Wednesday, May 30, 2007

Weigh-In Wednesday

5.5 pounds lost this week! Woohoo!

Thursday, May 24, 2007

Grrrr...

I need ANOTHER skein of yellow for the baby blanket--I ran out of yarn again! They seriously under-estimated yardage for the yellow on this pattern. I still have 18 rows of one side border left to do, plus the facings on the long sides to cover the steeked edges. So I guess it's back to the shawl until I can get to the yarn store Saturday.

Tuesday, May 22, 2007

So. Many. Photos.

(Click on any picture to enlarge)

Here is the baby blanket, all steeked and cut! As you can see, I'm working on one side border now.....


And here you can see what I'm going to have to cover up on the back. Betcha no one wants to trade projects with me right now


Our garden in the backyard (which we do absolutely nothing with, anything that grows is probably because I don't go back there much) has lots of flowers starting to bloom. Looky:





I even found a butterfly out there that let me take his picture:


And I brought in one stem of (irises?) which Taffy had to inspect:


And look at this big-ass weed. It's ginormous.


My Dad let me pick out dolls I wanted from Mom's doll room, and I HAD to take this one--isn't she too adorable?


I took these because they actually look like Mom when she was little:


Last picture! You made it! These were a nice surprise delivered this morning from my sis Amy. They're candles that help eliminate pet odors, and *new* scents to boot. I have strawberry, lavendar/chamomile, rose, and honeydew. Yum!


Amy also sent some information on this new service called Buddies, in which you send in an ink print of your pet's paw (they also show nose prints!) and they resize it and make a wax mold to produce a charm, cuff links, ring, or other stuff. It is really a neat keepsake.

And lastly, I have to sell my Michael Buble tickets because Sir B got me better seats!! That's right, we had box seats (which I wasn't thrilled with, but I figured I at least had seats) and now we're going to be in the seventh row. I am wetting my pants with excitement!! Two months is going to seem like forever. So if you're in the Chicago area and want to buy two box seats for the July 24th show, let me know.

Wednesday, May 16, 2007

The black thumb of death strikes again!

Yup, my strawberries are dead....


I finished the fair isle portion of the baby blanket and ripped the crap bottom border...

Yesterday I had to run to Rockford (loving Yarn Sellar, they have saved me so many times now!!) for one skein of Baby Ull to finish five. stinking. rows., plus another skein of yellow for the borders. I also stopped at Barnes and Noble and got two books-- Charmed Knits: Projects for Fans of Harry Potter and When Bad Things Happen To Good Knitters. The Harry Potter book was a hit at Stitch-In, it has lots of cute patterns, all modeled after knits from the movies. And When Bad Things Happen... has lots of great information to help you right a wrong (don't kid yourself, we all have them. Some bigger than others).

Lexie hiding UNDER the tent:


Sigh. She's brain-damaged, but we love her anyways.

P.S. I just realized this month is my two year blogiversary! Wow!

Friday, May 11, 2007

Meme

I found this on Wooly Mutts blog today, and am tagging everyone who reads this to try it yourself! Leave me a comment so I can see your list.

Mark with bold the things you have knit, with italics the ones you plan to do sometime, and leave the rest.

Afghan
I-cord
Garter stitch
Knitting with metal wire
Shawl
Stockinette stitch
Socks: top-down

Socks: toe-up
Knitting with camel yarn
Mittens: cuff up
Mittens: Tip-down
Hat
Knitting with silk (am using a silk-wool blend, but am counting it!)
Moebius band knitting
Participating in a KAL
Sweater
Drop stitch patterns
Knitting with recycled/secondhand yarn
Slip stitch patterns
Knitting with banana fiber yarn
Domino knitting (=modular knitting)
Twisted stitch patterns
Knitting with bamboo yarn
Two end knitting
Charity knitting
Knitting with soy yarn
Cardigan
Toy/doll clothing (it was crocheted, but I'm counting it)
Knitting with circular needles (all. I. use.)
Baby items
Knitting with your own hand-spun yarn
Slippers
Graffiti knitting
Continental knitting
Designing knitted garments
Cable stitch patterns (incl. Aran)
Lace patterns

Publishing a knitting book
Participate in an exchange
Scarf

Teaching a child to knit
American/English knitting (as opposed to continental)
Knitting to make money (crochet, again...)
Buttonholes
Knitting with alpaca
Fair isle knitting
Norwegian knitting
Dying with plant colors
Knitting items for a wedding
Household items (dishcloths, washcloths, tea cosies…)
Knitting socks (or other small tubular items) on one or two circulars
Knitting with someone else’s hand-spun yarn
Knitting with dpns
Holiday related knitting
Teaching a male how to knit
Bobbles
Knitting for a living
Knitting with cotton
Knitting smocking
Dying yarn
Steeks
Knitting art
Knitting two socks on two circulars simultaneously
Fulling/felting
Knitting with wool
Textured knitting
Kitchener stitch
Knitted flowers
Purses/bags
Knitting with beads
Swatching
Long Tail CO
Entrelac
Knitting and purling backwards
Machine knitting
Knitting with self patterning/self striping/variegated yarn
Stuffed toys
Knitting with cashmere
Darning
Jewelry
Knitting with synthetic yarn
Writing a pattern
Gloves
Intarsia
Knitting with linen
Knitting for preemies
Tubular CO
Free-form knitting
Short rows
Cuffs/fingerless mits/arm-warmers
Pillows
Knitting a pattern from an on-line knitting magazine
Rug
Knitting on a loom
Thrummed knitting
Knitting a gift
Knitting for pets

Shrug/bolero/poncho
Knitting with dog/cat hair
Hair accessories
Knitting in public

Monday, May 07, 2007

Lots going on!

Phew, I've been busy!
  • Last Friday my friend Catherine and I went to hear a lecture given by the Dalai Lama in Madison, WI. He was a little hard to understand, but it was incredible! He came up on stage and sat on a loveseat, taking off his shoes and getting into the lotus position. He liked to joke around, and his laugh was infectious--he'd laugh and rock back and forth until the whole place was laughing too.
  • Work has been super busy lately, which is wonderful for me. I'm meeting new clients almost every day.
  • I'm almost done with the first of four decrease charts on the shawl. I would like to get back to the baby blanket and finish that up, but I am addicted to this shawl!!
  • I bought my tickets today to see Michael Buble in concert on July 24th in Chicago. I am giddy with anticipation! The last time I saw him in concert was last June, and I could handle seeing him every year, that's for sure. And this year I'm bringing my camera!
  • With our vacation only 6 months away, Brad and I are going to try Weight Watchers again. We both have started working out, and we practically have a full gym at our house now--weight machine, dumbbells, treadmill, "The Bean", and a punching bag!