Noro

Feast your eyes on my latest sock yarn. It is being gingerly held by my favorite Miss America piece from our depression glass collection. I do not know what pattern I will choose, but I am open to suggestions.

Meadow

Before you all begin to think that I don't knit anymore, I want to share pictures of the finished Meadow vest. Keep in mind that the vest had not been blocked before I took the pictures.

Front View
Back View

I will admit that I love the way this looks, but the next time I make it I need to lengthen the body and make a v-neck instead of a round neck. As much as I hate to admit, I think that I should have made it in two pieces as well, because the striping becomes so visibly different at the tops as well. Who knows? It will get blocked this weekend and be ready to wear during Spring Break if the weather dictates.

I thought that I would share this one since Friday is Leap Day and this is a Leap Year!

Leap Year Martini Recipe

• 6 parts citrus-flavored vodka
• 1 part sweet vermouth
• 1 part Grand Marnier
• 1/2 teaspoon fresh lemon juice

Combine all ingredients in a cocktail shaker with cracked ice and shake well. Strain into a chilled cocktail glass.

Thank You Martha!

I had the most wonderful package waiting for me when I got home last night. It was from Martha and it was for the Scavenger Hunt Swap. Look at these pictures:











For those of you that have never participated in a swap, you might not totally understand the fun of this. We were given seven categories and we had to send a package of goodies that had at least four knitting/fiber related matches.

Martha did her homework trolling around my blog and my Ravelry site. She sent me yummy chocolate that is made locally in her very home town. She sent me the best stitch markers, trying so very hard to get me something ruby colored. The green fish wind chime is one of my favorites of the whole box. And the card is just too cute for words. The bath fizzies and the coffee could possible end up getting shared with Wifey, but the yarny goodness is all mine. The Socks That Rock is the most amazing blue you have ever seen. The most special part of the whole package was the Spoiler's Choice. Martha sent me Debbie Bliss Cathay (five skeins) to make the Clementine Shawlett that is in my queue in Ravelry for the Munchkin's graduation.

Martha is a class act and I look forward to reading her blog and her Ravelry site more to get to know her better. Thank you again Martha for starting my week off so wonderfully!

No It's Not Knitting But It IS Fun

Fudge Swirl Martini

Treat yourself and someone special to this delectable, chocolaty martini.

1 Part Chocolate Vodka
1 Part White Chocolate Liqueur
1 Part Vanilla Vodka

Mix ingredients in a shaker with ice, shake and pour into a chilled martini glass rimmed with cocoa powder.

We have a new granddaughter.....

Okay, don't panic. Munchkin has adopted a puppy. Her name is Nina. She is part lab and American bulldog. Here are two pictures of her from this weekend.....

Birthday Party Pictures

Munchkin came home this weekend to take some pictures for her photography class and to celebrate her birthday with us. Here are a few pictures that show a small portion of the celebration.

Happy Birthday Munchkin!

SITMT Contest 1 - All about the love

Okay, we have been asked to post about a special Valentine's Day. WARNING - Picture HEAVY post ahead!



My best ever Valentine's Day will forever be the day that the Munchkin was born. She was born on February 14, 1986 at 12:40 AM CST. She is the best gift that I could have ever received on such a holiday that shows love.

Having stated that, the most memorable Valentine's Day for me would have to be the year that Wifey took me to Michelangelo's Restaurante' . We trade off each year with the planning and execution of our anniversary and Valentine's Day. For instance, our tenth anniversary was this past November (2007) and thus Wifey has Valentine's Day 2008. If memory serves me correctly, the date I am referring to was our second Valentine's and she picked the restaurant and then told me the dress code. We had a lovely and romantic dinner and dessert. She always sends me roses to my job, and they usually come in one of our antique vases. She selects the vase and takes it to the florist and they help her select the arrangement. I have never been disappointed. Some examples of the deliveries are above.....

Be My Valentine Swap 2008

Oh My Gosh! Wait till you see all the stuff that I received from forbiddenknitter!





I enjoyed this swap so much. All of the participants were amazing to "talk" with and the contests were great. For those of you that have never participated in a swap on Ravelry, I highly recommend that you consider it.

Thanks again to Ragdoll and Forbiddenknitter for being such fab hostesses!

SITMT Contest 3 - Share the Yarn Love

Okay folks....in this contest we have been asked to post about ten of our favorite yarns, so here there are in no certain order:

1. Rowan Cotton Glace the colors are just wonderful and the pair of footies that I made with this yarn was amazing! (I made the orange footies out if this - Ravelry Projects)
2. Rowan Classic Yarn CashCotton this has to be one of the most delicious yarns I have ever used. A combination of Cashmere and Cotton...... (I made the pale green footies out of this - Ravelry Projects)
3. Rowan Classic Yarn CashSoft put this in same category as the CashCotton (I am making the Haruha Scarf out of this - Ravelry Projects)
4. Artyarns Regal Silk this was yarn I picked out to make the Red Carpet Convertible but I decided against it. I have it slated for a stole and the swatch was heavenly. I can't wait to actually make the shawl up with this yarn.
5. Claudia's Hand Painted Yarns the socks that I made for my father-in-law were made with this amazing yarn. I am hoping to get more to make the Chevron Scarf in my Ravelry Queue.
6. SouthWest Trading Company, Inc. Tofutsies Yarn with the humid climate here, this yarn is great for making socks that breathe.....
7. Regia Sock Yarn what more can be said? I love the Kaffe Fassett Design Line, the 4 Ply Color Yarns (self striping), and the Bamboo Color Yarns.
8. Mama Llama Yarns made right here in Texas! I won some of this when I went to Yarntopia to see Crazy Aunt Purl. The colorway is called EarthFaire and it is beautiful.
9. Berroco Yarns there are so many I love. I have used the Glace for one version of the Sahara and it is the most comfortable sweater. I have also been fixated on Bonsai for another version of the Sahara.
10. Tilli Thomas Yarns if money were no object, I would make a long sleeve version of Sahara in this yarn. The original pattern calls for Pure and Simple and Rock Star. Some day I will make this version, perhaps when I graduate from college.
11. Plymouth Yarn Baby Alpaca Grande I am using this to make Cherie Amour from Knitty. This stuff borders on sinful.

SITMT Contest 2 - Spring Knitting

Our gracious host of the Sock It To Me Twice KAL has posted three contests. I am going to discuss contest number two with this post.

The one big thing that I really want to knit for the Spring is a Comfort Shawl or the Clementine Shawlette. Both patterns are from Knitting Daily. I want to make it to wear Mother's Day weekend when the Munchkin graduates from college.

I want something that will be light and attractive, should the need arise for me to cover my shoulders. May can be a fickle month here in Texas and the graduation starts at 9:00 AM, so we will be in the line to get seats by 8:00 AM. That could mean dampness and the air will be on in the auditorium so that the professors and graduates don't expire from heat with the gowns and Pomp and Circumstance.

If you have a chance to poke around Ravelry, drop by my queue. You can see pictures of the next items that will be going on the needles. I want to make more tops that I can wear with my skirts and that "show" the work that has been taking place in the gym as well.

Okay....I'm day dreaming to avoid studying for a math exam.....

Okay, so I know that all of you teacher types will kill me for even admitting the fact that I am really not in the mood to study for the math exam that I am taking tonight. The weather is just plain yucky and I don't feel like looking at one more math equation. Simple and straight to the point!

Instead, I am daydreaming of these.....



and these



and this



and this




I know......no gifts will be exchanged this year, but how can you resist chocolate pearls and chocolate diamonds? This will most likely be added to the growing birthday/Anniversary/Christmas wish list. I would look so much more beautiful in Chocolate Pearls and Diamonds.......

Back to my math exam and to my real day job......

Okay, so Valentine's Day is coming....

Okay, yes Thursday is Valentine's Day. It is also Munchkin's 22nd birthday.

I'm not sure what any of you have planned for that day, so I'll just let you know a few things that I know will be taking place around our humble abode.

We have agreed that we will be hiring a stone mason to lay crushed aggregate and crushed granite paths in our back yard. He and his crew will clear sod, lay the weed block, place the metal edging where it goes, lay sand, and then the stones. We will be getting a few rows of 18" x 18" patio stones added around the patio and the house for more usable space as well. All of this so that the yard is more environmentally sound and ready for Munchkin's graduation. This is the last piece of the garden development that was planned. It will center the certification, as we will not need to use any chemicals or have the mower anywhere near the pond and the gardens. The stone mason is even going to help me upgrade the existing pond by adding a cast iron tub. I wish I could say that I could manage that without him, but I would need an army of many to just move it.

Why am I telling you this? Because, normally I am very spoiled. I would normally get something you might see on this website. But I agreed to forgo the normal gift exchange so that we could get this last piece done. I will be happy about it, but I will miss the flower delivery to the office and the stares that they cause when I don't offer who they are from.

I have been advised that there is a special dinner planned, so I am not altogether unhappy. Just a bit grumpy. It was my idea, but I am wondering who took over my body and when I will return to normal. I do get to open my gift from Be My Valentine Swap 2008 (Ravelry). I know that it is from Luci. And I also saw pictures......I know how yummy it will be.

I promise to post pictures. I also have almost completed meadow and should be able to post pictures here and update Ravelry. I have been working on some other things that I will psot about tomorrow.

Longing for Spring Swap

Questionnaire

1. Do you knit or crochet? How long have you been at your craft? – I can actually do both, but I prefer knitting. I have been crocheting for thirty-six years and knitting for thirty-four years.
2. What are your favorite yarns/fibers? What are your least favorite yarns/fibers? - Living in a humid climate, I tend to like materials that breath. I love bamboo and silk and cotton blends. I have been using some soy blends as well. I am not really a yarn snob. I like to think that every yarn has a place and a project. I use Red Heart yarns for a lot of the items that I make for the hospitals becasue they are easier for them to wash and care for. I just am not too fond of fur and eyelash yarns....
3. What are your favorite colors? What are your least favorite colors? – Blue (all shades expect pastel), Purple (especially regal purple), and mixes/color ways. I am not too fond of anything in the orange family or neon colors.
4. What ‘warm weather’ project are you looking forward to making this year? – I will be making a second Sahara with some wonderful Brown Sheep yarn in a Robin’s Egg Blue that Wifey picked. I will also be making a wrap to wear to the Munchkin’s graduation. I haven’t picked out a pattern yet, so I am open to suggestions.
5. What are you favorite scents? Least favorite? – I love vanilla and musk and have been know to wear patchouli at times. My favorite perfumes are Opium, Obsession, and Shalimar. I really don’t care for really sweet and frilly smelling things. I am also getting fond of the Brown Sugar and Fig at Batch and Body Works…. – thanks to Wifey.
6. What is your favorite flower? – Hands down it would have to be the Rose, followed by bearded irises. From there I would add stargazer lilies and calla lilies. I also love most bulbs, especially the Amaryllis.
7. What are you favorite spring time hobbies/activities? – Garden rejuvenation followed by bike riding, golf, camping (when we can) and knitting in the evening on the patio while watching all of nature wake up. I have also been known to be busy snapping pictures too. I love spring pictures.
8. Do you have a garden? If you do, tell us a little about it. Do you like to plant flowers or vegetables? – Our back yard is a certified wildlife preserve, so I guess I can safely say that I garden. We have a mix of native plants and flowers, as well as shrubs, trees, and vegetables. Most of the items were planted for the visitors, but some of the veggies and flowers are for us too.
9. What are your favorite sweets? – Chocolate (Dark/White/Milk) and Necco Wafers, but I have been known to grab a Milkyway Midnight to satisfy all the needs/cravings. I also love peeps and cherry sours and the gourmet jelly beans….odd mix I know.
10. Do you collect anything? – Depression Glass, Elegant Glass, Hull Pottery, Vintage Knitting and Sewing Patterns, and knitting needles (too much stuff according to some of our family and friends).
11. Do you have any allergies? – Only to artificial sweeteners (Equal/Splenda)
12. Do you have any pets? – We have one dog (Onyx and she is 8) and two cats (Eraser who is 5 and Sassy who is 3). We also have a musk turtle (Pipsqueak) that lives in our pond.

Of couse, if you are the lucky person to get me as your partner, just ask me anything that I didn't cover and I'll be happy to "enlighten" the subject.

Wow....what happened to the weekend?

Wow, the last thing I remember was that I posted that I would add more when I got off work on Friday. That seems like an eternity ago. Why?

Well, I got home and it was a beautiful afternoon. I threw on work clothes and edged the front and back yard, trimmed the hedges, cleaned out the weeds from one flower bed, and mowed the back and front yards. I started at 1:00 PM and finished at 5:30 PM. I was so tired. Wifey graciously treated me to Vietnamese for dinner and I think that I fell asleep by 9:15 PM.

Saturday jolted me into reality again. We had a golf date with the Special Couple and they arrived at our house at 9:15 AM. We played eighteen holes of golf and got home at around 3:30 PM. We cleaned house a bit, and the Special Couple arrived back at our house for a Steak and Crab dinner at 5:30 PM.

Sunday, we had a birthday brunch to attend, so we actually slept in until 7:30 AM.....shocked aren't you?! After the brunch we had several errands to do, one of which was getting pet food for the cats, the dog, and the turtle. More on Pipsqueek later. We were slated to attend a Super Bowl get together at the Special Couple's house and be there by 4:30 PM.

I am pleased to say that the Back of Meadow was completed during the Super Bowl and the Front should be finished tonight. That will leave the neck bands and the armhole bands and then the shoulder seams. Pictures later this week.

By the way....I will be posting about some swaps that are on Ravelry later this week as well.

Blog Renovations

Not much posting from me this week....I have been working on my Dreamweaver tutorials and Paint Shop Pro tutorials.....

I have also been working on the goodies for the Scavenger Hunt Swap.

Also....take a look see at the Longing For Spring Swap button on the side bar. I designed the button and the banner for Amy. There are still plenty of open spaces in the swap, so go check it out and get tempted.....

More later after I get home. I get off work in 35 minutes.....