a killer summer cold from H E Double Hockey sticks!!!! and it isn't fun. I was thinking of going to stones trace on sunday... We will see how i feel then.
*Indy zoo and the children's museum was lots of fun. the pictures did not turn out that well so i won't bore you.
*yes i am knitting got some oatmeal socks going and a pattern i am totally designing myself. I need to see how they turn out before i really tell you guys about them.
*Made the reservations for Jack and my anniversary get away up at Sherwood B&B. It isn't till the weekend before thanksgiving(we had to book early bc it is a big weekend up there)... it is the same place that we went for our wedding weekend. :)


Now it is your turn... tell me something good and fun in your life :)

warenty replacemet land...

I live in the land of warrenty issues.... So dead battery camera is dead camera... :(. We got a charger and i charged it... and yup still won't turn on. bought a new battery... still no go... tried the 2 gig card in the old camera.... it is fried too. So during the next few days I have to get all the stuff together to send it back for repair. This includes getting brian (the guy who gave it to us as a gift), to find his reciept so i can copy it and send it in for repair. This weekend down in indy i had to take pics with the old camera... and lemme say the new one officaly spoiled me :( . I will pull the pics off the camera later today and see how they look.... Wish me luck.

grrr

Ok so the cord for the camera has still not been found... but I had 2/3's of a battery left and was going to take a picture of my finished sock, started gauntlet and a bunch of stuff for etsy. But in jacks search for the cord yesterday, he for some reason turned the camera on and left it on... so my battery is DEAD!!!! GRRRRRRRRRRR!!!!!!

1 out of 2 things found....

The camera cord has been found to transfer pictures, i did realize that the new laptop has a sd card reader built in..... but the charger for the camera has not been found. So I have a couple of things to show you... well really just one picture....

I have cut all my hair off......
Or should I say the person at fiesta did. My normal girl was not in, so i had to see someone else... She did take it shorter then planned.... and mess up the color but it is hair and it will grow back. At least that is my theory.

Other good news... i did get the new laptop and it rocks mucho!!!! i am now officaly very very spoiled. well in the computer realm i am.

I survived my 31st birthday with out any major trauma.... Which is good i think!
We are going to get away for this next weekend, and i am looking forward to it.

I promise you i am knitting and as soon as i can find the charger for the camera i will show you.

for now i leave you with a video clip.

more goodness coming!

I have a lot to post, but well Jack moved the family room around and I can not find the cord for the camera. Well there is a whole list of things i can't find but the camera cord is the most important.

We have had storm after storm after storm here. Now i love rain, and i mean LOVE it but this is getting a little silly. it isn't pretty go play in it rain.. it is yucky board up windows rain.. ok so we haven't boarded up windows... but it is pretty bad. and it is starting again right now.

Anyway I will post more once i find the cord.

lots of goodness!!!!

Ok so first Jen over at Piddleloop tagged me in the rockin' girl blogger thing.... so now i must tag 5 of you... :) oh my choices!



1. I would have to go with little miss pixie riot! over at Pixie Punk Knits! She is and amazing dyer and her sock yarn is just yum-a-licous... She also has inspired me to dig out my drop spindle and drop it on the floor some more.

2. Kim over at Kim Knits, but I know her as Reno. We both play second life together... but end up chatting about what is on our needles most of the time in game. LOL she even told me where to find a LYS in game! how great is that.

3. Laura from A Frayed Knot. Laura was my pal from SP 10. And i just love reading about what is going on on her needles and in her life. And the pictures of Becky are a great bonus!

4. Erin from My Best Friends a Dork. Erin is one of my knitting guru's! who recently ran off to greener pastures, lol she got a killer family house it is just a million miles away. I really want to crawl in her head some day and see all the knitting information flying around. Miss you!!!!

5. Lesa, yes I know lesa was also tagged by Jen... but you should go check her out at Molly Knits Sweaters. She is another Knitting Guru! Who is slowly convincing me that i don't need no stinkin' patterns!!!!!! lol! I said slowly! No she is a great chick, from my SNB, very funny, and a wealth of knowledge... oh yeah and she picks me up!


Now on to yummy yummy stuff.
First I would like to announce that my rent socks are done! I finished them on our way to Lincoln Park Zoo today! they are soft fuzzy and uber yummy...... Maggie keeps rubbing them on her cheek and saying soft!


And today in my mail i got my "get real" from yarn oddities, see my number one rawking grrl blogger! Thank you soo much Miss Riot! I can not wait to use it!

I will be winding it into a ball tonight, just so i can play with it a little!

And now on to the zoo.... did you think i would leave you with out a picture of Maggie??

Here she is, riding a stationary small hippo! She is all wet bc she had just finished playing in a fountian. :) We had a GREAT time!


This is my new meercat friend Frank. After he posed for this picture, he asked me if i would mind knitting him a sweater, since the sock i was working on was very intresting to him.

Sick of hearing about the laptop drama yet?

Ok after not getting a call from them yesterday with the specs on my new machine... I went a head and called corperate offices this morning. She was MORE then happy to let me know that my machine went into production this morning and all the specs.

HP Pavillion DV6000Z

Windows Vista Ultimate (i formerly had home premium)
AMd Dual Core 2.2 Processor ( i don't remember off the top of my head my old one but i thin it was like a 1.5 gig)
15.4 Screen (same as before)
4 Gig Memory (damn!!!!!! i only had 1 before)
256 G force Nividia graphics card (old one was also nvida but i don't know what one)
Intregrated Mic and webcam (probably won't use it, but didn't have it before)
200 Gig HD (100 more gigs then i had before woot!)
2.11 Wlan/bluetooth (must get blue toothgear now)
Light Scribe dvd burner (ok burning lables on my cd's just sounds like fun)
6 L High Capacity Battery (just had the normaly one before)
TV Tuner with remote (ok as if i wasn't a giant slacker before you are going to put a tv in my laptop! Ok so it does rock and i have never had that option before.)
Verizon Wireless Card (didn't have it honestly will probably never use it, but it is a removable card so i guess i could sell it).
And super duper warrenty!

When i went to the hp site and priced it all out... it came to like $2027. Damn... I guess my great talent of throwing Hissy fits has come to benifite me.


I think i may still start saving for a mac, but this will keep me going until then.

Laptop update...

As some of you know the wireless card went out on my laptop. So on July on july 26 I packaged it up , and sent it off to the spa (repair).... And they tell me that i will have it back with in 12 buisness days.... I confrirmed teh 12 buisness days with them multiple times. So when on monday i get and email telling me that they have changed their mind and i will not see my laptop till Setp 17th?!?!?! I hit the roof... and started the chain of calls. The first guy is an ass on the phone with me, but esculates my incident to a case manager, and tells me that I will get a call back Monday night. So when I don't get a call, i called yesterday morning... Talked to Sandra who was very nice... and she told me that it normaly takes 24-48 buisness hours to get a call back.. So i tell her that is unacceptable since they set the expectation of last night orginaly and i wasn't accepting her answer (starting to really get furious here, second expectation they set and fell through on)..... so she calms me down some and sends an email to my case manager. telling me if i don't hear fromt hem by 3 or 4 to give them a call back. So i was nice and waited till4.. and called back.. and started to get the run around again... from a guy who barely spoke english.... at this time i am totaly livid.... and yelling.. mostly bc he keeps intrupting me. he just keeps telling me that i have to wait 48 some odd hours.. i explain to him i am not getting off the phone till this is resolved.... finally i end up talking to hismanager.... who puts me through to someone in case management..... Who at first is a total bitch to me... but finally worked it out... as of right now they are putting my dead laptop back together for me, and sending it back... it will still work with cat 5 cable. and she is putting together a new laptop together for me... which will take about 10 days she says. So that is where we sit and we will see what happens.

As far as the new laptop they are swtiching me from a compaq pesario, to an hp pavilion. And i think through my anger i hear her say that she has about $2400 to work with, so we will see waht happens. She swears taht in no way shape or from i will be downgraded. So keep your fingers crossed for me.

rent socks

Ok I have decided to name my socks.. the rent socks... bc for some reason i am once again obsessed with the rent soundtrack. I have been listening to it non-stop for almost a week now. but here are the pics for you.



I think i have tweaked the colors to be almost perfect... it is sooo soft and yummy... non-superwash... so these socks will have to be hidden from jack at all times, unless they are on my feet.


Here is one that you can see the texture a little bit better...little tiny faux cables! woo hooo!

SP 11 Questions :)

1. What is/are your favorite yarn/s to knit with? What fibers do you absolutely *not* like? I like wool, 100% wool sock yarn, mostly. But alpaca is super duper fabulous also!

2. What do you use to store your needles/hooks in? I use needle roles! And my Pony Tail! *giggle*

3. How long have you been knitting & how did you learn? Would you consider your skill level to be beginner, intermediate or advanced? I have been knitting for a little over a year now. My mom taught me what she knew... and then the LYS taught me the right way of doing things! I would honestly say i am intermediate.. but i love a challenge.

4. Do you have an Amazon or other online wish list? I have kaboodle. I keep track of my wish lists and shopping lists there. it is wonderful!

5. What's your favorite scent? Ok every laughs i like the smell of clean laundry..... like that fresh linen or clean cotton sent you can find in candles.

6. Do you have a sweet tooth? Favorite candy? I like all things gummy!

7. What other crafts or Do-It-Yourself things do you like to do? Do you spin? I have a drop spindle that is soo good at collecting dust it is amazing! I really should use it more often. But I also make jewlery, mostly silver and semi-precious stone pieces. I also just recieved a sewing machine as a prezzie.... so i am learning to sew.

8. What kind of music do you like? Can your computer/stereo play MP3s? (if your buddy wants to make you a CD) I am a mp3 freak.... and i love all kinds of music it is hard to tie me down to just a few. I currently really like Amy Winehouse (sp?). But i will give everything at least 2 listens.

9. What's your favorite color(s)? Any colors you just can't stand? I love love love greens and blues.... as for as colors i dont' like... i don't use black that often. unless it has a super yummy feel!

10. What is your family situation? Do you have any pets? I have one daughter who will be 2 on Sept 24th, a husband who thinks he is going to be 18.... and a dog, who thinks she is a 70 pound lap dog.

11. Do you wear scarves, hats, mittens or ponchos? scarves, yes... hats, yes... mitten, oh yeah!, ponchos.. nope... not unless i am breast feeding... and i don't see that happening during this swap.

12. What is/are your favorite item/s to knit? This is tough.. i like socks. but i only have 1 of like 8 pairs.... so i have just taken up wearing mis matched socks. Hats are always fun too.

13. What are you knitting right now? I just finished one sock tonight, and when i am done with this post i am going to work the cuff on its mate. cross your fingers for me ok? I also have the invessible shawl going, and a irish hiking scarf.

14. Do you like to receive handmade gifts? Ok do we really need to ask this question?? who doesn't love getting something handmade. it is made with love then!

15. Do you prefer straight or circular needles? Bamboo, aluminum, plastic? i like addi's for circs. and a good bamboo for dpns. all though the sock needle kit at knit picks has been tempting me.

16. Do you own a yarn winder and/or swift? Yes my swift is my best friend. and my yarn winder, well the dog loved it too.. it works but well... it just takes come TLC.

17. How old is your oldest UFO? I have a hibernating EZ sweater that i have been mad at on and off for about 5 months now.

18. What is your favorite holiday? My birthday (august 26th) and halloween!

19. Is there anything that you collect? Hello Kitty rawks my world!

20. Any books, yarns, needles or patterns out there you are dying to get your hands on? What knitting magazine subscriptions do you have? I do not have any knitting magazine subscriptions. As far as books.. i really want First Book of Modern Lace Knitting i want to do lace, it just looks sooo purty.

21. Are there any new techniques you'd like to learn? I want to learn color work, and get better with lace :)

22. Are you a sock knitter? What are your foot measurements? I am one of those big legged girls... calf is 14" (yes i know that is scary), width is 8.5" and lenght is 9". I absolutly adore footie socks though, wear them more then most things. And yes i do knit socks! :)

23. When is your birthday? August 26th

24. Are you on Ravelry? If so, what's your ID? Kaytm

1 done...

my first sock is done! woo hoo... and it fits... double woo hoo... and it doesn't have liek 3 heels or anythign like that... triple woo hoo. And i did it with out a pattern... infinty woo hoo!

pics tomarrow.

lesa if you read this.. have a GREAT trip.

Lesa would be so proud...

So at the get the hell out.... the other night i casted on a new sock.. found a stitch pattern casted on... started the pattern.. and here i am looking at the heel flap... open the book to see waht i am suppose to do for it. yup the stitch patter i like they are directing me to do in a toe up... and here i have 5 inches done working top down.... LMAO. I really should read everything first.

So here it is lesa... I am winging it!!!!!!! looking at the book for guide but not pattern!

with that said i am putting my butt to bed!

ni ni all!

I will have to catch up on degrassi tomarrow. :(

kayt and the terrible horrible no good very bad day.

So august 1st, the only thing positive so far is um 25 days till my birthday.

In other news.. the company that jack switched to 3 weeks ago... laid him off on monday. And this morning i got a call from my supervisor at my job. To inform me that they will no longer be employing people in the state of indiana.

I was working on my fleather pluckin' sock today somehow droped about 4 stitchs that ran to the cuff so that was frogged. in the prossess of winding the ball back up i decided to full re wind it and with maggies help have a giant knot on my had.

ok there are 2 things positive i am off to get well cafinated and knit with the girls tonight!

Happy Birthday to me... EARLY!

So my friend got my birthday wrong, which well benifites me just fine. He was worried my gift was going to be late. and well here it is almost a whole month early! woooo hoooo....




Jack had been asking me questions about this very sewing machine, so i thought he was getting it for me. nope he was asking for Brian. I am not a seamstress by any means. Heck i am not sure if i can sew a straight line. but we are going to find out. :) I know it is not super fancy by any means. But i don't need super fancy. All i need is Hello Kitty!

hope everyone has a great day!

Yesterday...

Yesterday we drove up to Oak Brook and had lunch at Magiano's (yum!) with the family and Gwens new BF and his parents... Lots of laughing and smiles all around and great food. Well worth the trip.


Some of the pics.

Included in the slide show is the progress on my IHS (irish hiking scarf). It is coming along very smoothly and i don't think it is going to need any blocking at all. That is great news if you ask me!

knit tastic!!!!

ok so still chugging at fishies. :) I will not bore you with a picture of each one i get done.

Yesterday Lesa and I went to a new to me LYS, well they moved too. We were their frist customers. yay! But wow their price points are crazy good. Since i am currently living in the world of cash on hand (long story), i did not go as crazy as i wanted too. But i did get 6 skeins of baby alpaca for 36 bucks total!!!! can you squee with me? They are turning into this....


And Irish Hiking scarf for me. I took that pic last night and have added about an inch and a half to it since then. It is soo soft and yummy you just kind of want to curl up and sleep in it.

Since my laptop has been sent to the spa for the week, the moniter on the desktop has become my new model for my inveesible shawl. It is chugging along at a decent place. It has now become my car knitting for when i am riding.



Today we are off to oakbrook to have lunch with Gwen's new bf. Before they get on the plane and head back to GA to finish their training. I wish i wasn't in a world of Cash on hand, i would sooo be hitting the ikea!

have a great safe weekend!

today....

*we lost power last night and jack was late getting up for work.
*my sister has been a pain in my ass wanting me to do all the running so she can see maggie, rather then her come here or meet me.
*maggie has yelled no at me, no less then 27 times.
*my bathtub is clogged up.
*jacks pay check is not here yet from the new contractor.

all of those things officaly mean it is time for me to go window shop with lesa at a new to me LYS!

hope your days are better then my morning.

yes i am alive and wellish

my allergies are kickin' my ass on a daily basis it seems. so i haven't been posting much. mostly i have been sitting on the couch or in my bed reading Harry Potter.... I have jumped on this bandwagon way late. But since saturday i have read books 1, 2 and half way through 3. I will admit i breezed through book 1 bc it was a re-read for me.

In knitting news... the inveesible shawl is still chugging along. even with a small dropped stitch issue. NEVER let your 2 year old help you. ok i didn't let her. but it was a mess still. I have casted on my chevron scarf again. I went to a size 4 needle. And it is still bumpy but at least it doesn't look like a freakin' relief map this time. I think once i hit it with a steam iron i will be ok. I will try and grab some pics of it today.

My parents are still in town so i am splitting the time i have over there. And my sister is currently in town for less then a week. We have also found out that they have added more training on to Gwens MOS. So rather then her be home in January we are looking at April. So we are trying to currently figure out christmas. So I can know if we have to travel to GA or if she is going to come up. I am not sure how much time they get off for the holiday. Last year it was like 2 weeks but she was in a different level of the training.

Everything else i guess is goign great... the bathroom is almost fully remodeled there will be pics soon. My sink is in and the water is run... the drain is not connected yet though. but i have been promised soon. :)

Look, my party setting works....

Well on thursday night us Ho's (our SNB) went out to one of the local bars to bid farewell to our Erin, she is moving like a gabillion hours away. Everyone had a great time, and more then one person was left wondering why there was a group of women in a bar knitting. But that is always fun.. leave them with questions my mom always says.

Anyway we all seemed to find it very funny that my camera has a "party" setting... and wow it works.

First i have the pic that i took with the low light candlelight setting...



And now for the same picture in with the "party" setting....

Thank god for the party setting huh? That is Erin wearing her blanket that she is making for her daughter on her head. For some reason i thought it would make a good hat :)

I will post some knitting stuff tnight, tomarrow or whenever!

for Erin and Lesa!

Here fishy fisy fishy....

Ok on ravelry i had become obsessed with this fishy blanket, as a perfect birthday gift for maggie.... in 24 hours i have bounced back and forth between ordering the book, doing a web version of the pattern, or waiting to see if one of my moms friends has the book stashed.

So I ended up at the LYS buying the book. LOL. I know have 1 of the 40 some fish i will need done.

But today i did manage to read a 64 row chart, and figure out how to make a bobble (both firsts for me), all by myself. I didn't even think about callin' any of the ho's (the girls in our snb) for help. All thought when it came time for the bobble i did think wtf.... i am going to get 5 sts into this one?????



there you go one orange fishy.


and a close up of my very first bobble.

wooo hoooo

I am a ravelry girl now! woot! *does happy little dance around the desk*. Let me tell you kids this place is kewl. I love the organization it lets me do. Yes I can organize my projects on my own.... but what fun is that? let Ravelry organize my wants and needs for me!

In other news... the wireless on the laptop has decided to die. i thought i had it fixed and well i didn't. so now i am dealing with snarky chat tech support. and wanting to stick my fist through the screen.

I have also frogged the chevron scarf. even though i swatched it... apartly i was really relaxed when i did the swatch... bc well it was all bumpy and yucky when i was doing it. So I need to move up a needle size. We will see when that gets casted back on.

Anyway this was a nice deversion from the snarkiness but now i shall get back to that.

Wooo hoooo etsy update....

Ok so i said i would do an etsy update yesterday... I lied! Mostly due to the impromptu trip to Shedd Aquarium. But i did get up this morning and do my little update. There will be more coming in the future i think i have found my marker and such groove again. So please go visit Walnut Ridge Stuidio, and check it out. If you do decided to order anything drop me a note when you purchase let me know you are a blogger, and you will receive a free prezzie! wooo hooo prezzies!

Now on to the Shedd. Maggie has been talking about fish for um forever now it seems. Fish was her first word to be honenst. And since she has found "finding nemo" it is all we talk about. So yesterday morning Jack figured we might as well go into Chicago and visit the Shedd Aquarium. I don't know how in my 30 years of living in NW Indiana I missed going to the aquarium but i did. I think i was just as amazed as maggie was. It was awesome and a great way to spend the day. Since it was a spur of the moment trip I did not have time to get the camera charged. So we don't have as many pictures as I would have liked.

But i did get a couple of good ones :)


Jack and Maggie outside in the line waiting to get in.


I think this is a poison dart frog, but i don't remember. Maggie just kept saying "pretty" to it.


My new fave picture of maggie :)


And last but not least some Nemo's :) they were a huge hit!!!!

Fun time had by all. we did end up doing a butt load of walking but it was nice. we walked from the Shedd down to Buckingham Fountain and Jack and maggie played in the mist before walking down to the Vanburen train station. Just killing time and walking around in the perfect weather.

wooo hooo happy camper dance....

Today i spent the day at the bead store and maggie spent the day with her g'ma and g'pa. fun was had like all!

First we got shipment from my favorite femo artist. She even included some "jerry bear" beads for me. she teases me everytime i hear here that i should be a hippy. um ok. maybe it is because of my habit of listening to neo-hippy music such as Dave Matthews. Needles to say i am soooo excited. And I will be doing an Etsy update tomarrow.


that is just a small amount of the beads i had to sort through and play with this afternoon.

Mom brought maggie down to visit for a bit, while g'pa took his nap. She arrived wearing her brand new onsie.

Yes my mom had a onesie made for maggie that says "KRUK University". For those of you that don't know Kruk is my maiden name. My mom was soo tickled with her self it was cute.

SQUEEEEE

let me just say i loved loved loved being a Secret Pal in SP10. I was lucky enough to spoil miss laura from A Frayed Knot. I wasn't the best SP in the world.. but just means i will improve next time. And i was spoiled by Tracey over at Nottin but Knittin. I recieved my final package today.. and squee squee squee! it had some claudia hand painted, some sock blockers from loopy ewe, sox sticks, yummy candy a small little pouch... some needle holders..... and a magazine... oooo i haven't looked at that yet i should do that now.



Thank you soo much for being so kind Tracey... you made my first SP swap memorable!


question of the day.... have any of you ever knitted with silver or coper wire? i am very intrigued by this!

toe up socks?!?!?

Could some of you tell me why you are all casting on toe up socks? I am serious no less then 5 of you, that i read your blogs, have casted on or recently finished toe up socks. Almost makes me want to give it a second try. I still am unsure though since well it was such a giant pain in my ass the first time! And i am not sure if i can figure out the cast on again. oi!

So HP is out in the theaters.... .but i am waiting to go see it with my sister in about a week or so. She is the one who turned me on to HP anyway. And since i can't see it before everyone i will just wait. LOL. My shawl is going well. I will have pictures to post later. just to early in the morning to think about my camera.

My parents are in town for their annual summer visit. So I will be very busy with them in the following weeks. Or should I say I will let them be very busy chasing maggie. give me more time to knit and read.

I also want to wish a happy birthday to To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee. It is 47 years old today! and since i HAD to read it in highschool i have loved it,and dedicated many many hours to re-reading it. Maybe I will pull it out today. My challenge to you is go, find a book that you love and read it again. Then ofcourse tell me all about it... maybe i can read it and love it too!

Look my laptop is almost inveesible!

LOOK LOOK my laptop is almost missing!!!! wooo hoooo!


I have also casted on my feather pluckin' sock from my piddle loop sock kit! this yarn is soooo yummy i cant even begine to explain it..... Meg from twisted has a fan for life in me!
this is my first pair of socks on 2 circs. jury is still out.. i think i would like it a lot more if i just got some better circs. :)



and for your dose of maggie we have a pic from last night. We went to the local minor league baseball teams game. Maggie got to give the mascot a little kiss! lots of fun had by all.

oh we do love progress don't we? and a couple of other pics

Here is the WIP photos of the inveeeesible (yes i pronounce it like that everytime i say it) shawl.

This is the first photo on 6/25/07. I casted on about a week earlier but hadn't found the groove yet.




6/27/07 the day of the invasion of ducks... and allergy attacks but that is another story for another day. we show some progress.... and i am starting to hit my stride.


This was this morning 7/2/07. Notice we can no longer see my monitor on the laptop. that makes me soooo giggly and happy it is insane! I could never thank my SP 10 pal enough for sending me the Charmed Knits book! it is so awesome any yummy! and i love this shawl!


My new kitchen utensils. My friend Brian sent this on to me when he saw Jack the other day. :D how cute are they? My spaghetti strainer had a smiley... the ice cream scoop has a odd body form and smiley that is hard to see. And my veggie peeler has boobs! Oddly enough the boobs make a good thumb rest! thanks Bri!


Did you think you were getting away with out a maggie pic??? this is how maggie would like to spend her sunday mornings. Sitting on her safari truck, in a diaper reading her toy catalog. That is the way to start the perfect day.