Kayts Katastrophe's and Other Life Happenings

in the spirit of holiday baking....

2007-12-03T10:42:00.001-06:00

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.

2007-11-22T08:30:00.000-06:00

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...

2007-11-20T08:49:00.000-06:00

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...

2007-11-16T07:36:00.000-06:00

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.

2007-11-01T09:44:00.000-05:00

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....

2007-10-23T10:41:00.000-05:00

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

2007-10-12T08:20:00.000-05:00

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....

2007-10-02T08:57:00.000-05:00

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...

2007-10-01T12:54:00.000-05:00

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. :)

2007-09-30T08:43:00.001-05:00

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!

2007-09-29T09:59:00.001-05:00

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!

2007-09-27T12:46:00.000-05:00

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!

2007-09-24T22:02:00.000-05:00

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!!!!!

2007-09-23T20:56:00.000-05:00

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!

2007-09-22T16:46:00.000-05:00

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!

2007-09-20T22:46:00.000-05:00

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

2007-09-20T11:03:00.000-05:00

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!

2007-09-17T11:32:00.001-05:00

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......

2007-09-14T07:32:00.000-05:00

*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.

2007-09-13T21:31:00.000-05:00

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

2007-09-08T07:58:00.000-05:00

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....

2007-09-07T16:31:00.000-05:00

*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...

2007-09-04T09:11:00.000-05:00

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

2007-08-30T08:39:00.000-05:00

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....

2007-08-28T07:16:00.000-05:00

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!

2007-08-23T16:11:00.001-05:00

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!!!!

2007-08-14T19:47:00.000-05:00

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?

2007-08-09T11:29:00.001-05:00

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...

2007-08-08T08:36:00.000-05:00

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

2007-08-07T12:41:00.001-05:00

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 :)

2007-08-05T22:48:00.000-05:00

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...

2007-08-05T22:26:00.000-05:00

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...

2007-08-03T23:04:00.000-05:00

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.

2007-08-01T16:23:00.000-05:00

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!

2007-07-31T09:04:00.000-05:00

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...

2007-07-29T08:20:00.000-05:00

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!!!!

2007-07-28T08:44:00.001-05:00

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....

2007-07-27T10:40:00.000-05:00

*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

2007-07-26T07:37:00.000-05:00

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....

2007-07-21T17:35:00.000-05:00

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!

2007-07-19T14:44:00.000-05:00

Here fishy fisy fishy....

2007-07-18T18:53:00.000-05:00

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

2007-07-17T21:28:00.000-05:00

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....

2007-07-15T09:58:00.000-05:00

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....

2007-07-13T21:36:00.000-05:00

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

2007-07-12T13:02:00.000-05:00

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?!?!?

2007-07-11T06:20:00.000-05:00

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!

2007-07-07T15:13:00.000-05:00

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

2007-07-02T07:09:00.000-05:00

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.

we have been invaded!

2007-06-27T21:14:00.000-05:00

When i checked the mail today there was a package for the magg'ers from her g'ma and g'pa as they put it. We now have more rubber ducks then i could ever know what to do with.

here is a group shot.. yes the one up front is a Rotwieler puppy duckie! He would have to be my fave.

maggies fave is a sailor. well that and the one that looks like a dalmatian puppy duckie but i think she took it to bed. i can't find it to take a pic.

We are currently as of today remodeling the bathroom. Here is a pic of jack ripping down wall paper.

and now to prove i do knit... here is my invis. shawl, i love it!!!! ignore the artistic license i have taken with the pattern.. LOL.

lets see what the laptop has for us today?!?!

2007-06-25T08:14:00.000-05:00

this my dear friends is the invisibility shawl from charmed knits! I am having the best time working this up. I c/o last week and it is honestly going pretty fast. There are some "design elements" that have been added. due mostly to the fact that counting can sometimes be impossible with maggie around. even if it is just to 4. LOL.

In the back ground is my other addiction Second Life. got to love video games that will steal your time away from knitting right?

See I do to knit!

2007-06-23T17:59:00.000-05:00

Ok so got one beret done..... this one is going to be for laura since her head is smaller then mine and well it doesn't fit me. the funny thing is that between me casting it on on thur and finishing it today (and i didn't knit yesterday). I have lost or creativly hid from myself my size 6 rounds... the ones that i use for like an inch at the bottom. i wonder if i left it at the bead store.... but i thought i remember putting it in the bag. sigh the search will continue.

once again my laptop is our lovely model!

I swear i do knit!

2007-06-22T06:43:00.001-05:00

Ok so i do knit i promise you... right now i am working on some HP knits. but really right now what i am dealing with is one hell of a mess! one of my center pull balls is really taking on a mind of its own. The sad thing is it was wound by the owner of the LYS. As lesa said last night she owes me free yarn. I think she owes lesa free yarn she is the one doing the majority of the un knotting.

and one more pic just purely to show howmuch fun my camera is. or at least how much fun Jen was having with my new camera. how about a panaramic of the B&N Cafe.

Fathers Day in Chicago (well a day early)

2007-06-17T13:02:00.000-05:00

Fathers Day Weekend

Good Yarn Karma

2007-06-11T10:44:00.000-05:00

Ok if you haven't heard me go on about this blog before here it is! Good Yarn Karma, is an amazing and wonderful blog that allows you to destash for karma. Have something that you have had stashed forever and don't know why. Don't feel like putting a price on it. then you can give it away for Karma. Today in the mail, all though it had been there for a couple of days. I recieved the book. A Treasury of Rowan Knits, this is a book i had owned beofre but was lsot the the great dog is not happy mis hap of 2006. It was a rather expensive book that i had planed on replacing just hadn't gotten around to it yet. And well the world has brought it back to me. Thank you very much GYK! Now i need to go through my stash and see what i have to pay it forward.

A World of Thanks....

2007-06-01T10:24:00.000-05:00

I owe a million thank you's to Jen, Lesa and Erin (and Jess) for last night! I needed to go out and just be goofy and laugh. And that was achived. Thank you guys soooo much. I guess i also owe a thank you to the guy with the mustache tattoo. But well i don' tknow his name... LOL!

I promise i will try and post some knitterly stuff soon.

A Post Full of Squee!!!!!!!

2007-05-23T07:17:00.000-05:00

Ok so this post has been long coming and i am sooo excited to finally make it. I could have made it yesterday but well life is really getting away from me as of late. Not to mention my whole argument with pay pal! GRRRRRRRRR. I have been told that it should be resolved by Friday. It doesn't affect me accepting payments only paying others... ANYWHO!!!!

First let me give a big Squee to my SP! She just sent me the HP Knits book.. and I am sooo in love with it and her! I did make my FIL open it bc she had it sent from amazon and they accidently sent a packing invoice. But she caught that and warned me. So I still do not know who she is or where she is from. But wow... now that i have looked more closely at this book, i want to knit everything! Well maybe not the blanket... LOL!

The Squee that we have all been waiting for. The girls over at Piddleloop, have put together this absolutly amazing project. One of their wonderful small project pouches, hand dyed sock yarn from Twisted, a pattern from http://dorkybestfriend.typepad.com/, and stitch markers from.... ME (Jen picked out the beads i only assembled them). Let me tell you they are amazing. Jen posted them for sale on Monday night and they are already sold out!!!!!!!! I am sooooo excited about these! they are amazing... and now time for the SSSSSSSSSSSSSSQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEin' pictures!!!!!!

A pic from the top, look at the amazing colors!

Close up of the Amy Butler Fabric, I am falling in love with her fabric more and more every day!

The bag is open, look at all the love in there!

Everything that is in the bag. The Yarn is sooo soft and yummy I can not even believe it! I can not wait to knit it up, or roll in it, i am not sure what comes first!

All the goodie bits. Stitch Markers, Notepad, Notions Pouch and BUTTONS! Piddleloop always sends the best buttons in their packages!

Needles to say i am uber excited!

But i do have other knitting news. As some of you remember I had knitted a seamless EZ sweater and well you never saw the finished version bc well i hated it... my guage was figured off it was huge and looked like a giant green potato sack! So it has been frogged, and I casted it back on...... my fingers are crossed!

That is my laptop modeling the new sweater. And let me point out that is a center pull ball hand rolled by ME! Thank you so much Erin for showing me how to do that about a million times, it finally worked! Ok i Squee'd when it worked!

In other handmade news... My etsy store has been updated with some earrings. Some stitch markers and soon to come, a couple of necklaces and more stitch markers (pictures are done just need to get them posted). So go ahead give it a look. Give me feedback on the items. Do you like them? do you not? What would you like to see, that you think i can do... LOL!

WALNUT RIDGE STUDIO!!!!

Do i have knitting to post???

2007-05-17T12:43:00.000-05:00

Ok it is small but i honestly have knitting... I knit up a head band, based on the free pattern by knitpicks. I used a spare skein of dancing sock yarn i had laying around. Size 3 needles instead of 4's and changed the amount of rows.

Before i seamed it up, laying on my desk.. my desk is such a great model :)

Ignore my roots!!!!! but this is a slightly blury one on my head. Jack took the picture for me.. he is still getting used to the camera though.

hooo! knitting!

Still can't Squee!

2007-05-15T07:43:00.000-05:00

Ok I still can't squee outloud but i have been told soon! LOL! In other news i have been put on a knitting accesorie diet..... LOL... I went a litle spend crazy out in Nevada, and it didn't really hit till i got home. Guess HP Knits will have to wait for a bit, i can drool on Lesa's until then. I am sure she will bring it when i see her if i ask... just so i can oogle it! LOL. in other news farmers market started last weekend. and it was lots of fun. I got a chance to take a pic with my new camera.

That is Marilyn's booth, i love all of her stuff it is always sooo pretty.

And this is Marilyn with all her purty stuffs... and yummy Aspargus!!!!!!!!!

I hope i have distracted you well :)

Squee's to come!

2007-05-10T22:25:00.000-05:00

Ok so i have something to squee about and the squee is really really good... but i can't tell you guys yet! *giggle* got to see the knitting girls tonight. I must order the HP Knits book, i was really amazed on how indepth it was tons of patterns... and they are done in afordable yarns! i was shocked.
OK i am heading to bed now. Ni Ni all !

Home Sweet Home

2007-05-09T06:21:00.000-05:00

Maggie and I arrived home last night about 8 pm. And i don't think i have ever been as happy to be in Westville as i was last night. LOL. I cam home to a mostly clean house, there is a small issue with in me about the mountian of dishes in the sink, and a package from my Secret Pal, from SP 10. And let me squee, squee, and double squee... she sent me some of the softest yummiest alpaca yarn i have ever seen. And I haven't even see it in good light yet... LOL! I also came home to a bran new digi cam that is suppose to work with Vista, so i may be back to spamming you guys all with pictures again.

Ok so while in Reno i hit 3 yarn stores.... Jimmy Beans Wool, and independent Ben Franklin, and Deluxe Yarns. And i hate to say it but Jimmmy Beans sucks! When you walk in it seems all cute and homey.... It is not. The people there were pretty unfriendly and rather unknowing about what was going on in their own store. I asked about a demo piece that was laying on the counter, and a piece that was hung on the wall. No one could tell me what techniques were used or patterns they were. and they were kind of happy to be clueless about it. It honestly seemed to me that they cared alot more about their online pressence then there live in person one. As far as stock went, it was a Lorna's Laces store. Don't get me wrong i do enjoy LL. but that is not the only company i want to see filling 80% of someones stock. Ofcourse i did buy something i got 2 skeins of Ladybug sock yarn. It is currently making itself into a chevron scarf. Loved the colors and i need to see if Sheeps carries it. I more then likely will not be shopping at JB's again, even if i am in reno.

Ben Franklin... I was plesantly shocked. When mom suggested it i was like what? you can't be serious... they probably only care red heart and lion brand (which both have their uses i just have too much of them right now). I was wrong! i saw some of the most beautiful stuff there. And all though they didn't have any one to help me in the yarn section, i didn't have any questions so it all worked out. I did fall in love with a couple of noro colorways, but they only had one skein a piece... so i am officaly on a noro hunt now. And ofcourse I picked up some sock yarn. Nothing too special just some of that italian cotten socknietta (i fink) stuff. I also picked up 2 size 2 circs and taught myself how to knit socks on 2 circs that night. So it was a good and productive trip there.

Deluxe yarns, Reno Nevada..... i love them! You have to enter this little, house off of the alley, in a not so great part of town. But it is worth it 100 %. The 4 rooms that they have there are packed from top to bottom in yarn goodness! Colorways i have never seen, handpaints i have never heard of. And they did not even stare at me when i rubbed it not only on my face, but maggies and my dads. Ok so dad looked at me wierd but oh well! And to top it off they were having a sale! Sales are good. So what did i get? Sock yarn! Sock yarn does not count towards stash! So i now have some pink tofuties, a green white and blue verigated that i don't remember the name of, and i got a couple of self striping cascade sock yarn for my SP. The owner and here friend were there and were sooo nice that i want to go back already. Both of them were very open about what they were working on, and how long they had been knitting and why the do such things, ect ect ect. It really felt like a yarn home! That also might be bc there was still a kitchen with a stove and a fridge right in the middle of everything. I loved it!

While i was out there i didnt' get much done on my WIP's. But my wish list of things i want to knit got much much longer. And my stash got bigger, and there is a potential of it getting even huger! My mom has a ton of mountian colors weavers, which seems to be a worsted weight, to give to me... but i couldn't fit it in my bags comeing home. I am thining i may have her ship it to me and do a Lady E out of it. I think Lady E is a worsted weight.

Well my knitter friends that was my trip in the yarn sense. Right now i am up really early, my body thinks it is around 4.30 so i think i am gonna have some coffee and enjoy the quite. oh yeah and take a nap when maggie lays down this morning.

Reno Update

2007-05-02T11:23:00.000-05:00

Ok so Reno is going well. Yesterday we took Maggie to "The Ark" they are a wild life rescue. They take the animals that people think should be pets... Large cats i.e. tigers and leporads and take care of them since they can not be cared for as a pet, or released to the wild bc they have been declawed and such. We had a GREAT time. They even have a black bear named Yogi (go figure), who was just waking up from hibernation. Maggie loved ever bit of it! I have some pictures just haven't pulled them off the camera yet. Today Mom and Dad both had to work so maggie and i have the run of the house. :) I need to run through and pick it all up in a bit when i put her down for nap. Napping has been a treat... she doesn't want to do it here so there are lots of tears and yelling when it becomes time. So i push it till she is pretty much falling over as she walks.

Today when Mom gets home we are gonna hit up the LYS! hoo! then tomarrow we are off the the sheep/alpaca farm. And going to see Dad in the music man. the whole reason for this trip. Then Friday as an added bonus mom and i are gonna go see Rockapella! i am sooo excited i could squee!!!!!

Safe and Sound

2007-05-01T08:10:00.000-05:00

So Maggie and i made it to Reno safe and sound. My knitting bag was throughly riffled though. no clue why, there wasn't anything in there. I even took my sissors out of the bag. but no they felt the need to go throught it and even squish my cakes of yarn. I got a little sock knitting done on the plane. but maggie wsn't wanting to sleep most of the time so i was playing with here. Haven't asked my mom when we are gonna hit the LYS. I love this, not even here 24 hours yet and i am already for the LYS. I know we are gonna hit Jimmy Beans and then a little store over in Truckee. I can not wait!!!!

Squee!!!!!

2007-04-22T12:34:00.000-05:00

My SP from SP10 sent the bestest package ever! It very welomed yesterday on my way to the bead store. It had some nice lorna's laces (daphadil was the color i think.). a very kewl bath fiz, some much needed body cream. and some DPN's to replace the ones cassidy the wonder pup ate. Oh yeah and the new book from the Yarn Harlot.

Thank you soo much SP!

RIP Monkey Sock

2007-04-12T08:44:00.000-05:00

Ok so the photo posts should be coming in the next day. I have the pics on the camera just need to get them on the computer.

In other news Jack is working 3-11's this week. So Cassidy, our chessie, is insisting to stay up and wait for him, rather then come to bed with me. So what do i wake up this morning.... My almost finished (1.5 inches remaining) second monkey sock all over the family room. Bamboo needles chewed beyond belief and the yarn broken. I did manage to get the needle bits out. And frog it to the point where none of the stitches had run. Now i am in debate whether I should pick up the stitches or frog the whole thing.....

2007-04-06T07:08:00.000-05:00

I know i have 2 or 3 more photo posts to do. but family has invaded! i promise to try and be more on top of things soon.

Pictures for Erin

2007-04-02T07:10:00.000-05:00

1. My favortie place to knit. I know Jack is in this pic, but it was taken down at the river where he likes to fish. He fishes and i knit.. it is one of my favorite things in the world.

2. Baby pic of me and Maggie. This was taken January 2006 so she was about 4 mo. old. :)

3. Some hand-knotted pearls on silk. I love love love these! And they went fast.

Photos for Jen :)

2007-04-02T07:00:00.000-05:00

Sorry it took so long for me to get these together. I was having some camera issues.

1. Apicture of my toothbrush... one of many! I have been to the dentist so much lately that I have started a collection. This one is my fave though... white and sliver! And it doesn't hurt my teeth.

2. My favorite toy. This is my tivo remote. I will never miss another episode of Degrassi ever!

3. This is one of my favorite pair of shoes... not sure where the dog took the other one! LOL I will be looking for that later today i am sure. They are a pair of union bay's that i got a kohls a few weeks ago.

2007-03-29T10:37:00.000-05:00

you outta be in pictures.

I'm stealing a photo meme from Erin
- leave in the comments 3 things you want me to show pictures of on my blog and I'll do my best to do it. Come on, it'll be fun!

Book MEME :)

2007-03-26T15:54:00.000-05:00

Bold the ones you have read.
Italics on the ones you want to read.

1. The DaVinci Code (Dan Brown)
2. Pride and Prejudice (Jane Austen)
3. To Kill A Mockingbird (Harper Lee)- 10th grade English
4. Gone With The Wind (Margaret Mitchell)
5. The Lord of the Rings: Return of the King (Tolkien)
6. The Lord of the Rings: Fellowship of the Ring (Tolkien)
7. The Lord of the Rings: Two Towers (Tolkien)
8. Anne of Green Gables (L.M. Montgomery) About a million times.
9. Outlander (Diana Gabaldon)
10. A Fine Balance (Rohinton Mistry)
11. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (Rowling)
12. Angels and Demons (Dan Brown)
13. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (Rowling)
14. A Prayer for Owen Meany (John Irving)-AP English
15. Memoirs of a Geisha (Arthur Golden)
16. Harry Potter and the Sorceror's Stone (Rowling)
17. Fall on Your Knees (Ann-Marie MacDonald)
18. The Stand (Stephen King)
19. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (Rowling)
20. Jane Eyre (Charlotte Bronte)
21. The Hobbit (Tolkien)
22. The Catcher in the Rye (J.D. Salinger)
23. Little Women (Louisa May Alcott)
24. The Lovely Bones (Alice Sebold)
25. Life of Pi (Yann Martel)
26. The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy (Douglas Adams)
27. Wuthering Heights (Emily Bronte)-11th grade English
28. The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (C. S. Lewis)
29. East of Eden (John Steinbeck)
30. Tuesdays with Morrie (Mitch Albom)
31. Dune (Frank Herbert)
32. The Notebook (Nicholas Sparks)
33. Atlas Shrugged (Ayn Rand)
34. 1984 (Orwell)
35. The Mists of Avalon (Marion Zimmer Bradley) A million times!
36. The Pillars of the Earth (Ken Follett)
37. The Power of One (Bryce Courtenay)
38. I Know This Much is True (Wally Lamb)
39. The Red Tent (Anita Diamant)
40. The Alchemist (Paulo Coelho)
41. The Clan of the Cave Bear (Jean M. Auel)
42. The Kite Runner (Khaled Hosseini)
43. Confessions of a Shopaholic (Sophie Kinsella)
44. The Five People You Meet In Heaven (Mitch Albom)
45. The Bible
46. Anna Karenina (Tolstoy)
47. The Count of Monte Cristo (Alexandre Dumas)
48. Angela’s Ashes (Frank McCourt)
49. The Grapes of Wrath (John Steinbeck)
50. She’s Come Undone (Wally Lamb) Oddly on my top 10 list of books
51. The Poisonwood Bible (Barbara Kingsolver) - I started it, but can’t get into it.
52. A Tale of Two Cities (Dickens)
53. Ender’s Game (Orson Scott Card)
54. Great Expectations (Dickens)
55. The Great Gatsby (Fitzgerald)
56. The Stone Angel (Margaret Laurence)
57. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (Rowling)
58. The Thorn Birds (Colleen McCullough)5
9. The Handmaid’s Tale (Margaret Atwood)
60. The Time Traveller’s Wife (Audrew Niffenegger)
61. Crime and Punishment (Fyodor Dostoyevsky)
62. The Fountainhead (Ayn Rand)
63. War and Peace (Tolstoy)
64. Interview With The Vampire (Anne Rice)
65. Fifth Business (Robertson Davis)
66. One Hundred Years Of Solitude (Gabriel Garcia Marquez)
67. The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants (Ann Brashares)
68. Catch-22 (Joseph Heller)
69. Les Miserables (Hugo) - Read it in french too didn't understand a word though.
70. The Little Prince (Antoine de Saint-Exupery)
71. Bridget Jones’ Diary (Fielding)
72. Love in the Time of Cholera (Marquez)
73. Shogun (James Clavell)
74. The English Patient (Michael Ondaatje)
75. The Secret Garden (Frances Hodgson Burnett)Another about a million times.
76. The Summer Tree (Guy Gavriel Kay)
77. A Tree Grows in Brooklyn (Betty Smith)--I couldnt finish this one!
78. The World According to Garp (John Irving)
79. The Diviners (Margaret Laurence)
80. Charlotte’s Web (E.B. White)
81. Not Wanted On The Voyage (Timothy Findley)
82. Of Mice And Men (Steinbeck)
83. Rebecca (Daphne DuMaurier)
84. Wizard’s First Rule (Terry Goodkind)
85. Emma (Jane Austen)
86. Watership Down(Richard Adams)
87. Brave New World (Aldous Huxley)
88. The Stone Diaries (Carol Shields)
89. Blindness (Jose Saramago)
90. Kane and Abel (Jeffrey Archer)
91. In The Skin Of A Lion (Ondaatje)
92. Lord of the Flies (Golding)
93. The Good Earth (Pearl S. Buck)
94. The Secret Life of Bees (Sue Monk Kidd)
95. The Bourne Identity (Robert Ludlum)
96. The Outsiders (S.E. Hinton)-6th grade English
97. White Oleander (Janet Fitch)
98. A Woman of Substance (Barbara Taylor Bradford)
99. The Celestine Prophecy (James Redfield)
100. Ulysses (James Joyce)

L&V Porn exchange...

2007-03-09T08:51:00.000-06:00

I checked the mail yesterday and had the most wonderful little package... MY secret squiril sent me a small package... yay!!!! It was a nice break in the day. some gummies, 1 bag gone, 1 hidden from the family. and the most wonderful scented air freshner i think it was called county linen! it made my day!!!!

Second Sock Syndrom....

2007-03-04T07:34:00.000-06:00

So everytime i knit new pattern, it knits up fast. And i think wow that was fun to knit, i will knit up that second sock in no time. and it never happens that way. I have had one monkey sock done for over a week now. And I am only on the 3rd repeat of the cuff. I just can't bring my self to knit it. And it is driving me crazy. i won't start another pair till i am done. but it is just slow coming! *sigh*

Questions for the Lime and Violet Swap

2007-03-01T11:37:00.000-06:00

X-posted to my blog....

1. What kind of fibers do you prefer?
Wooly kind!!!!!! Superwash is good.

2. What kind of weight do you prefer (sock, worsted, bulky)?
Lately it has been sock sock sock and more sock!! But if we aren't talking sock worsted is a good bet.

3. Do you spin?
I am learning to spindle not very well though... But i am getting a wheel.

4. Do you crochet?
Nope

5. Are there any books, patterns, magazines would you like to own that you don't?
Off the top of my head I can not think of any. If there is a book i want i always just get it!

6. Are you participating in any themed a-longs like the Project Spectrum?
Just the themed sock a month thing.. god i can not remember the name of it right now.

7. Do you have a wishlist on Amazon.com or Half.com? (provide a link)
I have better then an amazon list.. I have KABOODLE http://www.kaboodle.com.kaytm

8. Any Etsy stores that you would love to get something from?
I can't think of an etsy store off the top of my head there are sooo many! But there is http://store.piddleloop.com], Jen there knows me and knows what some of my weaknesses are too.

9. What other crafty things are you involved in (quilting, drawing, painting)?
I am a beader/jewlery designer (i know fancy name but it works)

10. What is your favorite sort of scent?
OK I know this sounds crazy, but clean laundry....

11. Do you have a sweet tooth and what kind of sweets do you like best?
I love love love gummies, and swedish fish (i think they are technicaly gummies).

12. What kind of music do you like?
Chick Rock, Ani Difranco is huge in our house. Oh yeah and Dave matthews and such.

13. What do you like to knit? And for whom?
Socks, and little prezzies for the kids iin our family. Socks for me mostly. I do knit scarfs for the family, and hats.

14. What sort of things do you like to collect?
I have become quite obsessed with monkeys and sock monkeys as of late. And hello kitty, she is an all time favorite.

15. Do you want needles? And what kind do you prefer?
Wood!!!!! Bamboo or others but wood. I do also have a softness for addi turbo's though.

WIP Wen.

2007-02-28T11:38:00.000-06:00

Ok, so one monkey sock done. And into the cuff pattern on the second one yay!!!!! I am soo excited. I love working with this Sophies Toes yarn! It is just yummy. I would post pictures of the first sock, as soon as i find it again to take a pic. This is my version of second sock syndrome. Twice lately I have had one sock done, and when I finish the second, the first one has been misplaced. I say misplaced, Jack says carried off by a dog or baby! Jack is probably right. I am going to move furniture one day and find a full stash of socks.

That is all i have to report right now. I am going to knit up some dishclothes in the next day or so though.

Getting to know you... gettng to know all about you...

2007-02-26T12:35:00.000-06:00

Steal it is you want.. i was bored this afternoon.

Location: Indiana
Astrological Sign: Virgo, for ever the virgin....
Pets: a very hyper chesapek bay retriever, named Cassidy
When I play monopoly I am always the: the little dog

Five things always in my purse/backpack:
1. lip goo
2. change
3. gum
4. cell phone
5. animal crackers

Five things always in my Fridge:
1. milk (for the baby)
2. diet cherry pepsi
3. curried ketchup (those germans know how to do it right!)
4. film
5. frozen chicken breasts

Five things always in my closet:
1. purses, and the boxes that purses came in.
2. Shoes, lots of shoes
3. The I am mad at you basket of projects.
4. Clothes that i am holding incase I get pregnant again.
5. one of thosse 20 gallon rubbermaid containers filled with stash.

Five things on my desk:
1. Phone and answering machine.
2. Picture of maggie when she was hours old.
3. Cup of pens
4. Lip goo
5. a skein of sugar and creme, yellow.

Five movies I could watch over and over:
1. Dead Poets Society
2. Best in Show
3. Pretty In Pink
4. Elizabethtown
5. Holiday Inn

Five places I have traveled and love:
1. North Carolina
2. PEI, Canada
3. San Francisco
4. Lake Tahoe
5. Mamoth Caves

Five Secret Addictions:
1. Silly Chick Rock
2. starbucks
3. chocolate covered pretzles
4. fingernail polish.. i have like a million colors. yet my nails are never done.
5. stationary

Five Annoyances:
1. People on cell phones in resturants.
2. People talking while I am trying to explain something. I have taught one to many classes in my time.
3. TV show spoilers.
4. People who over state the obvious
5. Anna Nicole Smith tv coverage....

Five Fears:
1. Being sufficated.
2. Getting lost...
3. birds, as in the freaky movie the birds....
4. earthquakes
5. breaking my hand.....

Five Facts About You:
1. I never wanted to be a mom, but now would not trade it for the world.
2. I have horrid sinus', always have.
3. I am addicted to chapstick aka lip goo.
4. My eyes change color from blue to green, with my mood.
5. I have 2 tattoo's one on my ankle of tghe planet saturn. And a celtic knot between my shoulder blades.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
iTunes Survey

1. Put your music player on shuffle.
2. Press forward for each question.
3. Use the song title as the answer to the question even if it doesn’t make sense.

Will it be ok?
Stay - Lisa Loeb

How are you feeling today?
Keep Me Cryin' - Al Green

How do your friends see you?
Red Ragtop - Tim McGraw (um ok???)

Will you get married?
The Difficult Kind (Live) - Sheryl Crow and Sarah Mclachlan

What is your best friend's theme song?
Bent - Matchbox 20

What is the story of your life?
originaly Lime and Violet ep. 16...... but the song that was next was Sugar High from the empire records soundtrack.

What is high school like?
Blister on Sun - Violent Femmes (that was soooo highschool!)

How can you get ahead in life?
Are you still mad - alanis

What is the best thing about your friends?
Sunday Mornings - Maroon 5

What is tonight going to be like?
Cowboy Take me away - Dixie Chicks ( i will take this over and over and over)

What is in store for the remainder of this weekend?
Let it be me - Indigo Girls

What song describes you?
I tried to tell myself - Al Green

To describe your grandparents?
My next 30 years - Tim McGraw

How is your life going?
Come Clean - Hillary Duff (you can stop laughing now)

What song will they play at your funeral?
I guess your right - The Posies

How does the world see you?
I'm A Rock - Paul Simon and Art Garfunkle

Will you have a happy life?
Beautiful People - Rusted Root

What do your friends really think of you?
My Favorite Mistake - Sheryl Crow (ouch!!!!!)

Do people secretly lust after you?
Have you seen me Lately - counting Crows

How can I make myself happy?
Birdhouse in your Soul - They Might Be Giants

What should you do with your life?
Rain King - Counting Crows

Will you ever have children?
Billy - James Blunt

What will be played at your wedding?
Picture - Kid Rock

What will life after death be like?
How - Lisa Loeb

Guilty Pleasures....

2007-02-24T13:54:00.000-06:00

Ok so i am recovering from strep and a horrible cold thing. Antibiotics are working I guess. just not fast enough if you ask me.

Maggie is napping great this afternoon, so I am sitting here indulging myself. I am working on my Monkey socks, sipping my tea... and listening to Jill Sobule.. Yes that is my guilty pleasure of the day, listening to psuedo girl rock/ pseudo pop late 90's music! I made maggie dance around the living room with me to Karen by Night!

Thank god for I-tunes, I am finding cd's i have lost eons ago!

WIP Wensday...

2007-02-21T17:16:00.000-06:00

Ok so i went to take pictures of my new footies, and i could only find one of them. so I don't know if it was maggie, jack, or cassidy that wandered off with it. as soon as i find it i will post some pictuers.

For now YARN PORN!!!!
my etsy order was in the mail today!!! woo hoo!

( I am such a dork, i forgot to tell you where i got the yummy yarn bits! They came from Kindred Spirits Yarn!!! Check her out. She ships really fast and has great prices!

I am not a big pink girl, but let me tell you this photo does not do it justice!!!! it is completely amazing!

um wow! it is sooo purty!

This one is my favorite.. it is blue and green and green and blue and blue and green again! I can not wait to work these up.

Right now i have a pair of monkey socks on my needles. using my superman colorway from sophies toes. and it is like buttah to work with. YUM!

ah i am a dork...

2007-02-19T21:17:00.000-06:00

Ok so today i realized that the camera was not dead... we just had very dead batteries in it. oh well we are still getting a new one. I wanted to thank everyone real fast who sent all the nice thoughts and words. They were very much appreciated. I have been knitting like a fool. I have finished 2 more pairs of socks. well one was real socks and the other is just a pair of footies. i love footies. I will try and take some pics of them tomorrow. I have also gone a little crazy ordering yarn. I won a bet with Jack and went a little sock yarn crazy. I have seriously thought of de-stashing a good chunk of it to make room for sock yarn. either that or i have to get rid of clothes to make room for it in drawers.

I also have this little voice in my head telling me to buy a spinning wheel. There is one at my moms house in chesterton, that i know i could buy. it is a friend of hers' she is just storing it at our house. and i don't know.... *sigh* it is a lot of money. but i know i would use it. at least more then i have used the loom. which well is um none..... i keep telling myself the loom was free, the loom was free.

wow i am one with the babble tonight. so with that i will sign off. Once again thank you for all your thoughts and prayers. my email was happily filled!

Pictures to come soon. Oh yeah the other good news... JACK WAS CALLED BACK TO WORK THIS MORNING!!!!!

Any good thoughts send our way....

2007-02-17T10:55:00.000-06:00

Death comes in 3's right? If so we are done with our 3 for a while. A few weeks ago a family friend passed away. Then this past monday we had a call from the hospital. Dennis' (Jacks step dad who lives with us) sister was in the hospital with chest pains. Well that evening they went to do the camera through your hear valves procedure and she coded on the table. She never even knew how sick she truely was.

So yesterday we have a house full of people, jacks daughter and kids, who were up for Pattys funeral. And as they were leaving they notice an ambulance on our street. We look out and see it is at our neighbors house. Nancy, Dennis' best friend, a close family friend has been ill with throat cancer for about a year. But she looked great when we saw her on tuesday. She was really making a come back.... after her surgeries (including the placement of a trac ring). Apparently had fallen asleep, rolled over on her oxygen tube and sufficated her self. At least that is how her very distressed son put it to us last night.

So our family has taken 2 major hits inside of 5 days. And i am just beside myself as to what to do. All i am doing is sitting here knitting socks. knitting socks and not thinking. hell i am not even watching tv, which is very odd to me. Dennis' sister passing away didn't phase me to much. But Nancy did, she was a family friend. and we had our falling out in the begining. She was very protective of Jack and was worried that i was just using him for a baby. She didn't know me then. But once she knew me, we honestly be came friends. And she was a friend to maggie. They had some great times this past summer. And i am mourning that all. Yet another wonderful soul that maggie will not get to know and love. but i know that nancy loved her.

ok i am babbling now and i need to get running i have crap to get done today.

Distraction via meme

2007-02-14T13:41:00.000-06:00

Ok so our camera is dead... :( very sad kayt here. A friend of ours works for kodak and wants to get us a camera for a wedding present. i think i will let him.

but anyway here is a fun meme.... tough for me though.

Rules: Use the 1st letter of your name to answer each of the following...They MUST be real places, names, things...NOTHING made up! If you can't think of anything, skip it. Try to use different answers if the person in front of you had the same 1st initial. You CAN'T use your name for the boy/girl name question.

Your Name: Kayt

1. Athlete: Ken Griffy
2. 4 letter word: Kind
3. Street name: Kendal Street (in london ofcourse)
4. Color: Kale, i have seen a color way of dying using it.. so i am too.
5. Gifts/presents: Keys, to a car ofcourse.
6. Vehicles: K-car
7. Tropical Locations:
8. College Majors: Kinky Sex??? It is an unoffical major at most colleges i attended.. LOL.
9. Dairy Products:
10. Things in a Souvenir Shop: Key Chains
11. Boy Name: Kent
12. Girl Name: Kristina
13. Movie Titles: K-Pax
14. Alcohol: kentucky deluxe
15. Occupations: Kite Designer
16. Flowers:
17. Celebrities: Kate Blanchet
18. Magazines:
19. US Cities: Kalamazoo, MI
20. Pro Sports Team: Krakow Football Club

If you ever met my husband, mums the word...

2007-02-12T16:09:00.000-06:00

So this morning I was working on my Jaywalker, and it is almost done yay. Maggie was playing and jack was having his morning coffee at the desk. Well Jack decides to run down to the post office and i am left with knitting and maggie. Well in normal Jack fashion he left his coffee cup on the edge of the desk, right within reach of the nosey one. So when I notice this I toss my knitting down on the cushion next to me, and run to grab the cup out of Maggies hands. At this time Jack comes back in to put on his shoes. he walks over the the loveseat, and right as i am saying "watch out knitting" he parks his ass straight down on a size 3 bamboo dpn. It went through his lounge pants, through his underware, and into his ass about a quarter of an inch. Much screaming and yelling insued as i pulled it out. It was a perfectly clean wound, so he says no need to go to the doctor. It did bleed some. So i cleaned it up with neosporin and put a bandaid on it. Bamboo has natural anitbactrial right?

Secret Pal Questions 2007

2007-02-09T19:51:00.000-06:00

1. What is/are your favorite yarn/s to knit with? What fibers do you absolutely *not* like?
Sock yarn is a biggy in my book. But almost anything wool, or cheniel (sp?). Anything that feels yummy!
2. What do you use to store your needles/hooks in?
Needle rolls, not a crocheter yet so don't have to worry about storing hooks
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. I pretty much taught myself the basics, and have taken a sock class and felted clog class. I would say my skill level is intermediate.
4. Do you have an Amazon or other online wish list?
I have a kaboodle page that has lots of wish lists, and shopping lists there. http://www.kaboodle.com/kaytm/
5. What's your favorite scent?
This is going to sound weird clean laundry... yankee has a candle called clean cotton that just rocks my world!
6. Do you have a sweet tooth? Favorite candy?
Yogurt covered pretzels are big for me. I also like chocolate by lindt i think that is the company.
7. What other crafts or Do-It-Yourself things do you like to do? Do you spin?
I have a drop spindle and am shopping for a new one. I do have a goal of a real wheel by the end of the year.
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 total MP3 freak. Mostly like mellow jam band style stuff. Dave Matthews, John Mayer, ect ect ect.
9. What's your favorite color(s)? Any colors you just can't stand?
I love greens all shades of green. Lime is the biggest for me right now.
10. What is your family situation? Do you have any pets?
I have a daughter who is a year and a half, almost. And a Chesapeek bay retriever. Oh yeah and I have a wonderful husband.
11. Do you wear scarves, hats, mittens or ponchos?
Not a big poncho fan. Just reminds me of nursing for hours on end with the baby.
12. What is/are your favorite item/s to knit?
Socks, Socks, and Socks. Also mittens, baby blankets and hats.
13. What are you knitting right now?
Socks, a couple of pairs. And I do have my first sweater going.
14. Do you like to receive handmade gifts?
LOVE IT!!!!!
15. Do you prefer straight or circular needles? Bamboo, aluminum, plastic?
DPN's and Straights i prefer bamboo. Circs aluminum.
16. Do you own a yarn winder and/or swift?
I have both, and my friend Jen was acutaly offended the other day when i refered to them as my best friends. Damn non-knitters.
17. How old is your oldest UFO?
About 3 months.
18. What is your favorite holiday?
Christmas and my birthday.
19. Is there anything that you collect?
I love sheep!!!!! And stitch markers.
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 don't have any subscriptions right now. I am looking forward to the Harry Potter Knitting book that is coming out. I do want socks socks socks. And any other sock book out there. I hear Lime and Violet have a book in the works too.
21. Are there any new techniques you'd like to learn?
I want to learn color work, and how to read lace charts.
22. Are you a sock knitter? What are your foot measurements?
I LOVE SOCKS! As far as my lenthg it is like 9.8 and width 8.4 Cubby feet.
23. When is your birthday?
August 26th

To frog or not to frog that is the question...

2007-02-07T20:56:00.000-06:00

Ok my toe up socks have not been the best experience ever... I have tried to do the heel like 4 times now and have ripped it out each time. It is insane, and making my head hurt. So I could give it another shot, or i can rip it out tab that yarn for jaywalkers. And knit up some of my new yarn. I also got a magic yarn ball in the mail today with more sock yarn. Knit picks dancing this time! *sigh* not sure what to do.

yarn porn!

2007-02-07T12:23:00.000-06:00

Ok, here is my new Sophies Toes, being modeled by my new laptop. Now i must go knit my jaywalker so i can get this sock cast on... It is seriously screaming KNIT ME!!!!!!!

Has anyone noticed it is cold???

2007-02-05T22:20:00.000-06:00

Ok, so it is freakin' cold. More then freakin' cold if you ask me. It is currently -2 outside. I have no clue what the windchill is but it is cold... Cassidy kind of looks at me and say "huh"? when I try to put her outside to go potty.

In good news, i know what temp it is with out changing the channel, calling time and temp, or even going to weather.com. How you ask? Because I am sitting here warming my lap with my brand new Compaq Presario V6000, widescreen Laptop! Yesterday morning I was just checking the bestbuy ad online like i always do. And they had a great deal on a toshiba, so after talking about it I went to look at it. Well I got there 20 minutes after they opened and they were already sold out. Apparently they were only sent 5 of them. So i ended up spending about 100 bucks more, and got almost twice the machine. I am curently getting used to windows vista. it is an adjustment, not a giant one.... just a little. But let me tell you it is very very very pretty. I was even able to con the cable company out of a free wireless modem this afternoon. So we are once again a 2 computer family and wireless. And this laptop doesn't have sticky keys or anything. So if you see double letters it is just my general bad typing.

I will distract you....

2007-01-31T10:21:00.000-06:00

Ok so since the original Jaywalkers have met the frog pond, and I don't have pics of the ones that I am working on now. The yarn does not photograph nice with my camera... I will distract you with a couple of pictures...

First we have titled this one I LOOOOOOOVE POPSICLES!

Maggie on ocassion under very close supervison will get a popsicle.. Last night was an ocassion. It cracks me up how excited she gets!

And finally a pic of our Cassidy puppy... The incredible chewing/puking dog. Who has been mentioned for each of those things in my archive.

I hope my distraction has worked well....More knitting knews soon.

A couple of FO's and a UFO

2007-01-28T07:16:00.000-06:00

A friend of mine from college and her wife just adopted a new baby on monday. And since I have been a bad blog reader as of late... I didn't have anything prepared to send. So I whipped these up yesterday.

Using the barefoote (i think that is the name, same company as lambs pride) rock and roll colorway! Come on tell me what baby of 2 very out and proud ladies doesn't need her own rainbow socks! I love them! I am thinking i need to make my self a matching pair.

I also finished up a pair of socks for me yesterday.

Just some Lion Brand Magic strips there. not my fave yarn in the world but it doesn't make a bad sock. I just wish it came in more colors.

And then I casted on my first Jaywalker EVER!!!!

I know I know no zig zagging as of yet. But it will be coming soon. That is Regia yarn. First time I have worked with it we will see how i like it.

Bear Down Chicago Bears.....

2007-01-21T09:01:00.000-06:00

All right everyone in NW Indiana and Chicago look out your windows.... are you seeing this great and wonderful "Bears Weather". the nosw is beautiful and it just keeps coming down!!!! The game isn't till this evening, but I still can't wait. Jack and I went out with friends last night and did not get in to 3.00 so i had about 3.5 hours of sleep. I am so going to nap before the game. Just have to wait until i am done with my work at home gig this morning....

Piddleloop Swag

2007-01-17T22:55:00.000-06:00

Let me just say I love the piddleloop sewing team! Jen and Wendy are amazing! And well I haven't even met Wendy! I saw Jen at SNB tonight and she had in hand my bag of swag with her.

First I must apologize to Jen for the bad pictures but my camera sucks!

That is my small project bag as they call it. I call it "here fishy fishy fishy". Let me say I LOVE it!

This is the inside of my bag, I love the lining also! Notice my self striping sock already in there.

The small 4x6 matching fishy fishy fishy pouch. And a small little bag notions bag maybe, I need to ask Jen what that is for. But it is more monkey's and i love monkey's. You will also see my headbands in the background. I totaly was not planning on these.. but jen is a head band pusher... LOL j/k. They were in the bag with the bobby pin things I asked for. And I couldn't help but look.

And the bobby pin things that started it all. when I talked to jen 2 weeks ago about getting some stuff... This was all I had planned on. LOL What can I say I am a sucker for handmade stuff!

Piddleloop Go Check it out!

Whistle while you work.....

2007-01-17T07:50:00.000-06:00

Ok so while I am logged into my work, when i have down time, i knit! Yay! But besides knitting I also have been listening to streaming tv, i never really watch tv. My latest obssion is the show Hero's. yes I know I am about a million years behind on this wave, but i love it. Kind of x filey, kind of not. My problem is that in the past 2.5 weeks I have managed to watch all of the episodes and well there won't be another new one posted for like another week. What am I going to do???? Yes I have my knitting but i need to multi task at all times!!!! YIKES!

In other news 1 pair of socks done, Moms purple ones. And yesterday I battled the toe up socks, and I won. Well I won so far. I am not to the point of the heel yet.

non-knitting, but I had to get it out.

2007-01-14T21:01:00.001-06:00

As some of you know all of my life my dad sang in either a barbershop chorus, quartet or both. And with that Gwen and I were raised at what is fondly refered to as "barber brats". This group of people honestly became extended family to us. I have about a million non-related "uncles".

this afternoon as I was logging off of work, my mom called. I didn't answer the first time, but when she called right back i did answer. Jack, a long time friend and lead in many of my dad's quartet had passed away this morning. And it honestly caught me off guard. And it shouldn't have. Over christmas his battle with prostate cancer had gotten to the point of just pain management. They went ahead and put him into hospice. But he was still having good days. And when I went to visit he made me laugh and giggle like he always did. And he even got Maggie to sit still long enough to tell her the story of rindercella.

To hear that he was gone today was honestly just a smack over the head and i have still not absorbed it. My heart is broken, I will forever miss my Uncle Jack. but even more I am sad that Maggie will not know him. He lived a wonderful life and has 3 grown kids, and multitudes of grandchildren. And he was a very loved man. He will be very missed.

Rindercella

Rindercella
(As told by Archie Campbell)

Once upon a time in a corn foundry there lived a geautiful birl and her name
was Rindercella. Now Rindercella lived with her mugly other and two sad
blisters. Also in this same corn foundry there lived a pransome hince, and
this pransome hince was going to have a bancy fall and he'd invited people
for riles amound especially the pich reople. Now Rindercella's mugly other
and her two sad blisters went to town to buy some dancy fesses for the
bancy fall, but Rindercella couldn't go cause all she had to wear were some
old ruddy dags. Finally the night of the bancy fall arrived and Rindercella
couldn't go so she just crank down and shried. And she was sitting there
shrieing when all of the sudden there appeared before her, her gay
mudfather and he touched her with his wagic mand and there appeared
before her a kig bulch and hix white sorces to take her to the bancy fall,
and he said -- "Rindercella, be sure and be home before midnight or I'll
purn you into a tumpkin!" Wh
and Rindercella spaced down the rairs and just as she beached the rottom
she slopped her dripper! The next day this pransome hince went all over
this corn foundry looking for the geautiful birl who had slopped her dripper.
They finally came to Rindercella's house, and he tried it on the mugly other
and it fidn't dit. Then he tried lt on the two sisty uglers and it fidn't dit an
d
then he tried it on Rindercella and it fid dit! It was exactly the sight rize!
And so they were married and lived heavenly after happily. Now the storal
of the mory is: if you go to a bancy fall and you want a pransome hince to
lell in fove with you -- don't forget to slop your dripper!

Things that are created when I am bored....

2007-01-14T08:46:00.000-06:00

So while I was "working" this morning, I started to think about my stash. And how I really should sort some of it out. Go through, get rid of some of the yarns that were purchased before I discoverd the LYS. Some acrylic, some not. And so what do I do? Yup I run off to Yahoo to start a purging group.

So come on all you little Fiber Addicts join and start selling, trading, or giving... You know you want too... Just follow the link. Stash Purge.

WIP Wen....

2007-01-10T18:56:00.000-06:00

And I even have photo's today. Let me say in the new year I am really enjoying knitting. Not that i didn't enjoy it before. But Christmas kind of got to me. Right now I don't have a mass amount of UFO's. And 2 of my projects are for me me me. Not to mention the KAL on fiber freaks this month is Socks! And we all know that i just love a pair of socks. I think it is because they are fast for me. Anyway here have a few pics.

These are the only things that I have going for someone else. A pair of socks for mom. They are knit picks purple tweed. I am loving how this yarn is knitting up so much that I don't even want to part with these. Good thing I have some Grey Tweed in the stash.

These are the Very Tall Socks from Knitty. They are going to be great to wear if I ever really get them done. At least I have them casted on to fit me and have figured out all the decrease math. Got to love us thick thighed girls.

Does it look like a sweater yet. Let me tell you it will soon, I promise. I had the hardest time picking the yarn for this sweater. I am naturaly drawn to grey's for sweaters so all of my sweaters are that color. So I decided to go with my favorite color avacado green!!!!! yummy!

So that is where I am at right now more updates to follow soon.

fried fried fried....

2007-01-09T21:56:00.000-06:00

My new computer that was a birthday present, since the old one died in the horrible storm in august. Is now.... DEAD. Computer doc was able to pull the memory out for us to use when we get a new desktop. But it was not able to be saved otherwise. And to think I just got it working the way I liked it. *le sigh*.

In knitting news still working on my tall socks, yes i picked them back up. And currently working on my sweater for me. I am honestly have a great time knitting this sweater. I get most of the work done on it in the morning while i am doing my work from home gig.

Other then that not much to post. Our camera is MIA! so I don't have any pics to post at this time. As soon as it is found, I will be posting more. But for now I am going to go and put my sleepy head to bed.

can you smell the eletric frying

2007-01-07T22:30:00.000-06:00

The electronics in our family room fried sometime on saturday night. Desktop computer won't power up. PS2 will not power up. Cable box will not power up. We still aren't sure what happened. but right now i am on the crappy ass laptopl where i spend most of my time proofreadaing since it adds random letters as i am typing. Rather then proof read tonight I am just going to let you guys see waht i am talking about. Going to take the computer to the doc tomarrow to see if it can be saved. *cross your fingers for me*

PS I have about 2.5 inches on the sweater done.

WIP Wen.

2007-01-03T23:19:00.001-06:00

Only one thing of importance to report.... I CASTED ON MY FIRST SWEATER!!!!! I knit a few rounds also. thank you Erin for suggesting the Zimmerman book. Reading it just made a light go off in my head and say "wow i was really trying to make this too hard!"
Anyway I have SNB tomarrow so I will be taking it to work on. Straight Stockinet Stitch for a million rounds can make a woman insane. So I shall go insane in the company of friends.

My Knitting Resolutions.....

2006-12-30T22:04:00.000-06:00

1. Knit more for myself.
2. Knit a sweater for myself. I am acuatly waiting on my Zimmerman book to get here for that.
3. Learn to do color work.
4. Learn how to read those little graph things that intimdate the heck out of me.
5. Knit a couple of baby blankets. (come on i had to have something that was reachable.)

2 things....

2006-12-29T22:22:00.000-06:00

If i ever knit another Irish Hiking Scarf it will be too soon. I will post FO pic later this weekend. Hopefully with Linz wearing it.

Also I thought this was cute.

What kind of knitting needles are you?

You are interchangeable.Fun, free, and into everything, you've got every eventuality covered and every opportunity just has to be taken. Every fiber is wonderful, and every day is a new beginning. You are good at so many things, it's amazing, but you can easily lose your place and forget to show up. They have row counters for people like you!
Take this quiz!

Quizilla |
Join

| Make A Quiz | More Quizzes | Grab Code

A little more indepth, since it seems I have a little bit of time...

2006-12-26T07:14:00.000-06:00

Ok, so I have logged into work, and either they are slow. Or the system is broken. I have had one call in the last 15 minutes, and well I like it that way! Anyway I guess, I spoke too soon just had a call.. LOL... but anyway!

Christmas for all the stress and the crazies I had going along with it, was wonderful. My parents were able to fly in on Christmas eve, thank god! Jack was just as bad as any little kid with christmas. Maggie made the smalles noise around 6.30, one that i would have normaly rolled over and went back to sleep for. But nope Jack had decided that the baby was up and christmas needed to start. He was jumping around like a 9 year old, wanting to give everyone their presents. It was very refreshing to see him have that much energy and excitment. He has been having a bout of depression since being laid off so early this year.

Maggie loved her persents, espically the toy box that Santa brought. She honestly tried to crawl in it first thing. It is a little too tall for her to do that though. She was also happy to open the present under the tree that had been making noise and flashing at her for the past 2 days. I had to rip it out of her hands twice on Christmas eve, causing many tears.

After doing presents with Jack and Dennis, we headed over to my mom and dads house. And did the present thing all over again :). This is where santa left all the good stuff.... LOL. My parents honestly got maggie a ride on zebra thing.

Since santa is too busy to wrap presents for our house he had just placed it in her pack and play there. I have never seen her try to climb into the pack and play before. It was good fun had by all.

Well work has picked up so I will post more later.

2006-12-26T06:27:00.000-06:00

Ok I survived christmas..... and I would like to say that my Niece and Nephew have the biggest freakin heads ever, and their mother has the smallest head. I don't know how that works. I am going to re-work both Zoe, and Holdens hats. I didn't have the heart to take holdens away though, he was wearing it even though it was too small. LOL! OK, I need to log in to my work from home job now. I will do a more indepth post later.

Hope everyone else had a very happy holiday.