Can someone please tell me where the last 14 days have actually gone? Seriously....., I got back from Spring Break and on March 24th I sent out a little resume to in response to an opening that I heard about that was right up my alley. Office Manager for a woman owned business that had a need for my skills. The entire process took only a week and I was hired.
Then, I started the meltdown process where I had to core dump all of my knowledge of the current job into Policies and Procedures and train the "replacement", the boss's stepson. Don't even go there, trust me. My last day with the "old" company was April 11th. No rest for the weary....., I started the new job on Monday the 14th.
The first week has been a blur. I had to learn all of the accounting from the temp that had been there for the last two months....., and learn about what we actually do. I also had to assist the owner and her personal assistant with a huge presentation to a client by merging bios and other documents into special stationary. It is amazing sometimes at what the old brain actually stores up there.....This week has been a little less stressful, even though I just ran payroll for the first time.....
And lest you think that I have not been knitting, I have. I am almost done with Cherie Amour. I need to post some pictures ASAP. The baby alpaca is SO amazing! I have made some modifications to the front, and I'll record them in Ravelry for posterity. I have also been working on two Pay It Forward gifts......, they will be done after the Munckin's graduation!
I have also been gathering up my goodies for the Saucy Knitters Hot Sauce Swap and the Four Seasons Spring Swap. They will go out this week, maybe even today! I also have an Angel package that will be mailed this week, but I can't tell you anything else so that I can remain a secret until the package is received. I promise to post about it when I can.
Bear with me....I do have more pictures of the renovations to the back yard to share too....I will try to get another post in before Friday....and you will also see me lurking around your blogs again and posting comments. Watch for me on Ravelry...I have some delicious martini recipes to post as well....
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
Tuesday, April 8, 2008
Have a Look/See at what we've been having done
Here at the humble abode, we are in full swing getting ready for Munchkin's graduation. In case I haven't mentioned it, it is 32 days away, on Saturday, May 10th! We decided that we needed to spruce up the back yard, so we took some of Wifey's bonus monies and a portion of our tax refunds to overhaul some areas. I will share some of the pictures below and later I'll dig up some of the original "before" pictures and share them.
Yes, that is a toilet you see in the background. Just wait till the flowers in it begin to bloom. Trust Me.
Yes, that is a tub you see. It will be transformed in to a pond. Trust me.
Excavation in progress....
Original 10' x 10' patio has been enlarged with two rows of 18" x 18" pavers giving us three more feet on the front and left edge.
Two rows of the 18" x 18" pavers were laid against the edge of the house to extend the surface for the grill, the pool box, and my potting bench and crushed granite was laid between the pool patio stones and the new stones.
A transition area between the side fence and the side of the house.
The side of the house with the 18" x 18" stones and the crushed granite. There is a 10" green edging strip against the neighbor's chain link fence to keep the stones in our yard and his grass out.
See the two flowers in the start of the new patio?
The tub transformation almost complete.....
The transformation from a different angle....
Yes, that is a toilet you see in the background. Just wait till the flowers in it begin to bloom. Trust Me. Yes, that is a tub you see. It will be transformed in to a pond. Trust me. Excavation in progress.... Original 10' x 10' patio has been enlarged with two rows of 18" x 18" pavers giving us three more feet on the front and left edge. Two rows of the 18" x 18" pavers were laid against the edge of the house to extend the surface for the grill, the pool box, and my potting bench and crushed granite was laid between the pool patio stones and the new stones. A transition area between the side fence and the side of the house. The side of the house with the 18" x 18" stones and the crushed granite. There is a 10" green edging strip against the neighbor's chain link fence to keep the stones in our yard and his grass out. See the two flowers in the start of the new patio? The tub transformation almost complete..... The transformation from a different angle....We have to re-pot all of the terra cotta pots and then freshen up the hibiscus bed with new plants and mulch and this view is complete. There are three other beds that you cannot see yet that need to be weeded and overhauled before the graduation party. I have a spreadsheet created with every possible task outlined so hopefully we don't miss anything. Tell me what you think so far.....
Friday, April 4, 2008
Sock It To Me Twice Update
I have been dying to post the socks that I made for my secret partner but I wanted to make sure that she had gotten them before I spoiled the surprise. I had never used Jitterbug, and boy was it yummy! I used the colorway called Castagna and EVERYONE now wants a pair of socks made with it. Here are a few pictures.
I'm not sure that my pitiful photographer skills actually show off the colors as well as they deserve to be represented. The yarn had yummy greens, browns, pinks, and touches of yellow/cream. I used the Stansfield 304 pattern from Charlene Schurch's More Sensational Knitted Socks. I started them on February 22nd and Finished them on March 22nd. I discovered that I cannot knit and watch NCAA basketball. I twisted the second sock four times.....YUK!
Their new owner has plenty of yarn left over to make herself some footies or a pair of socks for her three year old son.
Now, back to my Pay-It-Forward gifts in progress....
I'm not sure that my pitiful photographer skills actually show off the colors as well as they deserve to be represented. The yarn had yummy greens, browns, pinks, and touches of yellow/cream. I used the Stansfield 304 pattern from Charlene Schurch's More Sensational Knitted Socks. I started them on February 22nd and Finished them on March 22nd. I discovered that I cannot knit and watch NCAA basketball. I twisted the second sock four times.....YUK!
Their new owner has plenty of yarn left over to make herself some footies or a pair of socks for her three year old son.
Now, back to my Pay-It-Forward gifts in progress....
Tuesday, April 1, 2008
All About Spring Break 2008
Spring Break is always a wonderful event for Wifey and I. We pack up the mommy van and head to Florida! We go to Spring Training Games (affectionately known as the Grapefruit League), we eat excellent seafood, we drink from time to time, we golf, and we lounge on the beach. Instead of a long and boring entry, I'll just share a few of the pictorial highlights.....
Tampa Ray's Left Fielder - Carl Crawford (one of Wifey's ex-students)
Tampa Ray's Left Fielder - Carl Crawford (one of Wifey's ex-students)
Wifey's Dad golfing with us
Me enjoying a lobster roll lunch and a rum runner. Yes I was looking right into the sun....
The perfect chair for a vacation resort!
Madeira Beach where we were staying. This view is from the cabana our last day there.
Tampa Ray's Left Fielder - Carl Crawford (one of Wifey's ex-students) Tampa Ray's Left Fielder - Carl Crawford (one of Wifey's ex-students) Wifey's Dad golfing with us Me enjoying a lobster roll lunch and a rum runner. Yes I was looking right into the sun.... The perfect chair for a vacation resort! Madeira Beach where we were staying. This view is from the cabana our last day there.Friday, March 28, 2008
Saucy Knitters Hot Sauce Swap Questionnaire
Hot Sauce
1. What kinds of sauces do you like? Do you like ‘em hot and spicy or more toward the sweet? Do you like four alarms going off at once, or a heat that builds? - I like 'em more sweet and whimpy. I want to be able to savor them instead of crying from the heat.
2. Do you have any sauces that you do not like at all? - No, because they all have a purpose.
3. What do you like your hot sauce on? - I like it on greens (collard/mustard/turnip) with a good piece of cornbread. most of all.
4. What kinds of recipes do you like to work your hot sauce magic with? Do you BBQ? Throw it in take-out? Put a dash into your eggs in the morning? Do you like to cook, or do you prefer to just dress up a good take-out dish? - I do cook with it in the winter in soups and chili, and I add it to BBQ sauce for chicken.
5. Do you have any particular food allergies that should be avoided when picking out a hot sauce? - Nope.
6. Recipe you would like to share? - I will have to edit this to go find the link, but there is one for the Kentucky Derby that I like.
Yarn
1. Do you knit or crochet? - Both, but more knitting than anything else.
2. What are your favorite types of yarns to work with? - I like natural fibers most of all, but with the humid Houston weather I have to be mindful of the "breathability" of the yarn as well. I use acrylics for people that I know would not be able to handle hand washing anything. And for blankets for new mommies too. They don't have time for hand washing of any kind.
3. What do you have on the needles (or hook!) right now? - This could take a long time....I have Cherie Amour, Haruha Scarf, Clementine Shawlette, RPM socks, and 10 UFO's that I track on the UFO blog.....
4. What are your favorite colors to work with? Are there any colors you wouldn’t want caught dead in your stash? - Blue, blue, blue, and did I mention blue? I also love royal purples (amethyst), pinks as long as they aren't too girly, and earth/neutral tones. NO Orange for me please....
5. Any preference in your hooks/needles? Prefer bamboo over plastic or aluminum? You’re good with whatever you’ve got to work with? Let us know. - I use aluminum crochet hooks mostly because I like the way they feel. Knitting needles are a bit more tricky. I tend to pick the needle after I pick the yarn. Some yarns work better for me on Bamboo and others work better on metals. Not much plastic except in the JUMBO needles and hooks.
6. Notions. C’mon, let us know – if you get one more measuring tape, will you run screaming from the room? Or are you the type that loses stitch markers constantly? What notions do you love and loathe? - With 13 UFO's, I never have too many notions. I love stitch markers, especially when they are natural stones and or pearls. I always misplace my tape measure, so they are handy. I don't have a project bag like I have seen everyone getting, so that would be a fun thing to get.
7. Any fiber allergies we should know about? - None that I know of.
Stuff
1. Are you a snacky type of person? Do you like candy? Chocolate? In between hot sauce applications, what would we find you snacking on? - Pretzels, chocolate, Necco wafers, or pita chips would all be safe bets.
2. Are you into recipe magazines? Knitting mags? What kinds of quick, stash-it-in-your-knitting-bag reading do you like to have on hand? - I have a subscription to Cook's Illustrated, and it is in my briefcase all the time. I love to have the latest Interweave with me as well. I plot out patterns or dream about making stuff. I also always have a word search or a cross word puzzle book with me. Helps to keep the brain sharp.
3. What cheers you up? - My bloggy friends entries, walking Onyx, being in the back yard with the family, Wifey, and a good pattern with the perfect yarn. I almost forgot to mention a perfect martini.
4. Do you collect anything other than yarn? - According to Wifey and the kids, TOO much. We collect Hull pottery, Depression and Elegant Glass, buttons, jewelry, and old/vintage knitting and sewing patterns.
5. Do you have pets? - Not counting the human daughters, we have one dog, Onyx, and two cats, Sassy and Eraser.
6. Any other allergies? - Artificial Sweetners (all of them, including Splenda).
7. Are you a swap newbie, or have you done this before? Any good advice for newbies you’d like to share? -Seasoned Veteran. Please take the time to PRINT and READ your partner's questionnaire. Troll through their blog ALOT and OFTEN! If they are on Ravelry, troll through their friends, look at their queue, looks at their stash, look at the library, and look at the groups that they belong to. You can have so much fun if you invest the time in getting to know the person. You can truly make long lasting friendships if you are an active participant with your partner. A swap should never be a drudgery. It should be fun and exciting, like Christmas.
1. What kinds of sauces do you like? Do you like ‘em hot and spicy or more toward the sweet? Do you like four alarms going off at once, or a heat that builds? - I like 'em more sweet and whimpy. I want to be able to savor them instead of crying from the heat.
2. Do you have any sauces that you do not like at all? - No, because they all have a purpose.
3. What do you like your hot sauce on? - I like it on greens (collard/mustard/turnip) with a good piece of cornbread. most of all.
4. What kinds of recipes do you like to work your hot sauce magic with? Do you BBQ? Throw it in take-out? Put a dash into your eggs in the morning? Do you like to cook, or do you prefer to just dress up a good take-out dish? - I do cook with it in the winter in soups and chili, and I add it to BBQ sauce for chicken.
5. Do you have any particular food allergies that should be avoided when picking out a hot sauce? - Nope.
6. Recipe you would like to share? - I will have to edit this to go find the link, but there is one for the Kentucky Derby that I like.
Yarn
1. Do you knit or crochet? - Both, but more knitting than anything else.
2. What are your favorite types of yarns to work with? - I like natural fibers most of all, but with the humid Houston weather I have to be mindful of the "breathability" of the yarn as well. I use acrylics for people that I know would not be able to handle hand washing anything. And for blankets for new mommies too. They don't have time for hand washing of any kind.
3. What do you have on the needles (or hook!) right now? - This could take a long time....I have Cherie Amour, Haruha Scarf, Clementine Shawlette, RPM socks, and 10 UFO's that I track on the UFO blog.....
4. What are your favorite colors to work with? Are there any colors you wouldn’t want caught dead in your stash? - Blue, blue, blue, and did I mention blue? I also love royal purples (amethyst), pinks as long as they aren't too girly, and earth/neutral tones. NO Orange for me please....
5. Any preference in your hooks/needles? Prefer bamboo over plastic or aluminum? You’re good with whatever you’ve got to work with? Let us know. - I use aluminum crochet hooks mostly because I like the way they feel. Knitting needles are a bit more tricky. I tend to pick the needle after I pick the yarn. Some yarns work better for me on Bamboo and others work better on metals. Not much plastic except in the JUMBO needles and hooks.
6. Notions. C’mon, let us know – if you get one more measuring tape, will you run screaming from the room? Or are you the type that loses stitch markers constantly? What notions do you love and loathe? - With 13 UFO's, I never have too many notions. I love stitch markers, especially when they are natural stones and or pearls. I always misplace my tape measure, so they are handy. I don't have a project bag like I have seen everyone getting, so that would be a fun thing to get.
7. Any fiber allergies we should know about? - None that I know of.
Stuff
1. Are you a snacky type of person? Do you like candy? Chocolate? In between hot sauce applications, what would we find you snacking on? - Pretzels, chocolate, Necco wafers, or pita chips would all be safe bets.
2. Are you into recipe magazines? Knitting mags? What kinds of quick, stash-it-in-your-knitting-bag reading do you like to have on hand? - I have a subscription to Cook's Illustrated, and it is in my briefcase all the time. I love to have the latest Interweave with me as well. I plot out patterns or dream about making stuff. I also always have a word search or a cross word puzzle book with me. Helps to keep the brain sharp.
3. What cheers you up? - My bloggy friends entries, walking Onyx, being in the back yard with the family, Wifey, and a good pattern with the perfect yarn. I almost forgot to mention a perfect martini.
4. Do you collect anything other than yarn? - According to Wifey and the kids, TOO much. We collect Hull pottery, Depression and Elegant Glass, buttons, jewelry, and old/vintage knitting and sewing patterns.
5. Do you have pets? - Not counting the human daughters, we have one dog, Onyx, and two cats, Sassy and Eraser.
6. Any other allergies? - Artificial Sweetners (all of them, including Splenda).
7. Are you a swap newbie, or have you done this before? Any good advice for newbies you’d like to share? -Seasoned Veteran. Please take the time to PRINT and READ your partner's questionnaire. Troll through their blog ALOT and OFTEN! If they are on Ravelry, troll through their friends, look at their queue, looks at their stash, look at the library, and look at the groups that they belong to. You can have so much fun if you invest the time in getting to know the person. You can truly make long lasting friendships if you are an active participant with your partner. A swap should never be a drudgery. It should be fun and exciting, like Christmas.
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