Yarn Pig

One Step at a Time

2010-08-28T12:11:00.001-07:00

I was inspired to give Spark People another try after seeing the success of a woman at work. She too had been struggling with her weight, but she's taken the bull by the horns and really jumped into SP and Couch to 5K. And she looks great!

It really got me thinking about what I was doing - which was just thinking and not doing. At all. I kept coming up with excuses, kept feeling sorry for myself, kept thinking "if only."

* If only I had enough time
* If only I could afford a gym membership
* If only I could find the right program, motivation, etc

BUT: *If* I want to change, I *only* have to take a small step. Standing still isn't helping me, so a step forward will.

This week there were a couple of articles that really spoke to me. One about changing the "2 steps forward, 1 step back" to "1 step back, 2 steps forward." The idea of deliberately seeing the positive instead of the negative.

The other article shot holes in my excuses - I did watch TV off TiVo, so what's an extra half hour wait while I get in a quick walk? Or taking the commercials as an opportunity to quickly get some housework done?

I've been tracking my food this week to get back into the habit. Next week, I'll continue tracking food, but add walking to the routine.

One step at a time.

Quick update, anyone?

2010-07-21T16:01:00.001-07:00

Well, I haven’t done what I thought I would several weeks ago which is write up the year so far. Books have continued to be read, a little bit of knitting continues to happen and I continue to allow other things to prevent me from blogging.

I have a book club meeting tomorrow – the first official “We’ve read a book and plan to discuss it” meeting. We chose C.S. Lewis’ The Great Divorce. Surprisingly, we didn’t have that on the bookshelf so off to Powell’s we went to remedy this glaring omission. (There are plenty of others we lack as well, but this was a definite necessity)

I enjoyed this quick-to-read book. I had been concerned I wouldn’t enjoy it, the possibility it would be a slog to read or that it just wouldn’t speak to me. Instead, I’ve found myself re-reading sections and thinking about past bible studies, my own personality when compared to the ghosts in the story and am very glad it was chosen. I’m looking forward to tonight’s discussion with the girls.

I’ve knit the second Whirligig shrug. The first was knit for a co-worker’s new daughter, the second for my youngest niece. I need to wash and dry them, sew a label into them and wrap them up all pretty for gifting.

We’ve done a little bit of yard work. This year I actually managed to put flowers into the two planters we have placed near the front door. We planted a fir in the front yard that’s likely to get rilly rilly big, but hey, since we don’t plan on living in the house another 30 years, it won’t be our problem.

All right, enough chatting. Back to work.

I'm still here . . . I think

2010-07-02T10:42:00.001-07:00

Half the year is officially past and what do I have to show for it?

Well, I’ve read books in there. Just under 40, I think. Mostly fiction, but I did have a couple of non-fiction in there too. Most recent was a book about a company that provides “bio-remediation" or the removal of bio matter from scenes of death, violent or not. Very fascinating.

Some knitting. A couple of baby sweaters. Some dishcloths.

Working. Bible studies.

I have pictures and need to work up some real posts. It’s a long holiday weekend, so I think that’s what I’ll do.

Happy Easter!

2010-04-04T14:49:00.003-07:00

Tulips are spring to me. They're a simple flower with a short time frame to be enjoyed. They aren't fussy and high maintenance. They don't mind giving way to other showier flowers. They just grow, be what they are and then die away until next spring when it starts all over again.

It's Easter Sunday and families are gathering to enjoy a holiday dinner together. Rob & I are at home rather than heading out to Hillsboro because of the rotten cold I have. It kept me home today rather than going to Easter services and risk passing it on.

Rob said it was a great message today and I'm sorry to have missed it. They also did communion and knowing it's also Resurrection Sunday would have given it even greater weight and meaning.

Right now, Rob is pretending to watch TV, but he's really just napping in his chair. I'm tapping away on the computer, wandering around FB, Ravelry and Google Reader.

I finished a few knitting projects in March: a sweater for Gavin, a mug cozy for Rob, some legwarmers for Khylee.

I still have a hat for Samantha, another hat for Erin, and a baby sweater for a little girl due this month.

I've been doing a little bit of reading in March as well. A bit of a slow month for the books since I've only read three. All by Nora Roberts/JD Robb. The first was The Lost, an anthology with 3 other writers. The Robb story fit in with the Lt. Eve Dallas "In Death" series. It was followed by a library book, Kindred in Death. The last is an old Silhouette by Roberts, Enchanted. It brings back the Donovans from an earlier trilogy, but focuses on a different branch.

I did finish a library book yesterday, Stiff: The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers by Mary Roach. This was very interesting, humorous and a great break from fiction.

What's Been Happening

2010-03-14T08:40:00.001-07:00

Well, we gained a grandson in January: Gavin Russell.
Grandpa Rob is in love. Of course, it doesn't hurt when the pumpkin causing the love also wears a shirt saying "My Grandpa is the Best."

We've been wondering what our cats do when we're gone. The answer appears to include the word "Party."

And I finally finished Mom's sweater. I have a button to sew on and 2 ends to weave in. Yay!

I just wrapped up a sweater for Gavin as well. It only needs buttons. Now to knit:
Legwarmers for Khylee
Hat for Erin
Hat for Katherine
Socks for Rob
Monster doll for Gavin and Joshua

And to read the pile of books from the library.

Not much to do around here.

It's November already?!

2009-11-23T11:40:00.003-08:00

I can't believe it's already the last full week of November and the holidays are about to knock on the door. I knew the holidays were coming and have been thinking about knitted gifts for a select few, but I'm still woefully unprepared.

Let's see, Sean and Erica are expecting a little boy, Gavin, soon. Her original due date was late January and pulled in to mid January, but with the latest appointment (baby's going into a head down position and 6.5 lbs) we're anticipating her going at the end of December.

Erin's still in school, working an on-campus job and just took on a seasonal job scanning tickets at Snoqualmie Summit. She'll be down at Thanksgiving, but with the ski season opening up soon, I imagine she may need to go right back. She's coming down with her boyfriend, David, and staying at her mom's but we'll see her a bit.

I've managed to knit a hat and scarf for a gift basket, but neglected to take pictures (Lame!). I've finished a scarf for a gift and will be casting on for a hat for someone else's gift.

I've continued to read - I'm up to 78 books for the year - and the reading has interfered with the knitting.

There are photos from 2 events on the camera in need of downloading and touch-ups before I send out copies to people.

But bible study is wrapping up and that will give me back a few hours on Sunday and Monday to get these other items done.

I need to get back into regular blogging. I'm spending a lot of time at Facebook (Hello, Farm Town. I'm looking at you). I need to shoot for a weekly update. That wouldn't be too much would it?

I just need to focus.

Getting stuff done

2009-09-27T09:05:00.001-07:00

Am actually getting some knitting done lately! Finished these Natalya gauntlets for Erin, knitted in Pingouin yarn on size 8 DPNs. This is the second time I've knit these for her, but this time it's in a yarn that won't felt in the wash. The first pair didn't have the individual fingers like this pair and that's what she wanted this time.

Have other things going on:

* Finishing Mom's sweater
* Attending the Portland Sail for the Cure for Mom. She's coordinating the Sail in San Diego and I'm going to scout out how Portland does their set-up.
* Knitting a sweater for Khylee's upcoming 7th birthday
* Knitting something for Gigi's upcoming birthday
* Knitting a hat & gloves for the November Creative Exchange "Warm & Cozy" basket
* Knit Christmas gifts for 4 nieces and 1 nephew
* Knit a baby blanket for the new grandson, Gavin, due in January

Mixed in all of that is:

* Bible study through November
* Dental appointments
* Women of Faith in October
* Required time off in the October-December time frame (2 weeks!)

It's going to be busy! I'll just need to be focused and patient like Smudge and Tribble.

Sock Summit!

2009-08-08T20:42:00.000-07:00

Today was Day 3 at Sock Summit 2009. I didn't take any classes, but I did go down as a volunteer today from 7am to 1pm. I worked at the ticket desk selling the marketplace tickets and show books. Great group of ladies led by JoAnn (on ST-2). If there was a lull, everyone was picking up their knitting.

After I was done at 1pm, I made my way into the Marketplace. Lots to see and buy, let me tell you. I'd made a plan by reviewing all the vendors online, going to their websites and deciding to try to spend my money at the smaller booths rather than the larger store booths. Gotta support the independent sellers.

I bought the yarn below:

L to R: Black Watch from RabbitWorks, Andes Mints from StitchJones, South Pacific and Blackbewwie from Lisa Souza, Coffee Haus and Swamp Thing from Rainy Days and Violet from Wool Candy.

Then I also got the accessories below:

L to R: Lovely little triangular bag from Knit Purl Sew What, another project bag from Wendy Sloneker and some pewter sheep stitch markers from KnitWit Momma (at the Mama Llama booth).

I definitely bought more than planned and am trying to convince myself that some of it will be for Christmas gifts. And as Christmas gifts, they don't really count right?

On the flip side of yarn, here's my current to-read pile. A few books were started, but really all of it is just waiting for me to pluck it from the pile and get settled down.

The End is the Beginning

2009-08-02T15:35:00.004-07:00

It's been a difficult day here. I spent an hour on the phone with the daughter who doesn't understand why her father felt the need to ask that she not argue with her brother in the car today. She was insulted and proceeded to argue. Youth always thinks arguing will change the minds of their parents, don't they? Suffice it to say, she was un-invited from joining her father to pick up her brother.

We are struggling right now with adult children (if you can call 19 and 21 adults) who wish to live their lives according to their wants, but who also call us to help them with meeting their needs. How do you support adult children without actually giving them support? Rob and I are trying to lives that embody our Christian beliefs. Trying to love those around us, trying to give over the momentary troubles of today to God in order to focus on the race before us, trying to make right choices on a moment by moment basis. Some days are harder than others and so it is today.

Today brought home to me how much their respect for us and our choices feels like lip service given by them. The expectation of respect for their choices also comes with the expectation we will still provide money when they need it. We are a private lending institution with the names of Dad and Gina.

Don't get me wrong, they love their father. They don't forget Father's Day, they call him on his birthday, and try to give some thought to Christmas gifts for him. But they don't understand they pain they cause him, the grief he has over their choices, his difficulty in sharing his thoughts about their choices.

And, we are so tired. Tired of being taken for granted, tired of being argued with, being told our values, way of thinking, personalities and thought processes are "stupid." Tired of being forgotten (that one is me - no regular Mother's day or birthday greetings for this stepmom). Tired of putting our own financial needs to the side. And you know it's time for a change when you realize you are giving more than a passing thought to moving and not leaving a forwarding address.

We are going to be grandparents. Our son is in a struggling relationship and now she's pregnant. He's determined to be in the child's life, but they have a difficult road ahead of them. They are not married, but living together, can barely make ends meet anyway and now a child is on the way.

Our daughter is in college, but living with her boyfriend. We committed to providing tuition, but all other expenses are hers. There is great struggling for her in wanting to truly be on her own doing whatever she wants and still needing us because she's struggling to make ends meet as well.

When they decided to live with their significant other, we cut off support for living expenses. It may seem harsh, to cut off our children only because they chose to live with their significant other. But as Christians, we will not lend support to sin. But, oh, how we've struggled with it. Who wants their child to have to struggle when it's a simple thing to buy groceries, hiking boots, give money because they lost their wallet?

But, we've reached the point of drawing a tough line and living by it with them. We've felt our hearts being tugged by pity and sorrow for their choices and it's costing us emotionally and monetarily and it is taking a toll on us physically.

We will be putting into action the ability to say no. To say to them "No, we can't help you." To say to ourselves "No, they need to be able to do it themselves." and to say to others "No, they have made the choice to be adults."

We don't know what will be before us once we begin, but oh how glad we are to know we will not be walking this difficult path alone.

Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come,
Let this blest assurance control,
That Christ has regarded my helpless estate,
And hath shed His own blood for my soul.

It is well, with my soul,
It is well, with my soul,
It is well, it is well, with my soul.

Feeling (way too) Hot Hot Hot!

2009-07-29T16:35:00.000-07:00

The temperature in the house (after having the window A/C on for 30 minutes) and the outdoor temperature. The sensor is on the front of our garage and gets the afternoon sun.

Weather Bug says it's only 104 out, but it's just too darn hot!

Mental Floss Quiz!

2009-07-15T09:36:00.001-07:00

Harry Potter Character or Hideous Skin Disease?

Score: 92% (11 out of 12)

I did better than I thought I would!

Happy Fourth!

2009-07-04T14:43:00.001-07:00

Happy Independence Day! It's one day after Mom's birthday (Hi Mom! Did you get my voicemail?) and only a couple of days from my birthday.

But today, we celebrate the birth of our nation the best way Americans can: with food, fireworks and family.

On the agenda today:

1) Go to the Red Cross and donate platelets.

Done. It didn't look like I'd be able to since my iron reading wasn't high enough. But they tested on the other hand and the reading came out fine! And once I was hooked up, my platelet count was high enough to do a triple donation. Score! And just because I was willing to come in on a holiday, I received the above t-shirt, a coupon for 2-for-1 tickets to a Portland Beavers game and an apple pie!

2) Go eat and blow things up at the BIL's. They live out on Sauvie Island and there will be bbq'ing, lots of food, target shooting (for some), knitting (for me) and lots of family. Four generations stuffing their faces and enjoying the heck out of one another.

3) Keep knitting on Mom's sweater. The second sleeve is almost done on her CeCe and about ready to join all the pieces to finish the yoke.

4) Share yarn-y things.

This is the yarn I bought at the Dancing Ewe the last time I was in Ellensburg. In the clearance for only $3 each! 100 g skeins of Allhemp6 in an awesome shade of green.

And these were knit last month for a baby shower. The happy parents opted to not know the sex of the baby so what to make that could work for a boy or girl? How about Blu jeans? Easy peasy to knit and a definite hit with the parents. This may become my go-to baby gift.

My head is spinning!

2009-05-28T10:48:00.002-07:00

So much going on. So much that defies understanding.

The daughter is wrapping up her first year of college. School until Spring Quarter was going well with an A average. But now . . . now . . . it's changing all too quickly.

Once engaged to be married in December, it was broken off in April. Once planning to move in with 3 other girls into a campus apartment, now moving in with a new boyfriend and another couple. Once a strong student, well, still a strong student but one that's going to repeat a class and take an incomplete on another in order to "keep the A average."

Rob and I have always held that we would not provide living expenses should she make the adult decision to live with someone. Adult decisions require adult responsibility. She will now be taking on all expenses for herself with the exception of medical, vision and dental coverage. She knew this, expected it. Except she forgot two other things: Her cell phone? Hers. Her car insurance? Hers.

These last two were shocks to her system. She hadn't planned on paying for those. But, they are part of an adult life and as an adult living with her boyfriend, they are part and parcel as well.

What does this mean for Rob and I? Well, a lot of prayer for our kids who are not following the path we'd hoped they would follow. A resolve to stand for our beliefs as Christians and not underwrite their lifestyles (both will now be living with significant others). A desire to show love to our children while encouraging them to rediscover the faith they've abandoned.

And maybe a few more weekend getaways. For peace of mind, you know.

Happy Mother's Day

2009-05-10T14:43:00.005-07:00

Mom - who raised 3 daughters and a son

My sister Chris - raising two daughters of her own

My sister Kim - just starting out with her first, a daughter

Pictures of the recent fun

2009-04-26T21:17:00.006-07:00

Our vacation location: The Plan Sea out of Chula Vista

Plenty of room for 6 adults and 1 baby. As long as most of the time is spent on deck!

Rob's favorite plants appear to be palm trees. He loves taking pictures of them or being photographed with them. This is out along the jetty where there's a park and path. It was a beautiful morning and we passed a couple of groups doing tai chi in the park.

Dad made sure they had a PFD for Giselle on board. Is she conveying an acceptance to wearing it or astonishment over Dad's hair?

Mom also got quality time with Gigi. Here they are, both in their fleece. Although I think Gigi's was footed and Mom's was only a jacket.

Here's the entire Barrera clan: Tony, Kim and Gigi. They got to enjoy nicer weather than what was happening back home in the Mid-West.

Mom & Dad had a kayak moored along side the boat. Rob spent some time tooling about the harbor. I'd hoped to be able to give it a try myself, but the wind was picking up with Rob came back in. Maybe next time.

Where has the time gone?

2009-04-22T08:01:00.002-07:00

It's been over a month since I last blogged. Facebook has taken over my life. It's so easy to hop on and see what little things people are doing. And I'm totally caught up in Hatchlings (find an egg! watch it hatch! feed the pets!).

But much has happened in the last few weeks.

March
* I went to Chicago in March and had a lovely time with my newest niece. Since she's only 4 months old (at the time), I also was able to spend time with her parents, my sister and her husband.
* I returned to Vancouver in time to sleep in my own bed and then head out to Ellensburg to visit our daughter. We spent quality time with her in the emergency room where she was checked out for a concussion from a car accident the night before. We went over items for her to do for her upcoming trip to Scotland, paid for Spring quarter and returned to Vancouver on Monday in time for me to . . .
* Teach at bible study that night and again on Tuesday morning
* I vegged out the next two days and then cleaned the house in time for my other sister to arrive with her girls for a quick visit. We had my brother's kids, her girls and our son overnight for a very full house.
* I was happy to return to work for the last two weeks of March.

April
* We went to San Diego to visit Mom and Dad and had the opportunity to see Kim, Tony and Giselle in SD as well.
* We learned first the delay of our daughter's wedding and then the cancellation of it within a 24 hour period
* Rob just celebrated his 46th birthday

I'm looking at the calendar and we still have an upcoming visit from my brother-in-law, 3 more weeks of bible study, another week off in May for me and an anniversary trip for us to Eagle Crest.

All of these things going on and I need to take my health back in hand. I keep going back and forth about doing WeightWatchers again and trying to get up the energy to workout. I need to, but the "want to" aspect is running quite low.

I have pictures. I need to upload and share.

2 weeks off? Yeah, right

2009-03-13T09:38:00.003-07:00

So, I had two weeks off from work scheduled. I'd planned to work on my teaching for bible study, catch up on knitting and TiVo, working on items for the Women's Retreat and just enjoying myself.

Instead, I'm in Chicago, without knitting (I know!), watching very few shows I would normally watch (change can be good), wrapping up my teaching notes, trying to remember the time change so I can call people regarding the retreat and trying to stay well.

Sis Kim put out an SOS last week; she had strep and a cold and Gigi was getting out from under a cold bad enough to have them worry about pneumonia. Tony had his hands full with them and work so Mom went first and then I went out and took her place.

Gigi has been a sweetheart. Sure, we battled by the River of Endless Tears one afternoon (hers, not mine!) but we've managed to bump along just fine. She has the sweetest smile that I can't seem to capture on camera. And she's started rolling from her back to her tummy. When she rolls to her right side, her arm gets trapped under her. But for some reason rolling to her left worked better.

She's a drool bomb. Good gravy! She woke up from a nap one day and the entire side of her face was wet - even her hair!

I've got pictures I'll upload later. In the meantime, I'm glad I had the opportunity to come out.

The Big Read

2009-03-06T10:39:00.008-08:00

Taken from Steph's blog.

The Big Read said that, on average, adults have only read six books on this list.

(It's interesting to see collections as a single work and then specific works within the collection called out. Have I read the complete works of Shakespeare? No. Different plays and sonnets? Yes. From what I understand, the list is a compilation from a poll which is why both collections and singular works are both listed.)

So ... copy this list, mark the ones you've read and see how you compare to the average.

I've made the ones I've read bold and italicized the ones on my to-read list.

1 Pride and Prejudice (Jane Austen)
2 The Lord of the Rings (JRR Tolkien)
3 Jane Eyre (Charlotte Bronte)
4 Harry Potter series (JK Rowling)
5. To Kill a Mockingbird (Harper Lee)
6 The Bible (I've read parts, but not all. The begats and the laws drag me down)
7 Wuthering Heights (Emily Bronte)
8 1984 (George Orwell)
9 His Dark Materials (Philip Pullman)
10 Great Expectations (Charles Dickens)
11 Little Women (Louisa M Alcott)
12 Tess of the D'Urbervilles (Thomas Hardy)
13 Catch 22 (Joseph Heller)
14 Complete Works of Shakespeare
15 Rebecca (Daphne Du Maurier)
16 The Hobbit (JRR Tolkien)
17 Birdsong (Sebastian Faulks)
18 Catcher in the Rye (JD Salinger)
19 The Time Traveller's Wife (Audrey Niffenegger)
20 Middlemarch (George Eliot)
21 Gone With The Wind (Margaret Mitchell)
22 The Great Gatsby (F Scott Fitzgerald)
23 Bleak House (Charles Dickens)
24 War and Peace (Leo Tolstoy)
25 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (Douglas Adams)
26 Brideshead Revisited (Evelyn Waugh)
27 Crime and Punishment (Fyodor Dostoyevsky)
29 Alice in Wonderland (Lewis Carroll)
30 The Wind in the Willows (Kenneth Grahame)
31 Anna Karenina (Leo Tolstoy)
32 David Copperfield (Charles Dickens)
33 The Chronicles of Narnia (CS Lewis)
34 Emma (Jane Austen)
35 Persuasion (Jane Austen)

36 The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe

37 The Kite Runner (Khaled Hosseini)
38 Captain Corelli's Mandolin (Louis De Bernieres)
39 Memoirs of a Geisha (Arthur Golden)
40 Winnie the Pooh (AA Milne)
41 Animal Farm (George Orwell)
42 The Da Vinci Code (Dan Brown)
43 One Hundred Years of Solitude (Gabriel Garcia Marquez)
44 A Prayer for Owen Meaney (John Irving)
45 The Woman in White (Wilkie Collins)
46 Anne of Green Gables (LM Montgomery)
47 Far From The Madding Crowd (Thomas Hardy)
48 The Handmaid's Tale (Margaret Atwood)
49 Lord of the Flies (William Golding)
50 Atonement (Ian McEwan)
51 Life of Pi (Yann Martel)
52 Dune (Frank Herbert)
53 Cold Comfort Farm (Stella Gibbons)
54 Sense and Sensibility (Jane Austen)
55 A Suitable Boy (Vikram Seth)
56 The Shadow of the Wind (Carlos Ruiz Zafon)
57 A Tale Of Two Cities (Charles Dickens)
58 Brave New World (Aldous Huxley)
59 The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time (Mark Haddon)
60 Love In The Time Of Cholera (Gabriel Garcia Marquez)
61 Of Mice and Men (John Steinbeck)
62 Lolita (Vladimir Nabokov)
63 The Secret History (Donna Tartt)
64 The Lovely Bones (Alice Sebold)
65 Count of Monte Cristo (Alexandre Dumas)
66 On The Road (Jack Kerouac)
67 Jude the Obscure (Thomas Hardy)
68 Bridget Jones's Diary (Helen Fielding)
69 Midnight's Children (Salman Rushdie)
70 Moby Dick (Herman Melville)
71 Oliver Twist (Charles Dickens)
72 Dracula (Bram Stoker)
73 The Secret Garden (Frances Hodgson Burnett)
74 Notes From A Small Island (Bill Bryson)
75 Ulysses (James Joyce)
76 The Bell Jar (Sylvia Plath)
77 Swallows and Amazons (Arthur Ransome)
78 Germinal (Emile Zola)
79 Vanity Fair (William Makepeace Thackeray)
80 Possession (AS Byatt)
81 A Christmas Carol (Charles Dickens)
82 Cloud Atlas (David Mitchell)
83 The Color Purple (Alice Walker)
84 The Remains of the Day (Kazuo Ishiguro)
85 Madame Bovary (Gustave Flaubert)
86 A Fine Balance (Rohinton Mistry)
87 Charlotte's Web (EB White)
88 The Five People You Meet In Heaven (Mitch Albom)
89 Adventures of Sherlock Holmes (Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)
90 The Faraway Tree Collection (Enid Blyton)
91 Heart of Darkness (Joseph Conrad)
92 The Little Prince (Antoine De Saint-Exupe)
93 The Wasp Factory (Iain Banks)
94 Watership Down (Richard Adams)
95 A Confederacy of Dunces (John Kennedy Toole)
96 A Town Like Alice (Nevil Shute)
97 The Three Musketeers (Alexandre Dumas)
98 Hamlet (Shakespeare)
99 Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (Roald Dahl)
100 Les Miserables (Victor Hugo)

It appears I've read 18 of the 100. Better than average.

Catching up

2009-02-25T18:14:00.003-08:00

Let's see . . .

1) We've found The Dress. It's been purchased and taken back to E-burg to be altered.

2) I've been entering my books into LibraryThing. I'm just over 400 books and I have more to go. However, I don't think I have over 500. We'll see, I guess.

I've just finished Polly Evans' book It's Not About the Tapas. Great travel book about her cycling around Spain solo. I'm trying to keep the sidebar updated with books read.

3) I've knitted some dishcloths.

The usual kitchen cotton. The leftover yarn that's nearly gone. I think I have only bits and bobs of colors and 1.5 balls of white remaining.

4) I finally sat down and wove in the ends for the Little Sister's Dress.

I decided to add 2 different colors for the buttons to make it a little bit more fun.

5) In order to meet a March deadline, I finally started knitting slipper's for Chris, Erin's fiance. I'm using Cascade 220: black for the sole and edging and a heathered green for the top.

6) I'm trying to get over a cruddy cold likely caught from Rob. Who caught his from Kruz and Khylee. And speaking of Kruz, here's what he's learned to do:

This was easier to capture on film than him pretending to be a Jedi and making light saber noises and using the Force to move objects around.

Now we start looking for The Dress

2009-01-31T15:50:00.004-08:00

Erin is coming down this weekend from school (3 day weekend) and we'll begin the search for the wedding dress.

Early in January, there was a small (very small) wedding convention at the county fairgrounds we dragged the happy couple to.

(Chris caught with his eyes closed!)

There were a few dresses being modeled by young women walking around the show. We didn't take too may photos, but did manage get shots of a couple of dresses that caught Erin's eye. Of course, I haven't uploaded them yet.

I did manage to upload this pic of Erin modeling a tiara. It's not the photo with the Minnie Pearl aspect, but it's a great one nonetheless.

End of January?

2009-01-31T13:26:00.008-08:00

I'm not ready for the month to be over. I haven't done anything!

I've only read one book: Three Bags Full by Leonie Swann. Fun mystery with sheep trying to figure out who killed their shepherd.

Completed knits for January: two whole washcloths!

Now this site, CubeeCraft, looks like fun. I may need to print some of these out for my cube at work.

And lastly, a photo from Christmas. The nephew mugging for the camera while his Auntie Chris tries to open the Nerf guns she bought him.

Gifts!

2009-01-23T22:06:00.005-08:00

So, last week I found out I was randomly drawn to win something from Lavender Sheep. Yesterday, I pulled this out of the mail:

Here's a better look:

A project bag in a fun pattern, some lovely Lindor truffles and a skein of her Superwash Merino sock yarn in the Wild Violets colorway.

Yum!

January so far

2009-01-23T17:00:00.000-08:00

FO Knitted: one ballband dishcloth from leftover cotton. This pattern and the diagonal garterstitch dishcloth have become my go-to knitting when I lack energy for anything else.

UFO Knitted: the Little Sister dress in Knitpicks Dancing (Hula colorway). Being knit for a little girl due in March on size 3 needles in the 6 month size. Don't much care for this picture due to lack of stitch definition. It's really not a big mess the way it looks here.

Have also cast on for another ballband dishcloth.

FO Book: Finished Three Bags Full by Leone Swann. Really enjoyed this book and will have to re-read it since I feel like I missed small things along the way. I found myself flipping back pages to pick up on something the sheep were commenting about. Oh, it's a murder mystery with sheep trying to solve who killed their shepherd.

Upcoming post: The lovely gifts received from Lavender Sheep!

Inaugural Poem

2009-01-20T12:59:00.003-08:00

Obama's speech was great. It was stirring, thoughtful and it invoked pride.

I knew there was going to be a poem as well. And I loved it too.

Random Post

2009-01-19T12:58:00.002-08:00

1. I've survived another layoff and will continue employment.
2. I need to go to the dentist
3. I haven't gotten very far on the Little Sister dress - I need to bind off the stitches for the sleeves and head into the body of the dress.
4. The den looks amazingly clean
5. I also need to schedule a physical
6. Cupcakes sound good right now
7. I have yet to get up early enough to exercise and I really need to
8. But I *am* trying to eat healthier
9. I'm taking two weeks off in March due to #1
10. The sound of all the wind today reminds me of the ocean

Silver Lining

2009-01-13T16:12:00.002-08:00

Yee haw!

I've won some fibery goodness! I entered into a little contest over at LavenderSheep's blog for her blogiversary (also go check out her shop - bee-yoo-tee-ful yarns) and I've been randomly selected to get a little something :)

I soooo need it today. There are layoffs currently happening and they aren't expected to be done until Thursday. So far I'm still at my desk, so I guess I'll just have to wait out the next two days.

But I won! Yay me!

Another time sucker

2009-01-05T12:22:00.004-08:00

I've joined the black hole non-knitters get sucked into: Facebook.

Let's see, what do I need to keep updated?
Facebook
Ravelry
LibraryThing
LinkedIn
Blogger
SparkPeople

And that's on top of work, bible study, the women's ministries team, knitting group, watching TV, reading and knitting.

2008 Round-Up

2009-01-01T12:48:00.005-08:00

2008 is over and 2009 has begun. The NHL Winter Classic is on the tube and I'm wrapping up the year on the 'nets.

Knit in 2008
2 Appliqued Purses as Christmas gifts for two nieces

An Odessa hat, a Coronet Hat and a Laced Edge Hat for co-workers who shaved their head for St. Baldrick's.

I knit Straight-Laced Socks for a niece for Christmas, socks for a baby and Pomatomus for me.

Hats were knit for my mom who also shaved her head for St. Baldrick's this year. She recieved a Lace-Edged Hat, a Lace Leaf Hat and a Wavy Cable Hat.

I knit a Kitty, a 5-Hr Baby Sweater and a Helena baby sweater for babies this year.
My newest niece (the recipient of the Helena sweater) also recieved a Christmas Stocking with gingerbread men on it.

A sweet niece asked for a pink hat this year for her birthday and I obliged her.

Scarves were requested by the daughter for her and her now-fiance. Those were a Cable & Garter scarf and a plain stockinette scarf, both lined with black fleece.

Also knitted were 2 coffee cozies and 20 dishcloths. The dishcloths were my fall-back knitting.

Books read in 2008
I didn't read nearly as many books as last year. But I did read enough to average a smidge over 1 book a week. In total, 66 books for a total of 21,215 pages.

In no particular order, they're listed below. And yes, I did read some title more than once. Usually when they were part of a series.

Jennifer Crusie's Anyone But You

Katie Fforde's Restoring Grace, Practically Perfect, Stately Pursuits, Paradise Fields, Life Skills (I thoroughly enjoy Fforde's books; they're comedic, relateable and I enjoy the English aspect)

Jayne Ann Krentz' White Lies, Second Sight, Ghost Hunter, White Lies, Sizzle and Burn (Krent and her alter ego, Amanda Quick, provide some of my favorite reads. She has a series going right now that spans both nom de plumes)

JA Jance's Exit Wounds, Tombstone Courage, Desert Heat (Joanna Brady is a character I enjoy greatly)

Linda Howard's Up Close and Dangerous, Drop Dead Gorgeous (I keep intending to give up Linda Howard but hope is a powerful force)

Mary Jane Maffini's The Cluttered Corpse (A new cozy mystery writer and I enjoy the organizational tips scattered throughout)

Mary Kruger's Knit Fast, Die Young (knitting, mystery. 'Nuff said)

Nora Roberts' High Noon, The Hollow, Blood Brothers, The Hollow, Dead of Night, Waiting for Nick, The Hollow, The Pagan Stone (Nora is a favorite. I read and re-read The Hollow because I loved the characters)

JD Robb's Creation in Death, Strangers in Death (Lt. Eve Dallas is a strong character and I've enjoyed watching her and her "family" evolve")

Donna Andrews's No Nest for the Wicket, The Penguin Who Knew Too Much (cozy murder mysteries, unusual family and Meg keeps it under control)

Yvonne Lehman's Coffee Rings (Christian chick lit, I tried to read more of this type of book this year)

Laura Jensen Walker's Reconstructing Natalie, Miss Invisible, Dreaming in Technicolor, Dreaming in Black & White (this is Christian chick lit I absolutely love)

Sandra Byrd's Let Them Eat Cake (more Christian chick lit and a character I could relate to)

Charles Baxter's The Feast of Love (I haven't seen the movie, but I enjoyed this book. I'm having trouble picturing Greg Kinnear in it)

Mark Haddon's A Spot of Bother (Brit lit. Enjoyed)

Amanda Quick's The River Knows, The Third Circle, Rendezvous, Dangerous, Reckless, Ravished, Deception (see Jayne Ann Krentz above)

Julie Garwood's Shadow Dance (part of a wide reaching series)

Jill Churchill's The Accidental Florist (Meh. I usually enjoy Churchill's books about Jane, but this one wasn't as engaging)

Lt. Carey Cash's A Table in the Presence (wonderful book written by a chaplain who was in Iraq)

Maggie Sefton's Dying to Sell, Killer Stitch (more cozy mysteries)

Tamara Leigh's Perfecting Kate (Christian chick lit and a story line about accepting ourselves as God made us)

Susan Meissner's The Remedy for Regret (Christian chick lit)

Michael Ondaatje's Divisadero (I'd heard about this on the BookLounge podcast, not my usual reading, but that's a good thing)

Sarah Vowell's Partly Cloudy Patriot, Assasination Vacation (love her sense of humor, her ability to pull things together)

Susan May Warren's Everything's Coming Up Josey (little bit of romance and some screwball comedy)

Julie Carobini's Chocolate Beach (and the Christian chick lit continues. This character was closer to my age though)

Jo Dereske's Catalogue of Death (I'd seen this author's books when we were in Seaside and tried it out from the library. I'll continue to read these cozies)

Jasper Fforde's Thursday Next: First Among Sequels (love love love Thursday Next)

Adam Felber's Schrödinger's Ball (I was wandering around the library and came across this book. I love NPR's Wait Wait and he's a frequent guest)

Monica Ferris' Knitting Bones (just keeping up with the series)

Polly Evans' Kiwis Might Fly (a fun travelogue about her adventures riding a motorcycle through New Zealand)

Jan Burke's Kidnapped (this took me forever to read, but it's actually very good. I just kept getting distracted)

Kate Jacobs' The Friday Night Knitting Club (very enjoyable, I cried)

Debbie Macomber's Back on Blossom Street (part of the continuing Blossom Street series)

Kathy Reichs' Monday Mourning (love Tempe, love the science, love the Bones spin-off)

Now to wipe the sidebar clean and start 2009!

Happy New Year!

Love is in the air

2008-12-30T09:20:00.001-08:00

We have two weddings to look forward to in the near and far future.

Our daughter Erin and her boyfriend Chris became engaged this past week.
(Must take picture of them - I have one from Christmas but it's not a "couple" picture)

Chris is from Scotland and the wedding is currently planned for this summer in his hometown. Looks like Rob & I will be getting our passports soon! They could get married where he currently works, Lands of Loyal, or possibly the Scone Palace near Perth.

They have been lovely to watch and the engagement is not unexpected. He spoke with Rob prior to Thanksgiving about asking Erin to marry him and received our blessing then. We've been waiting for the past few weeks for the good news to finally come about.

The other couple getting married is my brother Art and his long-time girlfriend, Kendra. Yay! She's been an absolute blessing and I'm glad her place in our family will be permanent.

This Christmas Day, May You

2008-12-25T15:49:00.003-08:00

Have loved ones to spend the day with

Be rich in blessings

Have a warm place to be

And food to eat

Merry Christmas!

A knitting FO and some weather

2008-12-21T10:41:00.003-08:00

First, the good news: I finished the Christmas stocking.

Mailed it out to Chicago so that Miss G could have her first Christmas with a handknit stocking made by Auntie Gina. Knit on Denise size 8s with Wintuck and Red Heart yarns. Gingerbread boys are knit in Reynolds Utopia and the faces used the Red Heart. Red gumdrop buttons and the string of candy and the other little candies are miniature ornaments from JoAnn's.

Since I mailed it out, we had a little bit of snowfall that melted quickly in Vancouver.

But since that early snowfall this past week, we had a bit more yesterday:

Definitely not as much as one sister was expecting in Central Washington (12 inches!), but this morning we had a coating of ice as well.

Not what we wanted since Mom was driving up from San Diego. I tried to get out of PDX yesterday to fly to Sacramento and drive up the rest of the way with her, but had my flight cancelled due to Southwest's lack of working de-icers. Mom figured she'd then spend the night at her sister's home and drive up today.

Instead, she kept driving and ended up at my brother's home in Gladstone at 2am. She did stop along the way to put on chains and she'll drive the rest of the way to our house today. It's only a 30-minute drive in good weather, so it'll probably take twice that today.

But it sure is pretty when you don't need to go out.

How did they know?

2008-12-19T22:26:00.003-08:00

You Are Considerate and Mature

You approach the holidays with responsibility and cooperation.
You'll do your part to make sure that everyone else has a happy holiday.

You aren't particularly picky or high maintenance during the holidays.
You're happy to be in the company of people you love, and you're willing to "go with the flow."

Of all the types, you are the most likely to give someone exactly what they want.
You're also the most likely to wrap all your presents well - to prevent peeking!

The Wrapping Paper Test

Taking it off for charity

2008-12-19T13:46:00.002-08:00

Mom raised money for St. Baldrick's and shaved her head. Doesn't she look great?

A friend said craziness must run in the family.

Really?

2008-12-18T13:43:00.000-08:00

You Are an Argyle Sweater

You are contemplative, brainy, and serious. You don't take much lightly - life is too important for that.

You are a very determined person. You don't let anything stand in your way. You think out your actions and act deliberately. You don't waste time, money, or resources.

What Kind of Sweater Are You?

Christmas knitting

2008-12-09T11:52:00.004-08:00

Working on a Christmas stocking for Gigi:

It's knit with size 8 needles and used Red Heart White & Wintuk Christmas Red for the stocking itself. I scrounged up some remnants of Reynolds Utopia for the gingerbread man. His gumdrops are buttons and the face was sewn on with the RH White. And he has a little bit of stuffing to make him pop out. There's a similar gingerbread man (no stuffing though) on the other side.

I just need to put her name on it and it'll hit the mail this week :) I'm tempted to figure out how to add "candies" to the stocking as additional embellishments, though.

I'm also knitting a pair of socks for Miss S:

Size 2 needles using Knitpicks now discontinued Dancing sock yarn in Ballet. The pattern is from Knit Socks! and it's called Straight Laced. I'm just about to start the toe decreases on this first sock and then I'll have to work hard to avoid Second Sock Syndrome.

Yum!

2008-12-08T10:16:00.000-08:00

You Are a Lemon Poppy Seed Muffin

You are smart, sophisticated, and savvy.

You love taking risks, and you are the first to know about new trends.

You are curious about the world and tend to have many interests.

You also are very talented. It sometimes seems like you are good at everything.

You are very social and inclusive. You'll be friends with anyone.

Even though you're very cultured, you're not a snob.

What Kind of Muffin Are You?

2008-12-05T21:56:00.003-08:00

I've been lost in Ravelry with the knitting projects, but seem to be knitting less.

I've taken far fewer pictures than I want to.

I've read far fewer books than last year.

Seems like less is happening but I'm not sure where the big time suck is.

But Erin graduated high school in June with her HS diploma and her AA from Clark College. Here's Rob and Erin on that very chilly June night.

She left for college in September. This is actually two photos side by side to show how small a room she has.

Rob and I escaped to the Oregon coast for 5 days in October. Here's a sunset outside our room.

We kept driving past this window:

Had to take a pic of it for you, Mom!

I still love this show

2008-12-05T21:55:00.000-08:00

A Friends Music Quiz

Score: 83% (10 out of 12)

Not bad

2008-04-01T13:19:00.000-07:00

61 words

Speedtest

Vacation Plans

2008-03-27T08:21:00.002-07:00

Woo to the Hoo! We have actually booked some vacation for once. There are things to look forward to :)

In April, we'll take a day off for Rob's birthday. Go out for breakfast, head to Powell's, bum around Portland and end the day with chocolate brownies, vanilla ice cream and caramel sauce.

In May, Rob and I have our 10th anniversary. It falls on a Wednesday this year, so we're taking Thursday and Friday off to head down to Klamath Falls. Rob's never been to Crater Lake so we're hoping to see that, go the the Lava Beds, and maybe we'll go to Websters for souvenir yarn.

But the biggie will be in the last week of October when we head to West Yellowstone. Rob's never been there either. We'll be exploring Yellowstone for a week - just the two of us. (note to self - look for yarn store)

Yay us!

Wednesday List

2008-03-26T15:01:00.002-07:00

1. I need to pack for my upcoming retreat. Find the suitcase, determine the clothes, wind the skein of yarn for the 2nd Pomatamus sock. What other knitting do I need to take?

2. Talk to the sis about WOF in June. What time would she be able to pick me up at the train station? Where shall we eat dinner?

3. What hat pattern to make for co-worker Sue? She's shaving her head for St. Baldrick's this year, as is co-worker Mina. (remember last year?) Mina's going to get Grumperina's Odessa. I thought about Koolhaas, but I'd have to buy the pattern. Must keep searching.

4. Do I really want the chicken thing for dinner? At least I'm not making it.

5. Love the new dishwasher.

6. Where should we go for our anniversary? It's our 10th so we should do something. 10th is tin or aluminum (traditional) or diamond if we go modern.

7. I need black shoes. Cute black shoes.

8. I also want a new denim skirt.

9. Time to cut my hair, but what style? Must consult the sisters and the mom.

10. I need ibuprophen. Cramps suck. I'm ready for menopause.

11. Only 82 more minutes to kill before I can leave. Must do work to justify the paycheck.

Three times this week and I couldn't claim a headache

2008-03-13T14:34:00.004-07:00

I managed to make it into the gym Monday, Thursday and this morning. Sooo tempting to stay in bed instead of crawling out at 3:30am to drag on gear and head out the door.

But! I do feel better for having done it.

And! It's a birthday weekend! This guy is 3 today:

He's 14 months in this picture. He's coming over with his big sister tomorrow so I'll have new photos for the grands.

And this couple:

Will both be adding a year to their ages this weekend. Happy birthdays, Sis and Hubby!

We have another family birthday on Tuesday and one more at the end of the month. March is a pretty popular month!

Knitting

2008-03-11T12:34:00.004-07:00

Another quick update (I know! TWICE in the same week!)

Knitting: I've cast on for a pair of Pomatomus socks from Knitty. I'm using stashed yarn:

I'm working on the first sock and I've finished the 2nd repeat of the pattern on the leg. I started into the heel and I somehow managed to lose a stitch. It's not dropped but I managed to still lose it. I'm debating ripping back the 3 inches I've knit to re-do the heel or just adding a stitch to bring it back to the count I need.

Now that I type this, I know I'm going to rip. There's a bit of a hole where the problem occurred and it would be a bigger hassle to work around it. I'm thinking of gifting these and have a person in mind and it would be better to do it right.

Ravelry: I have been sucked into the wonder that is Ravelry's stash notebook. I've loaded quite a bit of stash in there - mostly the good stuff, certainly not all of the acrylics. It has an export button to send my stash out to XL and I did. I've determined I really, really need to 1) knit from stash and 2) clear out the crap. I have over 19 miles of yarn - and remember, not everything is listed.

Now my stash is certainly not as big as what others have, but it is spurring me on to get it under control and organized. Or at least get rid of the stuff I don't want. Or intend to use.

Working out again, but not reading much

2008-03-11T11:59:00.006-07:00

Blogging at lunch to try to get in an update.

Weight loss: I had a setback when I got sick and completely missed working out in February. I picked up most of the 5 pounds I'd lost in January which wasn't great. I just started up again last week with the workouts and am almost (.8 lb to go!) back to where I ended January. I thought about trying to make up for February this month, but that would be almost 15 pounds to lose. I'll shoot for 10, but really? I'll be happy with anything below 195.

I need to develop a good workout plan. I spend 30-45 minutes doing cardio (treadmill, elliptical or climber) and then another 30 minutes on weights. I'm going 3-4 times a week and I need to develop something quick because marathon training begins at the end of the month and I've got to plan on run/walking it with Mom and Chris. Well Chris at least. I think Mom's competitive enough to try for a time that will kick my butt.

I did download the Podrunner podcast from iTunes to try to use on the treadmill. Well see how that goes. I don't think I'm quite there yet since I just got back in to the gym. But it will help with the interval training. (what's with the word farklet? Those Swedes, so funny)

What would be good is some kind of tracker. A pedometer won't do it for me and I don't want to spend over $100 for a Garmin Forerunner. I'm thinking of trying the Nike+ since it will work with my nano. The brother has one and likes it and I could always knit a cozy to keep it on my New Balance shoes. And $29 is a much better price for me.

Reading: I haven't read anything yet this month. Rather weird for me. I'm wondering if March will get away without anything read other than magazines or knitting patterns. I have bought books, but it's making the time to break them open. I think part of it is just letting other things take the lead on my time right now. That's ok with me, but I really do miss the books.

At least my knitting's not affected

2008-02-25T12:29:00.003-08:00

I'm wrapping up lunch at work. And trying to keep lunch down simultaneously. I've had an upset stomach for the last couple of hours and it's just not settling down. I'm going to give it another hour before I head home.

I've been trying to kick a cough for the last few weeks. I had a nasty cold at the end of January that sidelined me from working out and since then I've been unable to shake the cough. I finally woke up this morning without the congestion and am hopeful to get into the gym on Wednesday.

In the meantime, here's what I've been doing:

A knitted kitty in Bernet Soft Boucle for a baby shower gift. The mom is one of the small group leaders for my Monday night bible study. She's due in about 4 weeks and we're having a surprise shower for her tonight. I used a size 5 circular. I think I'll make another, but double the yarn up. I can't embroider a face on this kitty to save my life for some reason, so a faceless cat it is.

The gloves are for a different small group leader. Jenn had mentioned having trouble finding gloves to fit her long fingers. I had her trace her hands and voila! Custom gloves! Of course, not that it's in the 50's she doesn't need them, but hey, she's ready for next year. Knit in Rauma Babygarn with size 2 needles. I used just over a skein to make both gloves. When I say just over, I dipped into the second skein for only the thumb. I have the 2nd skein and another in cream that I may try do to Endpaper mitts with.

Oh, and I've been spending time on Ravelry. I finally understand the time suck aspects.

Progress!

2008-02-01T07:19:00.000-08:00

Well, I have lost 6 pounds since I first weighed in on January 1st. 5 pounds if I use my "official" weigh-in day of Friday, January 4.

I'm tracking my weight at healthylivingonline.com - it's free from iVillage, has a food tracker, an exercise tracker, offers menus and exercise programs and did I mention it's free? That's my kind of price right now.

My exercising has fallen off the radar. I've been fighting a crappy cold and cough for the last 2 weeks. I'm hoping to get back in to the gym this weekend for at least a little bit of cardio.

I have been doing some knitting as well. I've knit 7 dishclothes in various colors of kitchen cotton and 2 coffee cozies in some Cascade Quattro I had left over from making felted slippers.

Right now I'm working on some gloves for a friend in a pretty blue BabyGarn, size 2 needles, from the Knitter's Handy Book of Patterns.

I did manage to get some reading done in January as well. A total of 13 books for the month:

Katie Fforde's Restoring Grace: a library book that caught my eye. English author so there were a few expressions that were different, but I enjoyed it. A nice, easy read about a woman who divorced, was living in her family home that held memories of her marriage but was about to be making changes to the home and herself that she didn't expect. I'll be looking to check out her other books the library carries.

Jennifer Crusie's Anyone But You: quick & easy library book. A divorced woman (again!) meets a younger man and falls in love. She thinks she's too old, he thinks she feels he's too immature, goofy dog helps brings them together.

Jayne Ann Krentz's White Lies: this is a new book for her Arcane Society series. Ok, it's only the second, but there are more to come. Paranormal aspect, modern setting. Good characters, nice setup for a continuing issue through the series. I really enjoy Krentz whether she writes as Krentz, Amanda Quick or Jayne Castle. This was a library book, but I think I'll need to purchase it for myself.

J.A. Jance's Exit Wounds: so glad I found Jance again. This is part of her Sheriff Joanna Brady series and centers around a polygamist cult and women who exit the life. Love Joanna and the strong character she is in a traditionally male role. Another library book that will need to be purchased.

Linda Howard's Up Close and Dangerous: I keep giving Howard another chance to pull me back. This was OK. A young widow whose adult step-kids hate her ends up crashing into remote mountains on a private plane. Of course, the groundwork is laid for the stepson to be the bad guy, but you know it's not him. I don't believe the relationship she develops with the pilot and it's just an OK book. Too bad, I really liked her earlier stuff. A library book that won't be making the transition to purchased for the personal library.

Amanda Quick's The River Knows: one of Krentz's historical romances. I enjoy her female characters - they're intelligent, plucky and no fainting misses. Fun read and I might consider buying it later or maybe just keep buying it from the library.

Mark Haddon's A Spot of Bother: I spotted this the moment I went into the library and snatched it up. I'd been wanting to read this and enjoyed reading the story of a man slowly going insane while the family around him struggles with their own troubles. If I spot this at Costco, I just might buy it.

Jill Churchill's The Accidental Florist: I bought this since I enjoy Churchill's Jane Jeffrey series. Rather a cosy mystery series, this one was different. Not so much focus on the mystery this time; the focus was more on the changing circumstances of Jane as she got ready to marry. OK, but not the best of the series.

Jayne Castle's Ghost Hunter: Krentz writes her futuristic books under the Castle name. This book continues her Harmony series. The series is a little different from her others I have and I wasn't sure I was going to keep the series. But what I like is that characters find that their paranormal development complement one another and they typically need the other's abilities to get through the situation.

Julie Garwood's Shadow Dance: Love Julie Garwood. Fun historicals that have made me laugh out loud. Her contemporary stuff is good as well. This one looks like it might be a bridge between the two. The setting is contemporary and fits within the series she's built around the Buchanan's, but it looks like it's going to go back towards her historicals (like Krentz and her Arcane Society). Anyhoo, it's a good book and I'm really looking forward to Shadow Music, her next book that's currently out in hardcover which seems to cover the historical mystery from Shadow Dance.

JA Jance's Desert Heat: This is the first book of the Joanna Brady series (I started in the middle, but the earliest book I could find at the library at the time). How Joanna gets pulled into the law enforcement field and the circumstances surrounding the loss of her husband. And I lucked out - the book I bought at Powell's is autographed!

Amanda Quick's Second Sight: This is the first of the Arcane Society series. I'd read it before from the library, but bought it. I wanted to read the lead book in the series to see how it was set up for the ones to come. I do enjoy her historicals.

Kathy Reichs' Monday Mourning: I enjoy these books more than I enjoy Cornwell's books that came post-Body Farm. I'm trying to read them in order and this one continues to provide interesting science, further explain the complexity of Tempe's emotions regarding her daughter, her friends and her love life. I enjoy the twists she has on cases that she worked on or that inspired the books she writes. If you liked any of Cornwell's earlier books, I would definitely suggest you read Reichs.

Getting My Move On

2008-01-04T07:40:00.001-08:00

2008 has dawned and I have yet to make it into the gym this year. Rob & I joined a gym around Thanksgiving when I realized I couldn't make any more excuses. It was past time for me to do something for myself and just spend the money. Watching the Biggest Loser this past season may have had something to do with that as well.

This new year has yet to see me go in.

But I am determined to make this year different. Mom & I have decided to take on the Portland Marathon this year. This will make it Mom's 3rd? 4th? time doing Portland and my 2nd since 2003. That first year I walked and my time was 8 hours and something. This year I want to do a run/walk and anything better than 8 hours will be great. I say that now, we'll see what goal comes about later.

So, I have determined that my time on the treadmill will be spent bringing up my madd running skillz from non-existent to - well - existent. Gradually adding running time while decreasing the walking time. Building stamina, eventually building speed. But most of all, just moving.

I want to drop the weight I've been carrying for the last 9 years. I can't call it baby weight since I've never had kids. It's lazy weight, pure and simple. And who knows? It might be why we've never been able to concieve (regardless of what my doctor told me).

And along with the moving comes the eating. Rob & I don't eat horribly. But we could - and will - do better. I'm going to need to balance my need for frugality for spending more on healthier options. Explain to me why it's more expensive to take care of myself with good-for-me food and exercise? Can't there be a discount for doing the right thing when it's time to fork over the money?

I'm planning to motivate the running with my new gadget - the main gift under the tree for me from Rob:

Isn't it purty? It's loaded only with podcasts at the moment, but I'll be adding some music later today and spending my $15 iTunes gift card.

Let's see - have motivation, have goals, have tunes. Yep, I should be able to make some progress!

2007 Recap Part 2: The Books

2008-01-02T08:56:00.001-08:00

2007 ends with a record 98 books read. I was aiming for 1 more than last year's number of 64 and I think I've done that. Here's the list in the order read:

1-3. Jane Churchill: The Merchant of Menace, Fear of Frying and War and Peas
4-5. Jasper Fforde: The Big Over Easy and The Fourth Bear
6. Erik Larson: The Devil in the White City
7. Lori Wick: Where the Wild Rose Blooms
8. Lenora Worth: Logan's Child
9. Monica Ferris: Embroidered Truths
10-13. Jayne Ann Krentz: Deep Waters, Eye of the Beholder, Flash and Sharp Edges
14-15. Nora Roberts: One Man's Art and Truly, Madly Manhattan
16. Wil Wheaton: Just a Geek
17. Chris Ayres: War Reporting for Cowards
18. Joanna Weaver: Having a Mary Heart in a Marth World
19. James Maguire: American Bee
20. Connie Willis: Miracle, and other Christmas stories
21. Ben Young: Out of control
22. Jayne Castle: Zinnia
23. Hughart, Barry, Bridge of Birds
24. Patricia Cornwell: Postmortem and Body of Evidence
26-46. JD Robb: Naked in Death, Glory in Death, Immortal in Death, Rapture in Death, Ceremony in Death, Vengeance in Death, Holiday in Death, Conspiracy in Death, Loyalty in Death, Witness in Death, Judgement in Death, Betrayal in Death, Seduction in Death, Reunion in Death, Purity in Death, Portrait in Death, Imitation in Death, Remember When, Divided in Death, Visions in Death, Survivor in Death
47. Dave Ramsey: Total Money Makeover
48. Alison Mcghee: Shadow Baby
49. Mary Jane Maffini: Organize Your Corpses
50. Tim Cahill: Road Fever
51. Nora Roberts: MacGregors: Robert-Cybil
52-55. JD Robb: Origin in Death, Memory in Death, Born in Death, Innocent in Death
56. Dave Ramsey: Financial Peace Revisited
57. Sarah Graves: Tool & Die
58. Kay Hooper: Chill of Fear
59. Brady Udall: The Miracle Life of Edgar Mint
60. Salzmann, Cyndy: Dying to Decorate
61. Reichs, Kathy: Grave Secrets
62. Griffith, Marilynn: If the Shoe Fits
63. Short, Sharon: Death of a Domestic Diva
64. Hooper, Kay: Sleeping with Fear
65. Howard, Linda: Cry No More
66. Jance, JA: Paradise Lost
67. Gerritsen, Tess: Life Support
68. Andrews, Donna: Owl's Well That Ends Well
69. Reichs, Kathy: Bare Bones
70. Christie, Agatha: Murder with Mirrors
71. Rowling, JK: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, The Sorcerer's Stone, The Chamber of Secrets, The Prisoner of Azkaban
75. Christie, Agatha: Nemesis and Mr. Parker Pyne, Detective
77. Funke, Cornelia: Inkheart
78. Berg, Elizabeth: Art of Mending
79. Rowling, JK: Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
80. Jance, JA: Dead Wrong
81. Alcott, Louisa May: Little Women
82. Wilhelm, Kate: The Deepest Water
83. Roberts, Nora: Morrigan's Cross
84. Roberts, Nora, Dance of The Gods
85. Roberts, Nora, Valley of Silence
86. Kruger, Mary: Died in the Wool
87. Christie, Agatha: The Man in the Brown Suit
88. Jance, JA: Outlaw Mountain
89. Howard, Linda: Killing Time
90. Fatsis, Stefan: Word Freak
91. Jance, JA: Partner in Crime
92. Michaels: Kasey, Everything's coming up Rosie
93-96. Nora Roberts: Rising Tides, Inner Harbor, Chesapeake Blue, Blood Brothers
97. Monica Ferris: Sind and Needles
98. Kathryn Lilley: Dying to be Thin

There are probably one or two others that didn't make it on here, but still! Almost 100 books! Sheesh. How did I get anything done between the reading and the knitting?

Let's recap 2007, shall we? Part 1: The Knits

2008-01-02T07:17:00.000-08:00

Here it is, January again. Time to remember a new year when I write the date, to start new knitting and reading lists, to get serious about tracking my progress on changing my fitness habits.

So, let's recap the 2007 knitting:
16 Dishcloths: knit in Peaches & Cream and in Lion Cotton for various birthdays, for Mom, for a friend for Christmas. Knit in squares and circles on size 6 and size 8 needles. Gifted with soap when for a birthday.

Top Down Anime Hat (Cotton Classic in Yellow): knit and I still have it, ready to gift to the right person.

Shedir, Calmer #476 Coral: knit to cover my head after I'd shaved it for St. Baldrick's. By the time I'd finished it, I had hair again, but I still love it and would knit it again.

SuperHero Cape for Kruz. Knit in red Bernat and fun. I'd make it again for a child who wants to be a superhero.

Fingerless Gloves for Rob. Knit in a brown Galway worsted weight wool. Rob uses them, loves them and keeps them handy. Just what a knitter wants to see.

Sweater for Baby Martin. A little pullover knit in Sirdar Snuggly DK in Lilac for a little girl joining three older brothers. Loved by mom and put to use immediately.

Flower Basket Shawl. Knit using KP Alpaca Cloud in Tide Pool and donated for a silent auction. I think about knitting another one, bigger for myself.

Simple hat for Rob. Knit in a beautiful Manos yarn, it's his go-to hat when he steps out the door.

Baby hat and a 5-Hr Baby Sweater knit in Lilac Red Heart yarn for a new baby girl for a co-worker. Enjoyed and worn!

Natalya gauntlets for Erin. Knit in red sock yarn held doubled for the thickness I wanted. She loves and uses them, so a success!

Pink Nostalgic cardigan in Red Heart for niece Khylee. Knit on size 6 needles for her October birthday, but not finished until December. Auntie's a lame-O on this one. And she didn't much care for it. Bleah.

Tiny red sweater ornament. Made for an ornament exchange and loved. I immediately had requests for more. Looks like this will be a stash buster for 2008.

Scarves for nieces Samantha and Khylee and for new BIL Tony. Knit in Red Heart/TLC and Snuggly and TLC for the girls. A variegated and a solid held doubled with a slit to pull a crocheted flower through that held the ends together. Tony's was knit in navy Encore with a K2P2 rib that has a mock cable on the K2 rib. Looks like plain ribbing on one side, cabled on the other. Just right for Chicago winters.

Two Coffee Cozies knit in Debbie Bliss Merino DK with size 5 needles. One done in pink with a mock cable and the other a simple rib decorated with a couple of ribbon flowers I had on hand.

Two white and blue hats are knit in Cruz Azul colors for someone who works with Mom. Knit in Bernat Baby Soft on size 4s. I used the basic patterns out of Ann Budd's Knitters Handy Book of Patterns.

A big blanket for Samantha from the picture she drew for her birthday blanket. Knit with size 17s using Caron yarns held doubled.

A 2nd Pirate hat, knit for a friend of Erin's and gifted in time for Talk Like a Pirate Day. Knit with Wool-Ease on size 5's, it's more of a beanie type of hat.

A Star Wars hat for Erin as a Christmas gift. Knit on size 5s in black and blue Wool-Ease.

A crocheted apron as a gift in cotton for a gardener. My first all-crocheted project. Not too shabby and received with a big smile.

Some handwarmers in red superwash wool from Last Minute Handknit Gifts for someone who was excited to get them just before going to Victoria for a half marathon.

A cashmere and silk scarf knit from a kit purchased at Stitch & Pitch. Finished and gifted to a deserving friend.

A pair of Mrs Beeton's for a Christmas gift for a friend who immediately put them on and started fussing with them. She recognized one of the yarns as the one used to knit her Icarus shawl.

So 42 items made in 2007. And I'm so bad at taking pictures that I have documented only a few! Must. Get. Better.

Maybe I should read the book

2007-10-30T12:36:00.001-07:00

Which sci-fi crew would you best fit in with? (pics)
created with QuizFarm.com

You scored as Heart of Gold (Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy)

You are a light and humorous person. No one can help but to smile to your wit. Now if only the improbability

drive would stop turning you into weird stuff.

Heart of Gold (Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy)

81%

Galactica (Battlestar: Galactica)

75%

Babylon 5 (Babylon 5)

69%

Moya (Farscape)

69%

Serenity (Firefly)

63%

Millennium Falcon (Star Wars)

56%

Enterprise D (Star Trek)

56%

SG-1 (Stargate)

50%

Nebuchadnezzar (The Matrix)

50%

Bebop (Cowboy Bebop)

44%

Deep Space Nine (Star Trek)

44%

FBI's X-Files Division (The X-Files)

38%

Andromeda Ascendant (Andromeda)

31%

I'm seeing a trend here

2007-09-22T19:30:00.000-07:00

It was the beginning of August (the 1st to be exact) the last time I blogged and it was a month before that when I'd blogged. There's plenty to say, enough to photograph, but man, I'm lazy.

I did go to my 20th high school reunion. Leslie (2nd from the right in the picture below) and I hadn't intended to stay long. 2 hours, maybe 3 and then we'd go. We got there around 7pm and I didn't get home until 1:30am.

This is a picture of a group of friends who were all in the same kindergarten class together - Dan, Megan, Leslie and Eric.

The nut in the back row is Jim - I can't remember when he arrived in BG, but like me he was a transplant from somewhere else.

I'm still pondering the decision by the committee to have dancing - they dimmed the lights and turned up the music (just like a high school dance), but no one was really interested. Oh, there were a few couples occasionally moving out there, but most people preferred to talk to one another.

It was nice to see the people who came, and I certainly didn't a chance to talk to everyone I wanted to catch up with, but I'm glad I went.

I've done some knitting as well.

Those are Coffee Cozies knit in Debbie Bliss Merino DK with size 5 needles. One done in pink with a mock cable and the other a simple rib decorated with a couple of ribbon flowers I had on hand. Tribble chewed a hole the purple one and it had to be repaired quickly since I had less than an hour to the time I was supposed to gift it. I filled the cup with chocolates and tucked the pink cozy inside.

The white and blue hats are knit in Cruz Azul colors for someone who works with Mom. The new mother is part of a family of soccer fans and Cruz Azul is their team. Knit in Bernat Baby Soft on size 4s. I used the basic patterns out of Ann Budd's Knitters Handy Book of Patterns.

The blanket is the result of the picture Miss S drew for her birthday blanket. Knit with size 17s using Caron yarns held doubled. It has a seed stitch border on all edges and it wasn't until I was done that I realized I could have carried the yarn up the sides for those skinny brown stripes. D'oh!

The last picture is the 2nd Pirate hat, knit for a friend of Erin's and gifted in time for Talk Like a Pirate Day. Knit with Wool-Ease on size 5's, it's more of a beanie type of hat. It's knit as a reverse of Erin's hat which was also modeled by Rob.

I'm in the midst of other knitting as well. But I haven't taken any pictures of those projects.

Here's one last picture for Nanny:

July 2007 recap

2007-08-01T12:05:00.001-07:00

It's the first of August and time to take a look at what I accomplished last month:

Books I read (16)
Dying to Decorate: Not bad. I expected more of a mystery with dead bodies rather than a mystery with secrets. Christian lit and if this becomes a series, I'll probably read those, too.

Grave Secrets: Interesting read, but several different threads rather than one large rope. Not the best I've read of her series so far.

If the Shoe Fits: Christian Lit found at the library. Different for me as it comes from the viewpoint of a black woman. There were some things I had to re-read in order to get an understanding that I'm sure would be apparent to someone else. I still enjoyed it and the author has another series that I'm interested in finding.

Death of a Domestic Diva: All right. Definitely a cosy mystery, but I didn't feel like I'd gotten a good background on some of the characters to round them out for their importance to the main character.

Sleeping with Fear: Read this to try to finish up Kay Hooper's Bishop series (there are still a couple I need to read). I used to have a number of them, but decided they were books I'd rather borrow than own. Still feel that way since they have a paranormal element.

Cry No More: I enjoy Linda Howard, but this one was . . . meh. I prefer when I can identify with her characters or they just flat out make me laugh. This one, not so much. Actually, not at all.

Paradise Lost: I've read JA Jance before (a single book long, long ago) but it was for the JP Beaumont series. This one is from her Joanna Brady series and I've found a new series to collect. Enjoyable, realistic characters, good storyline and I wasn't tempted to set it aside for other books. Yay! Thanks local library!

Life Support: I'd heard Tess Gerritsen books were good. This is early on in her career and I'll check out another from the library to see if I enjoy it. Seemed a little slow in some spots and I was seriously tempted to just skip sections to get to the end. Glad I stuck it out, but want a second taste to clarify her style for my tastes.

Owl's Well That Ends Well: Donna Andrews. Meg Langdon series. Love Donna. Her books do what Cry No More (see above) didn't do for me.

Bare Bones: Another Reichs book. This was a re-read to get me caught up on the books I own so far in the series. A decision on her love life (left hanging in Grave Secrets), some interesting info on the black market animal trade, and just an enjoyable read. Time for a trip to Powell's and the next book.

Murder with Mirrors: A Miss Marple book I have owned but haven't read. Dame Christie is wonderful. If not a little short when compared to today's books.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Some I expected, some I didn't. The last chapter, the epilogue, was rather a let down. I expected more. The series started as a children's book, built up to be more than that in each subsequent book, but that last chapter felt like a return to a childrens book. Still enjoyed it, but . . . .

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban: Started the series over again.

Nemesis: Dame Agatha Christie. Have had this book for a long time as well. Definitely from a different time and place, but I could easily see how some things remain the same.

Knitting I finished (not a whole lot, I'm afraid)
10 dishclothes of various colors and patterns. Peaches & Cream, Lion Brand Cotton in various colors.

1 baby sweater

1/4 of a blanket for my niece. Well, technically, I didn't finish this. It's still a WIP, not an FO.

What's upcoming for August?
Finishing the niece's blanket
A second Pirate hat
Harry Potter books 4-6 if possible
Finding software or building a database myself for our bible study ministry group
Getting prepped for the Fall study while finishing up the Summer study
Finding ideas for Winter and Spring studies
Four meetings/training sessions for our leadership team
Getting started on my prep work for the October women's event ticket sales
Increased visibility at work with upcoming products and technologies and subsequent management of those programs
Oh yeah, 20 year high school reunion.

Pray for me.

Catching Up

2007-07-07T11:22:00.000-07:00

Yikes, I looked at the date from the last post for this blog. I'm cringing at the thought of all of the things that have gone on and no mention here. Well, let's get caught up, shall we?

Let's see, I still haven't taken a picture of Shedir and I've set aside the kitchen curtain. I started a scarf in Karabella Breeze, a luscious cashmere/silk blend, knitting on size 4s. It's my "I've got nothing else to do" knit. At roughly 2 feet long, I still have a bit to go. It was a Spring Breeze Scarf kit I bought at last year's Stitch N Pitch in Seattle from Hilltop Yarn.

I did get a little Top Down Bonnet done in Tahki Cotton Classic for a baby. Still have the hat though. Hmm, kid's probably outgrown it by now. I haven't embroidered a face yet, so I'll set this aside and decide later.

I did get pictures though of some other yarn:

I had a bunch of soaps from Mom and a variety of Peaches & Cream purchased without thought. But a group of June & July birthdays were coming up for my ministries team and it all came out for grouping. I only bought 2 additional plain white skeins.

This is what resulted:

Each woman received 2 coordinating washcloths with a bar of soap. They were gifted in plastic Chinese take-out boxes from the Dollar Tree. You can see 3 of the boxes in the left photo above.

I've also finished a 5-hour Baby Boy Sweater. It's knit in Reynolds Utopia and I need to seam up the sleeves (I couldn't figure out how to make the suggested slip stitch closure to avoid cutting the yarn look good enough for me) before I take a picture. This *will* go to the baby not getting the anime hat.

But I also need to start on Miss Samantha's birthday gift:

This is her drawing of the ideal blanket for this year's birthday gift. So I have yarn to haul out, patterns to peruse and a blanket to complete by the end of July.

But I've also been reading when not knitting. I'm caught up on the JD Robb series, read a Kathy Reichs book, enjoyed Brady Udall's The Miracle Life of Edgar Mint and read a few others. I'm now at 60 books this year. I could back off to 1 a month to stay with last year's number, but that's not likely. So we'll see where it goes from here.

And to close for the grandparents, pics of the grandkids from their auntie:

Yarn and books do make it better

2007-04-24T15:48:00.000-07:00

I've been getting a little bit of knitting done. I finally finished the Shedir cap, but realized just now that I have not taken any pictures of it. Knit on size 3s per the pattern, I ended up dipping into the 2nd ball. Turns out it was a little big and it's taken a dunk in the wash. We'll see if the washing helped it to downsize a bit. Would I knit it again? Yes. On size 2s. With metal needles since I broke the wooden Addi's I was originally using.

What you see here to the left is the next project. The Bubbly curtain from Mason-Dixon Knitting. It's being knit on size 5s in JP Coats' Royale Fashion Crochet Thread in Sage. It's a mercerized cotton, cheap and in a color that will go in the kitchen. It's going to go in place of the icky blinds hanging in the window over the sink.

I've been doing a ton of reading. And when I say ton, I mean 8 books and a short story's worth in the last 7 days. I'm on a JD Robb kick that bumped the Cornwell kick I was on earlier. I started at the beginning of the Eve Dallas series and have read Naked in Death, Glory in Death, Immortal in Death, Rapture in Death, Ceremony in Death, Vengeance in Death, Holiday in Death, Conspiracy in Death and am now starting Loyalty in Death. The short story was after Holiday and before Conspiracy and appeared in the Silent Night anthology.

I'd grabbed the first one last Tuesday for an easy read while commuting. But I kicked it into high gear after a trip to Powell's for Rob's birthday. He got a few books, I found a couple (neither of which was the book I wanted - Born in Death) and when we got home I grabbed the book I was on and plowed through a few more. It helped that I had Monday off for vacation and stayed home today.

No, I didn't blow work off to read. I had an apheresis appointment yesterday morning and I was stupid enough to not get enough rest the night before or eat breakfast. I ended up getting nauseous and nearly threw up. Not my usual reaction at all. AND it briefly interfered with my viewing of Sense and Sensibility. All in all, the rest of the day was spent being extremely tired with a still upset stomach. I woke up this morning and could, I suppose, have gone to work, but I opted to call in sick and sleep a little longer. I'm glad I did since feel much better with just those few extra hours.

Well, enough of that. Nanny, here are pics of two of your grandkids when they were last here:

Giving her a second chance

2007-04-13T09:25:00.000-07:00

I was checking over my list of books and the actual entries I've managed to blog this year and noticed I'd forgotten a book to include in the sidebar (War Reporting for Cowards). I've also managed to read a couple of Patricia Cornwell books this week.

I read the Scarpetta series as they came out, but stopped shortly after beginning Unnatural Exposure. I'd lost interest in Kay and felt a little like the series had jumped the shark. But I'm re-reading since I do want to finish the series, or at least get caught up.

So I picked up Postmortem this week and have finished it and will have Body of Evidence completed tonight. I'll start All That Remains this weekend. I enjoy the science side, the mystery of who and why and the discovery of the who and the determination of the why. I'm looking forward to re-examining Kay's relationship with Lucy and what I think of Cornwell's handling of relationships. I do feel like there are some stereotypes going on, but I'm trying to just enjoy.

On hair, yarn and books

2007-04-07T18:06:00.000-07:00

So, the hair has grown out since the last photo back on the 18th. It's growing fast, but definitely not lying down. It's still on the bottle brush side of spiky, but I have hopes!

I have been knitting:

This is the Flower Basket Shawl completed in Feb? March? Knit with size 3 needles with KnitPicks Alpaca Cloud in Tidewater. I knit it in just a couple of weeks and donated it to a silent auction at church to benefit women's ministries. It sold, but I refused to see how much it sold for - I didn't want to know what price someone had placed on my time.

I've also knitted a little sweater for a baby born to someone at church. Noelle is the 4th child and the first girl - definitely deserving of a sweet lilac sweater. I was a goob though and completely forgot to take a picture of the sweater. But Dayna has told me that Noelle has been wearing the sweater. Awww!

I knit the sweater on size 8s using a pattern from Style Your Own Kids' Knits with Sirdar Snuggle Baby Care in Shade 0219.

I've also finished a SuperHero Cape from Vickie Howell's New Knits on the Block. It's knit in Bernat for the Kruz man to go with the Superman jammies I bought him.

One thing that I was knitting was a pair of socks in TOFUtsies... but they are at a temporary standstill.
Can you see it?

How about now?

A hole chewed by the still living, but only by God's grace, Tribble. She's taken to going after the natural fibers - this yarn, the tiny cake of the Alpaca Cloud remaining from the shawl, and Peaches & Creme cotton.

The socks are on hold until I have the energy to rip past the hole to the ribbing and pick up the stitches to continue on. We'll see what year that happens in.

I have been getting some reading done as well. I re-read Amaryllis, the 2nd book in Jayne Castle's (aka Jayne Ann Krentz) futuristic/romance trilogy on St. Helens. It's a series I enjoy revisiting from time to time.

I also finished American Bee by James Maguire about the Scripps National Spelling Bee. I borrowed this from the local library and was fascinated by the history of the Bee and enjoyed reading of the backgrounds of the spellers. I had been looking for Word Freak, about competitive Scrabble, and found this instead. Borrow this book!

Just finished this week is Barry Hughart's Bridge of Birds. Love, love, loved it. Had heard it was good and had wanted to read Rob's copy of it, but he didn't care for it and had gotten rid of it. But bless him, he re-purchased the book when I expressed my dismay. There are two more books continuing the adventures of Master Li Kao and Number Ten Ox and those are going on my wishlist.

I just started Inkheart last night and am enjoying it so far. Kind of wish Meggie would quit the attitude, but hey, she's only a kid. And she and her father show their love of books the way Rob and I do - with piles of them around the house. (Have I shared that our personal library has over 600 books? And it's that low only because we ruthlessly culled it down to the ones we love)

Mom? How's this one?

Diary of a Haircut

2007-03-18T22:08:00.000-07:00

Today was the day - St. Baldrick's in Portland. Together with about 20 other team members, I was in line at Barracuda's waiting to be shaved.

My hair is in braids to make it easier to cut it off for donation to Locks of Love. And here they are cut off:

(I look like some weird Swiss Miss)

But here's the money-maker shot (I raised $1,000 from people wanting to see this)

I'll have to get a picture of Rob and I to put out here. He didn't do St. Baldrick's but we did shave his head today as well. We look like Twins.

It'll grow back, right?

2007-02-26T12:32:00.000-08:00

** Deep breath **

I've signed up to be a shavee for Portland's St. Baldrick's fundraising event.

My company is putting a team together and I've put my name and picture out there as a participant. Clippers will meet with my mass o' hair on March 18th.

My personal goal is to raise $400, donate my hair to Locks of Love and actually knit a hat for myself.

That last part only makes sense when I tell you that in the four years I've been knitting, I have yet to knit anything for myself.

The picture to the right is my badge photo from work. See where my hair ends? It's grown since then and it's about 4-5 inches longer than it appears in this photo.

Am I a little nervous? Yep. But I'm kind of excited too. I get to start from square one with my hairstyle. My hair has started to want to curl, so I'm curious how it will grow out.

I think I'll be taking once a month photos to track the growth progress once it's gone. Look for a whole new picture of me on 3/18.

If you're interested in donating to help me reach my goal, click here to go to my St. Baldrick's webpage. (Mom & Kim, both of you said you would!)

2007-02-13T13:03:00.000-08:00

It's been a little while since I last posted, so here's a little update:

Knitting - finished the knitting portion of the program for the Flower Basket Shawl and now have only the blocking part to do. I need to have FBS done for "show & tell" on Monday night. It's going to be part of my talk on busyness and how it can interfere in our Christian walk. The FBS is going to symbolize that busyness can be OK when your daily life shows less you and more of God and how His pattern shines through when you allow it. Since lace is how the absence of stitches highlights complexity rather than the stitches themselves, I really felt it would be a good example of how less of self allows God to shine through a person's life.

I also have one of the Cigar gloves done up to the point of needing to separate the thumb stitches to work on the hand. And I casted on (again!) for a pair of socks from my ball of Opal Tiger, this time on #2 needles. The socks were cast on because I needed something simple to work on while traveling to a wedding. They also came out at the reception and led to a lovely conversation with another knitter.

Reading - I added a few more books to the sidebar, 4 of which were read in the last week or so. Loved the Wheaton book. Grabbed Embroidered Truths as a quick easy read, and then got sucked into reading through some of my Krentz books as well. I'm trying to finish up the Weaver book, have another one waiting to be read before Monday and I'm grabbing little bits here and there of War Reporting for Cowards.

Now, since all you've gotten is a shopping list update of my knitting and reading habits, here's a quick pic of the nephew. He's wearing the Hot Head beanie I made him and watching Cars.

Cough, hack, read, knit

2007-01-28T11:49:00.000-08:00

This sums up our weekend.

I spent a great deal of Friday and Saturday camped out on the couch. Three of the 4 books you see in the pile under my soup bowl were checked out from the library on Thursday and finished by Saturday. I knitted, I snacked, I blew my nose constantly and drank glass after glass of delicious juice. Rob is also suffering, but I've chosen not to photograph his little germ-laden portion of our world because, well, it's not as messy as mine.

I did, however, finish Rob's hat:

It's knit with 1 skein of Manos in Color #104 on size 6 needles. I picked up stitches along the bottom and did about 3" of stockinette that I tacked to the inside as I bound off. It's sure to keep his ears warm.

So what have I read in the last few days?

Lori Wick's book, Where the Wild Rose Blooms, the first in her Rocky Mountain Memories series. I wasn't sure if I was going to like it coming off of the other Christian romance I'd just finished reading. But this is a well written historical that does a good job creating likable characters. I've found myself wishing I hadn't imposed my book buying moratorium, but the other books in the series will go on my to-read list.

I've read three Jane Churchill's as well from her Jane Jeffry series. War and Peas, Fear of Frying and The Merchant of Menace. These aren't psychological thrillers, highly forensic tales or serial killer novels. These are fun, cosy mysteries that I've highly enjoyed. I try to purchase these when I can, but I've borrowed from the library in keeping with no-buy dictate I've made.

I've moved on to this:

I'm knitting on fingerless gloves for Rob out of some Galway wool I had on #5 needles. Pattern is the Cigar gloves from Knitty. I'm currently reading Wil Wheaton's book reading Just a Geek. I've been reading his blog since Allison posted about it and have enjoyed it very much since then.

2007-01-23T12:45:00.000-08:00

I've been knitting and reading. Rather boring on the surface, yes?

I'm wrapping up a hat in Manos for Rob; he picked a beautiful autumnal colorway I never would have selected for him myself. I had thought of the Manos as a bulky yarn, but it's more of a thick/thin. While it's lovely to handle, I could do without the constantly changing thickness.

I need to get knitting on some items for my talk to my Bible Study group. We're doing Cynthia Heald's Becoming a Woman of Freedom study and I've got the chapter on busyness. Can't imagine what I'd talk about having *never* suffered from busyness ::wink::

It's going to be a good one for me to study up on and find verses to encourage a more peaceful way to live, even if it's continuing to live in a busy world. I've lots of ideas and verses floating through I just need to get on to paper.

I finished Erik Larson's The Devil in the White City this weekend. Wonderful book - I loved the juxtaposition of the Chicago World's Fair (The White City) with the horrible things going on with H.H. Holmes (The Devil). It was a well-written account of a period I hadn't given much thought to regardless of knowing historical figures of the time. I found myself reading little bits out loud to Rob.

I also read Logan's Child by Lenora Worth. Not a book I bought for myself, it was a book passed on by my MIL who likely didn't read it herself. I originally thought it had been written in the 80's - Trixie, the female character, was innocent, unaware of things going on around her and that innocence used to keep her in the dark. I caught on quite early to the source of Logan's (the male character) anger - Trixie, though, remained in the dark until the last 50 pages or so. Blech. The book was actually published in 1998 so I expected a little more than I got. But the blatant emotionalism at the end *did* get to me and I shed a few tears. Still not a satifactory read overall, especially coming off the Larson book.

Finally, some winter!

2007-01-15T17:21:00.000-08:00

Last Wednesday, Vancouver was on the receiving end of some winter weather. We had about 2-3" of snow in our neighborhood, but other areas had considerably more. I had the day off so I took the above picture.

The forecast for this week includes possible precipitation tomorrow night, but we're unlikely to repeat the amount we had last week.

I've babysat the past couple of weeks for Art - had Kruz one weekend and both Kruz and Khylee this past weekend.

Hard to believe Kruz will be 2 in March. He's grown so much and understands a lot now. And he knows how to say "football" which makes Rob happy. He and Khylee get along well and play together too.

I've been doing some knitting - I finished the lilac baby sweater and I'm working on a hat to go with it. Not much to say, so I'll leave you with this:

Tired of being Physically Phffft

2007-01-10T13:21:00.000-08:00

I'm getting back on the WW wagon. I'm tracking again on my PDA, trying to watch my portions, choosing broth based soups over creamier options. I need to add more veggies and do better on my water, but I am making progress!

I started the year at 199. Not my all-time high, but too close for comfort. Or comfortable clothes.

I've managed to drop 3 lbs and I'm contemplating a yoga class at the Y with a friend. She's making it easy by offering her free passes to try it out. I know I need to say yes.

After reading about http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/ at Rachael's blog, I've found some walking routes around my house that keep me on sidewalks or wide sidestreets for 1.5 to 3 miles. That will be easier to do once spring and summer roll around. It's tough to get out when it's dark when you get up and when you come home.

I'm knitting again, too. Took a few days break and have only completed some Natalya gauntlets for Erin. I've picked through my stash and I'm knitting the 5-hr Baby Sweater again for one of 4 babies that are due in the next 3 months. I'm using some leftover lilac Red Heart for this one for a little girl due in just 3 weeks. I'll probably do the Baby Kimono from MDK's book, too.

On the reading front, I'm reading The Devil in the White City. It's caught my interest and kept it with the descriptions of Chicago and the people during the time frame of the 1893 World's Fair. I hadn't known of the serial killer using the fair as a hunting ground (don't think they mentioned that aspect in history class), and I'm finding it fascinating.

2006 Knitting re-cap

2007-01-08T10:46:00.000-08:00

I'm not going to bore you with pictures and comments. Here's the list. Pictures may be had by clicking the 2006 Knitting label in the sidebar. Not all items have pictures due to the inability of the knitter to remember to take pictures.

Beanie o' Flames for Kruz, Red Schachenmayr (??) & Black Silja
Miss KJ's Pink Odessa, DB Merino DK
Miss S's Purple Odessa, DB Merino DK
Miss K's Purple Sweater, RH SoftYarn
Zach's Trellis sweater, Bernat CottonTots
Rebecca's socks, KnitPicks Sock Landscape
Lap Blanket, Bernat Berella4
Erin's Clogs, KnitPicks Wool of the Andes
Rob's Clogs, KnitPicks Wool of the Andes
Acacia's Bonnet, Tahki Cotton Classic
Acacia's Bonnet, LB Microspun
Katie's rainbow sweater, Patons Melody
Kruz's Raglan sweater, Reynolds Utopia
Ruffled Blanket #2, KnitPicks Crayon
Wide Wale Socks, Knitpicks Dancing
Samantha's Sweater, Plymouth Encore
Samantha's Tank, Sirdar Snuggly DK
Baby Schaak's socks, KnitPicks Dancing
Charity scarf, Encore/Wool-Ease mix
Mom's Quick Wrap, Maggi's Mist Slub
Karen's Paws To Remember scarf, FrogTree Alpaca
Erin's Pirate Hat, LB Wool-Ease
Khylee's Bitty Baby Sweater, Red Heart Soft Yarn
Rebecca's Icarus Shawl, Rowan KSH Night

2006 Book wrap-up

2007-01-08T07:22:00.001-08:00

Just a final list of what I read - and to be honest, I'm not sure it's entirely accurate. I realized yesterday I'd forgotten A Girl Named Zippy and just added it.

The goals for 2007? To read one book more than 2006, to borrow from the library, to not buy books for the first 3 months of 2007 and re-evaluate this book diet each quarter.

Here's the list:

A Girl Named Zippy, Haven Kimmel
Mrs. Hudson and the Spirit's Curse, Martin Davies
A Midsummer Night's Scream, Jill Churchill
Lie by Moonlight, Amanda Quick
All Night Long, Jayne Ann Krentz
The Secret Life of Bees, Sue Monk Kidd
Now You See Her, Linda Howard
Falling Awake, Jayne Ann Krentz
To Say Nothing of the Dog, Connie Willis
Bare Bones, Kathy Reichs
The Etruscan Chimera, Lyn Hamilton
A Farewell to Yarns, Jill Churchill
It's Not About the Bike, Lance Armstrong
Storage & Display, Pottery Barn
Stylish Storage, Paige Gilchrist
Murder with Peacocks, Donna Andrews
Key of Valor, Nora Roberts
Honor's Splendor, Julie Garwood
Charmed (anthology), Jayne Castle
After Glow, Jayne Castle
After Dark, Jayne Castle
Fast Women, Jennifer Crusie
Survivor in Death, JD Robb
Knitting Rules, Yarn Harlot
Mason-Dixon Knitting, Ann & Kay
Origin in Death, JD Robb
Memory in Death, JD Robb
Carolina Moon, Nora Roberts
Susannah's Garden, Debbie Macomber
Second Sight, Amanda Quick
Deadly Decisions, Kathy Reichs
Class Menagerie, Jill Churchill
Silence of the Hams, Jill Churchill
We'll Always Have Parrots, Donna Andrews
Rebellious Desire, Julie Garwood
Unhinged, Sarah Graves
A Case of Bad Taste, Lori Copeland
To Die For, Linda Howard
A Groom With A View, Jill Churchill
Wendy Knits!, Wendy Johnson
Queen Bee of Mimosa Branch, Haywood Smith
Happily Ever After, Susan May Warren
Morrigan's Cross, Nora Roberts
A Deadly Yarn, Maggie Sefton
Embroidered Truths, Monica Ferris
Million Dollar Dilemma, Judy Baer
Angels Fall, Nora Roberts
Fatal Voyage, Kathy Reichs
6 Rainier Drive, Debbie Macomber
Pride and Prejudice, Jane Austen
May the Best Man Die, Deborah Donnelly
Knit Lit
Knit Lit (too)
Knit Lit the Third
Dance of the Gods, Nora Roberts
Valley of Silence, Nora Roberts
Midnight in Ruby Bayou, Elizabeth Lowell
Crime of Passion, Kay Hooper
House of Cards, Kay Hooper
Match Me if You Can, Susan Elizabeth Philips
A Stitch In Time, various
Flabbergasted, Ray Blackston
Family Man, Jayne Ann Krentz
Sweet Fortune, Jayne Ann Krentz

Merry Christmas!

2006-12-25T17:14:00.000-08:00

It's after 5pm here in Vancouver. Rob & The Boy went to see Night at the Museum. Erin's at her mom's. I'm home at the computer.

Erin had her wisdom teeth out Friday and has been doing well enough to not need much V*cadin for the pain. She's been taking half doses if it gets to be more than ibuprofen can handle.

We met last night at one of the BIL's homes for the annual Christmas Eve gathering for Rob's side. Low key, fun and we got home around 10:30pm. Stayed up until midnight and opened our gifts. Normally, we'd wait until morning but with Erin heading over to her mom's before 7am we opted to get the midnight jump on the holiday.

My Christmas knitting is almost done. I still need to finish Kruz' hat, but I finished Miss K's sweater today (only needed the seaming). I'll post a picture of their gifts later.

The hats for Misses S & K are done. Here they are in the almost done stage. Knit in Debbie Bliss Merino DK using the Odessa pattern from Grumperina.

Miss S will get the purple hat and Miss K will get the pink hat. A fun knit and one that I would do again.

Well, off to watch Neat and try to finish the Christmas knitting before the day is officially over.

Making progress on the list!

2006-12-17T21:41:00.000-08:00

Making progress on the list!

~~Ship out Kim's Christmas box o' stuff~~
Ship M&D's Christmas box o' stuff by 12/16
~~Wrap Erin's last gift~~
~~Wrap Rob's last gifts~~
Finish buying for Rob's stocking
Buy lottery scratch-its for all stockings (except Kim's - sorry!)
~~Go to Jaminga and buy Kruz' shirt~~
Find pattern to make black beanie with flames to go with Kruz' shirt
Do finish work (seams, ends, buttons) on Miss K's sweater
Find dress or pants/shirt combo to coordinate with Miss K's sweater
Go to Beacock's music for Samantha's gift
~~Buy beads to begin knitting on Samantha's other gift~~ (although I now want to change the beads I bought)
~~Determine the best gift for Katie J~~
~~Buy beads to begin knitting on Katie's other gift~~ Bought and 90% knitted
~~Block out Karen's scarf to give on Monday~~
Work on Raye & Bonnie's gift to have ready by Christmas Eve
~~Get tree and trim it~~ OK, it's not completely trimmed, but decorations are out now too.
~~Send out cards to family and friends~~ Not happening this year
~~Buy gift card for kid's mom & stepdad~~ Actually, Hickory Farms came to the rescue
Make cookies
Clean house for after-Christmas visit by sister and girls
~~Take Sean out for birthday dinner~~
~~Check if I'm a great-aunt yet for the 5th time (Rob's family)~~ Chy had a little boy on the 14th, Ezra Kai.

Mini update

2006-12-14T12:44:00.000-08:00

Just finished The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd. Can't wait to read something else by her. I loved the imagery, the clarity of the story her words painted in my mind. I may need to find a used copy to keep since I'll need to return this one to the library.

Managed to check off item #22 last night. Sean turned 19 and we went out to Gustav's for dinner (his choice). He's making better choices than he was a year ago and has made the very adult decision to enter the Air Force. He's currently working at a local restaurant and working out to try to lose about 20 pounds.

I need to get a plan of attack ready for tomorrow. I have the day off and need to donate platelets at 6:30am, buy Kruz' shirt, buy beads, and maybe yarn, to make Odessa for the nieces, wrap gifts, and work on M&D's gift so I can mail it out no later than Monday if I want any chance of it making it to them by Christmas.

Christmas To Do List

2006-12-13T10:36:00.000-08:00

~~Ship out Kim's Christmas box o' stuff~~
Ship M&D's Christmas box o' stuff by 12/16
Wrap Erin's last gift
Wrap Rob's last gifts
Finish buying for Rob's stocking
Buy lottery scratch-its for all stockings (except Kim's - sorry!)
Go to Jaminga and buy Kruz' shirt
Find pattern to make black beanie with flames to go with Kruz' shirt
Do finish work (seams, ends, buttons) on Miss K's sweater
Find dress or pants/shirt combo to coordinate with Miss K's sweater
Go to Beacock's music for Samantha's gift
Buy beads to begin knitting on Samantha's other gift
Determine the best gift for Katie J
Buy beads to begin knitting on Katie's other gift
Block out Karen's scarf to give on Monday
Work on Raye & Bonnie's gift to have ready by Christmas Eve
Get tree and trim it
Send out cards to family and friends (this makes a regular appearance on the to-do, but rarely happens!)
Buy gift card for kid's mom & stepdad
Make cookies
Clean house for after-Christmas visit by sister and girls
Take Sean out for birthday dinner
Check if I'm a great-aunt yet for the 5th time (Rob's family)

So I figure on getting some of this done this week, but we'll just have to see how well I do since I did nothing to make a dent in it last night. Instead I read Linda Howard's Now You See Her and finished it.

Upgraded and updated

2006-12-10T16:41:00.000-08:00

Well, I moved to the new blogger format. Not bad. Still trying to get some things down. I'd like to be able to change the size of the font in the sidebar but have not yet been able to do so.

In the meantime, here are some pics:

First up is the Icarus shawl being blocked.

Pattern: Icarus by Miriam Felton from Interweave Knits, Summer 2006 issue

Size 3 and 1 needles (don't ask)

Knit in Rowan Kid Silk Haze

Recipient: Rebecca

Started back in early November, it bumped along quite nicely. I would make it again, but knit the entire thing with size 1 needles. It blocked out bigger than I wanted since the upper portion was done with the size 3 needles.

But Rebecca was thrilled with the result. She had wanted a shawl to take with her on a cruise for those dressier nights, the color needed to be dark but shiny and the Rowan KSH Night worked just right for this.

I offered to knit it for her since there was no way she'd get it done it time. As it was, I barely got it done - I blocked it out Thursday night and she left Saturday for San Diego.

Back in early October was Miss K's 4th birthday:

I did knit a little purple sweater for the Bitty Baby her Nanny and Aunties bought for her and had started on a matching sweater for Miss K.

But time got short and the sweater is still on the needles. It's going to be finished for Christmas and gifted to her then.

She was princess for a day at her party. Rob & I had great timing: we were late enough to miss the madness of games & lunch with a bunch of small children, but just in time to witness the opening of the presents and get some cake.

And just for kicks, here's Kruz in his Niner get-up.

On my way to reading more

2006-11-29T13:24:00.000-08:00

Well, I have reached 54 books so far this year. And I still have the month of December to go! I added to the list on the right, but I know there are at least one or two books I still need to add. And the pile of 7-8 books still to read and the others I keep picking up at Powell's and a trip to the library to fit in and not enough time to do it all.

But . . . I do love me a good book. I've picked up Nancy Pearl's Book Lust to spur on the goal of reading new authors. Because I don't have enough to read as it is.

Have I mentioned I know how to read?

2006-10-04T12:19:00.001-07:00

It's National Book Month! It's also Mystery Series Week! I do love me a good mystery - a good resource is Stop! You're Killing Me! and this new link to Overbooked.

I've been keeping track of the books I read in a year (I'm a little geeky that way) and I find myself selecting mysteries and women's fiction. I prefer the "women's fiction" title much better than romance even though the authors are found in that section of the bookstore. I've found that I don't pick up just any book anymore in that genre - I've gotten pickier, found it harder to relate to the some of the situations and, well, just grown out of some of it.

So I find some authors I read over and over (Nora Roberts *immediately* comes to mind) and new ones that get me excited like Kathy Reichs. You know, I came across her books in Costco a few years ago and passed on it then. I guess I'm ready for her now. And it doesn't hurt that I love to watch Bones which is based on her and her character.

I keep a list of authors I want to read (note to self - tranfer list to PDA), have a stack of books by the bed that are next to read (it's at about 8-10 books right now), love to visit the library, want to get Nancy Pearl's books (ok I want to *be* Nancy Pearl when I grow up) and continually think I don't have enough bookshelves. I really don't, you know. I have books currently in stacks on the floor in our bedroom.

When I was trying to figure out a name for this blog, I wanted to incorporate my two loves - books and knitting. The knitting is recent (less than 5 years) but no less powerful in the impact to my well-being. Both allow me to escape from stress and pressures, both provide pleasure in the doing and the giving, both are spread in nearly every room of the house.

So what to name the blog? Well, after really thinking it over and changing the name from the original Just One More, to the short-lived Yarn and Books = Happiness, Yarn Pig made more sense and appealed to me.

Hmmmm. Long story short? It's National Book Month! Make an author happy - Read a book!

The Color of Summer

2006-10-02T08:51:00.000-07:00

It's a drab day here in Vancouver so I decided to share a quick photo from the summer of Katherine in the pool. I love this photo. Something about the bright colors, the clarity of the photo, the unexpected good fortune of a good photo (I'm not a great photographer).

It makes me smile.

small knitting update

2006-10-01T19:40:00.000-07:00

Here's a quick look at the scarf I'm knitting for a friend. Frog Tree Alpaca. I'm almost through 2 skeins and have a 3rd ready to go. Paws to Remember pattern, modified to be not as wide as the pattern calls for and I'm wondering if I'll need that 3rd skein, but why not make it a little long?

I'd hoped to have camera shots from today's Portland Marathon that Chris the Sis ran today, but they haven't come through yet. And trying to sort through the pictures online is a pain!

While I'm at small knitting updates, here's the pirate hat made for Erin's birthday. I used black and grey Wool-Ease and cut the repeat done by one since it was going to be bigger than the yarn used.

And that's Rob modeling the hat - Erin was unavailable for her photo shoot.

Catching up

2006-09-30T08:55:00.000-07:00

So, I've been to California and Chicago, finished a couple pairs of socks, read a few books, knit on a gift, had another child move in, changed job functions, rearranged book cases . . . ummm . . . done other things I'll think of later since we last talked.

Below is a photo of the sisters and mom taken in Chicago. We were standing around by the car in the parking lot of a Container Store.

Why were we standing in a parking lot? Well, Mom & Kim (wearing pink and navy respectively) had gone to put the shopping bags into Kim's car. Chris (in light blue) and I headed to the Office Max/Depot (can't remember which) to look for a couple of things for Kim's apartment.

Mom came to find us so we could call AAA.

Apparently, while loading the car, my sister's purse was placed into the back seat out of the way by Mom. Once everything was loaded, Kim shut the trunk and ended up shutting us out of the car. She had unlocked ONLY the trunk and the keys were in her purse.

See her purse?

The first guy AAA sent out couldn't unlock the Beetle Kim drives. We called AAA and they decided to send a locksmith. On a Sunday. They said they'd call when one was on the way.

No call.

Eventually one did show up (after we'd decided to cab it back into the city to get the spare keys). He popped it open to a round of applause and we immediately headed out to lunch.

Lurve my AAA.

We did manage to exit her apartment (pictures and story to come later) and do a little shopping and sight-seeing. Here's my obligatory tourist photo of the Bean.

Kim? This one is for you - the promised picture from Khylee.

And I swear the box is on the way! Yes, I a lame-o and you could have starved to death before getting the promised pasta packages or run out of gas or whatever.

But look at your niece! She loves her Auntie Kimmy! Disney goodness from a beloved niece is on the way!

Forgive me yet?

More knitting goodness on the way!

12 business days and counting

2006-07-23T16:21:00.000-07:00

Vacation!

We're off on Wednesday, Aug 9 and headed here to begin our time off. We'll see some frogs, some scenery and what Rob's looking forward to - trees.

After a couple of days, we'll head to San Diego to see Mom & Dad. Rob's not big on touristy stuff, so we're not likely to see Shamu. However, M&D live only a few blocks from Balboa Park so we'll check it out. Probably go sailing one day. Rob would like to see Hell Week if it's going on.

OK, the main reason to go? Tickets to see the Packers play.

We'll get back, have a day at home and then Rob will go to work and I'll head out to Chicago to see the sis. But this isn't just a regular trip. Nope. Kim will be hosting her mom and 2 sisters at the same time. All four of us together for a few days so we're going to set the town on fire.

Just a brief post, I need to finish a sweater for a niece's birthday. Pictures to come.

2006-07-11T20:45:00.000-07:00

Work sucks.

Not enough time in the day to do anything beyond the basics and even then, it feels like only half of those. A co-worker is going out on vacation for 4 days and while we're splitting his duties among the rest of us, there are only 4 in our department and only 3 that do actual work. So his vacation means there will be only 2 of us holding down the fort. Ugh.

Below is a pic of the Trellis sweater I knit for a co-worker's first child. She was always wearing cabled sweaters so this made sense to me. It's knit in Bernat's Cotton Tots. Picture courtesy of my camera phone.

Did I mention the new desk we bought a few months ago? Ikea's Mikael. Love, love, love it. Allows me to put tons of stuff around without cluttering it up too much.

You can see photos of the nieces and nephew, our wedding photo, the turtle planter I've had for over 20 years (Thanks, Mom!) and the little tortilla basket we use for office supplies.

And Mom, here's another grandson fix:

Art was changing him into clothes to go play in the water and Kruz looked bored with the whole process.

I noticed I'd forgotten to add a book to the list: Happily Ever After by Susan May Warren. Christian romance. I'm trying to branch out and read different authors and that includes more Christian writers. This was fun, interesting and enjoyable. Not a review to get you to pick it up, huh? Well, I liked the bookstore/coffee shop setting, the struggle with the main characters to accept God's grace for themselves even as they encouraged the other's faith (gosh, not something I struggle with at all *wink*) and that the characters felt compelled to hide portions of themselves even though they longed to pour out these areas of themselves and have them accepted. Don't we all wish for that unconditional acceptance and love from someone? Thankfully, we have God filling that very tall order.

True to my name

2006-07-08T10:30:00.000-07:00

I have been a bit of a yarn pig lately.

I've been knitting as evidenced by the shot below:

What you see above is a tank for a niece who's birthday is at the end of the month (I'll also be working on a sweater to make a sort of twinset for her), a scarf for a friend and socks for a sister-in-law.

The tank is in Sirdar Snuggly DK in Lilac (0219) and the pattern is the June 15th pattern from the Knitting Pattern-A-Day. The scarf is being knit in Frog Tree Alpaca in shade #82 (a grayish purple) and the pattern is FiberTrends' Paws to Remember. The socks are from the sock yarn received for Christmas - KnitPicks Dancing sampler - in Swing (23592) and I'm using my Ann Norling pattern for Wide Wale socks.

I've been doing plenty of reading as well. I updated the reading list on the right and since the holiday weekend, when Rob and I made a pilgramage to Powells, I have 5 more to add.

Unhinged by Sarah Graves - part of the Home Repair is Homicide series and the first one I've read by her. Enjoyed it and plan to hunt down or borrow the rest of the series.

A Case of Bad Taste by Lori Copeland - first book in the Morning Shade Mystery series. Christian fiction and the mystery is more of a puzzler - no killers and the only deaths are the ones tracked in the obituaries by one of the older characters. Fun and encouraging.

To Die For by Linda Howard - I've usually enjoyed her books. This one was a little different - written in first person, a character I couldn't exactly relate to, I caught on to the identity of the mysterious shooter earlier than normal. It was OK. Glad I bought it used.

A Groom With A View by Jill Churchill - part of the Jane Jeffry series. Fun, light and enjoyable.

Queen Bee of Mimosa Branch by Haywood Smith - first book I've read by the author and it was fun! I can see why women enjoyed this book. And maybe it's a part of me getting older as well, but I can start to relate to characters in their middle-age (granted I just turned 37, so I'm not in my 50's like the main character). But I'm identifying less with the books I read in my 20's and finding a wider range to enjoy. Like this one.

Pictures to make it up to you

2006-07-01T09:15:00.000-07:00

To start, yes I have been knitting. These were the most recent - baby bonnets. The pink on the left was made with Erin's pattern from LB Microspun. The one on the right is Tahki Cotton Classic noodled together from other patterns with simple eyelet pattern.

I did add ribbon to both hats, pale pink for the pink bonnet and hot pink for the white.

We (I) had plans to work in the yard this weekend. Clear out beds, lay down weed fabric, plant some shrubs. Draw up plans for a pergola-like thing down the west side of the house. I'll still do some of that, but it's not going to be as fun since we can't pack the Forester up. Erin had a slight accident:

Hit on the passenger side of our only (!) car while going to her Mom's to pick up more stuff. We live in Vancouver, her mom lives in SE Portland so this was the furthest Erin had driven by herself since getting her license.

It doesn't look like much until I explain that the other 3 tires are actually straight. This tire is pushed in and angled. Insurance had the car towed to a reputable shop and we'll hear from them on Monday. In the meantime, we have a lovely Neon from Enterprise.

On an upnote:

Don't you love a kid who enjoys his meals?

Still here!

2006-06-25T20:07:00.000-07:00

So, March was my last post? Yipes! Let's see, what's happened since then?

Erin got her driver's license in April? May? Doesn't matter really, since it's all we can do to deal with the reality that she's a *licensed driver*, people! Actually, she's pretty good and gets better with each drive.

She also got accepted into the Running Start program and will be attending community college in the fall while still a junior in high school. We were brainstorming ideas for transportation when she decided to move *back* in with us. So, we have another in the house again. No biggie. She was only gone for 4 months tops.

Sean graduated from HS. Barely. He's working full time and we're praying continually he'll step up to the responsibilities of being an adult. He's going to have a rough road ahead of him if he doesn't, so keep him in your prayers.

Rob's been doing OK. He just went to see a Mariner's game on Father's Day. The Woolbright men went and had a blast. They rode tour buses up (courtesy of the alumni event tickets Rob bought), ate lots of junk, enjoyed a win sitting up behind home plate (300 level, but a great view) and had the fun of *not* driving back. We'll be going back up in July for another game for the Stitch & Pitch.

In August, we'll head down to San Diego for a visit with the 'rents. Mom scored tickets to the Chargers-Packers game and Rob's indebted now. We'll visit, see the sights, head back and then I'll fly out to Chicago to visit the sis.

I *have* been knitting. Finished socks for Rebecca, two little hats for a new grand-niece (yes, at 36 I have a grand-niece courtesy of Rob's family), a sample tank for KnitPicks, a Trellis sweater for a co-worker's baby, clogs for Rob and Erin.

Got a new digital camera, but I still need to load the software so I can show the pictures we have been taking.

Whew. It got up to 100 today and now at 8:30pm it's still 88 out. I'm going to get some sherbet and sit in front of the air conditioner.

Because you asked, Mom

2006-03-29T19:49:00.000-08:00

Pictures of the nephew, Kruz, at his 1st birthday party

And the sweater knit for the boy by his loving auntie:

The sweater was knit based on Ann Budd's suggestions for a raglan and used the same Reynolds Utopia yarn I knit his Christmas hat in.

This weekend is another birthday party - niece Katherine turned 5 today and here's her gift:

One back, two sleeves and a front is all done. She'd asked for a rainbow sweater and it's being knit in Paton's Melody in a colorway called Happy Daze. It has nice clear colors (I wish the purple sections had been longer than an inch, thank you very much) but it does have a nice yellow in it. The yellow was important since it's her favorite of all colors. Do you know how hard it is to find a rainbow variegated fit for a 5 year old?

Anyhoo, it's a nice, bulky yarn that's knitting up quickly. Which is good since I need to have it done before we go up to Ellensburg on Friday.

By the way, I did manage to finish the blue baby blanket, have 85% of a baby sweater in Bernat CottonTots complete and have read a couple of books. Just no real blogging progress to show until today.

So I lied.

2006-02-24T11:09:00.000-08:00

I didn't blog when I said I would. But look! Yarn!

This is the sock yarn that I had back in January when I was cleaning up my stash. Going clockwise from the 12 o'clock position:
2 skeins Cascade 220 superwash for some boot socks for Rob
6 of Calzetteria for a baby sweater (or socks)
2 of Patons Kroy in Hip Hop Jacquard
2 of Lamb's Pride Superwash (again for Rob)
6 of Wildfoote (2 each in 3 different colorways)
2 of Lorna's Laces
Some STR in the Carbon colorway
Opal Tiger
and Trekking XXL.

This doesn't include the Christmas Dancing sampler from KnitPicks from Rob.

Or the 6 skeins I just picked up for a sweater for the nephew.

I'm showing the sock yarn because gifting the Socktober socks to the Sis was a success. She loved them. So, socks are on the approved knitting list.

Now I just need to work on:

Trellis for a new baby (Bernats CottonTots) by March 1
Sweater for nephew by March 14
Sweater for niece by March 29
Durrow, felted clogs, socks for Rob
Bristow for me
Socks for gift
Scarf for gift
Rogue, felted clogs for Erin
Shawl for gift

And whatever else catches my fancy.

Still alive, will blog more tomorrow

2006-02-19T07:46:00.000-08:00

Thing to talk about:

* 3 books read
* Sample knit completed
* Baby blanket completed
* Socks gifted
* Trip to Chicago

See you (with pics!) tomorrow!

2006-01-22T13:16:00.000-08:00

I've had a whopper of a cold this week. Work hasn't been helping either and I've had to wear my bite plate to control my ear pain. I'm finally on the mend, though. The garbage isn't as full of snot rags as before and my cough is slowing down.

I have been getting little knitting done on the train. As you can see (or maybe not), there are 3 hats and 2.5 scarves done. These are going into my charity knitting box to be split between Dulaan and my church group. The black/white stuff is Homespun-like stuff (could be Homespun, could be Light-N-Lofty, I've lost the bands), the red/black set is Red Heart acrylic and so is the turquoise/lime combo. All of it came out of my leftovers bin.

Boy, that black and white set just doesn't looks like much of anything, does it? Actually, it all looks kind of bad. No, the ends are not yet woven in, no, I didn't take the picture near any natural light, and no, I don't really care right now. And why no, I haven't showered yet, why do you ask?

I've been saving my home-time knitting for this instead. Still slaving away on this baby blanket.

The rows are going faster since I get to decrease every other row. But with 136 stitches to begin with between markers, it has been feeling like slow going.

I am determined to finish this today.
I will get it washed today.
I will gift it tomorrow.

Power of positive thinking, right?

Well, at least I've got something to positively look forward to: Chicago! Southwest is running cheap fares (DING!) and the sis has a 3 day weekend in February, so I'm heading out.

Better start planning my plane knitting . . . .

Distracting you from lack of progress with gifts

2006-01-10T12:02:00.000-08:00

We're 10 days into the new year and I have yet to complete the baby blanket I started last summer. But progress is being made so I can 't complain. Too much. And I have managed to complete a hat for charity and started the garter-stitch scarf to go with as part of my easy commuter knitting.

So the lack of progress pics means I'll show you some other stuff I received for Christmas:

You can see the Knitting Pattern-A-Day calendar, the latest Thursday Next book from Jasper Fforde, two Cornelia Funke books, Season 7 of Friends, Mulan and Season 1 of The Muppet Show.

I have started the Fforde book, placed the calendar in my knitting corner of the living room and will be cracking open the Muppet Show for a marathon this weekend.

And finishing the baby blanket.

New Beginnings

2006-01-01T10:27:00.000-08:00

First off - Happy New Year! We managed to stay up last night to usher in the new year by watching I Love the 80's: 3D (TiVo'd earlier in the week). I was up this morning at 6:30 to get the Crock-Pot (TM) jambalaya going, let the dog out, got yesterday's mail and began the finishing of the 2nd blue Crayon baby blanket.

I have a total of 6 knitting WIPs I need to finish:
Blue Crayon blanket (gift)
Prairie Spring socks (gift)
Paws to Remember scarf (gift)
Buffalo plaid blanket (gift)
Alpaca mobius scarf
Acrylic lap blanket (charity)

And upcoming items:
Baby boy sweater (Feb)
Boy sweater (March)
Baby girl sweater (May)
Felted clogs for Rob

It's a new year and I'll be renewing my commitment to WW. I've lost (and maintained that loss) of 20 lbs so far. Twenty more to go and I'll be where I was when Rob and I first married. Twenty more past that and I'll be at the weight where I felt my most attractive and sexiest. I wasn't by any means "fit" at the goal weight, but I felt good. And that's what matters.

That's probably the only resolution this year. Last year's? Let's check:
* Increase my exercise: Not so good. I've announced my intention to get my lazy bum out of bed to the husband and the Sis. I'm going to have to make good.

* Eat healthy: Better. Lost the 20 pounds. Definitely need to slow down in eating again. I don't know what's going on, but I've scared myself choking a couple of times. (blech)

* Read more: I did borrow more, didn't reach the 2 new books/authors a month, but being a voracious and fast reader makes a difference in the end totals. Total of 58 books read in 2005.

* Knit something for me: Didn't.

* Blog more: hmmm. Probably better, but not great. Need to establish a day where I update.

Now I'm off to check the jambalaya and watch football with Rob.

A little Christmas love

2005-12-30T09:36:00.000-08:00

It's the Knitpicks Dancing sampler! Rob got this for me for Christmas and I'm really excited at knitting myself some socks with this.

And this?

Kruz in the hat I knit for him. Reynolds Utopia, the chullo pattern from KnitWit.

More later!

Knitting content!

2005-12-02T09:41:00.000-08:00

So I have been knitting. Wanna see?

First up, the hat knitted and felted for KnitPicks. Done in their Wool of the Andes yarns. Yarns and pattern provided by them. I turned it in to them a couple of weeks ago, so I'm waiting to see when it will turn up on their site or in the catalog.

The hat looks better on the couch than it does me.

Then I finished the mittens for the girls. Well, not quite finished. I still need to pick up some fleece to line them, finish the hats and line those, too.

I am also working on two gifts for friends. We'll see if I manage to get them done in time for a birthday or for Christmas.

I'm not sure how much knitting I'll get done this weekend. We're taking on Kruz and Khylee for the weekend and a talkative 3-year-old and a crawling 9-mth-old can run you ragged. Thank goodness for Disney movies and doggie gates.

Happy Thanksgiving!

2005-11-24T11:00:00.000-08:00

The turkey's in the oven, a pumpkin custard is sitting on the stove. The house is almost clean, and we're getting ready for a gathering of the Woolbright clan. I've sent out the holiday greeting to my family since we're spread out this year - celebrating in San Diego, Roseburg, Ellensburg and Chicago.

May your families be blessed today and may you see the grace of God in each of the faces around your table.

Holiday list

2005-11-24T10:23:00.000-08:00

OK, family, here's the list for the gift exchange this year as promised.

Rob has Jim
I have Art
Chris has Kendra
Jim has Kimber
Art has Rob
Kendra has me
Kim has Chris

Rob has an Amazon wishlist - actually 3 lists, but that just means more to chose from.

I also have a wishlist at Amazon, but you can also give me gift certificates to Patternworks.com, knitpicks.com or powells.com.

Well, crap.

2005-11-18T17:35:00.000-08:00

Remember back in April when my Honda was vandalized?

Well, it's November now and the difference between then and now?

Same thing done to the inside - the instrumentation panel with all of the gauges, something from the passenger side since the carpet has been pulled up. But hey! The Club was still in place!

So, Rob & I stayed home yesterday - he's called the police, the service center, the insurance company and anyone else who would listen and I worked from home.

This comes on top of the news Wednesday that Rob's oldest has officially been expelled from his high school. Long story short: Expelled, community service, fines, random drug tests.

On the upside of life, I'll get a new car, I just finished a felted hat for KnitPicks and we managed to find our 24 lb turkey for Thanksgiving and only spent $50 at the grocery store!

Well, tell me something I didn't know

2005-11-13T12:04:00.000-08:00

Your Birthdate: July 6

You tend to be a the rock in relationships - people depend on you.
Thoughtful and caring, you often put others needs first.
You aren't content to help those you know... you want to give to the world.
An idealist, you strive for positive change and dream about how much better things could be.

Your strength: Your intuition

Your weakness: You put yourself last

Your power color: Rose

Your power symbol: Cloud

Your power month: June

What Does Your Birth Date Mean?

The things I learn about myself

2005-11-10T07:58:00.000-08:00

You Should Get a MD (Doctor of Medicine)

You're both compassionate and brilliant - a rare combination.
You were born to be a doctor.

What Advanced Degree Should You Get?

Your Hair Should Be Blue

Wild, brilliant, and out of control.
You're a risk taker with an eye to the future.

What's Your Funky Inner Hair Color?

Your Blog Should Be Blue

Your blog is a peaceful, calming force in the blogosphere.

You tend to avoid conflict - you're more likely to share than rant.

From your social causes to cute pet photos, your life is a (mostly) open book.

What Color Should Your Blog or Journal Be?

Finding pleasure in loss, pleasure in gain

2005-11-03T21:10:00.000-08:00

So in my last post I went on about how I was stagnating with the weight loss and generally just not feeling the WW love. Well, apparently tracking everything like it was my first week on plan worked!

I hit my 10% goal. Yep, I lost just over 4 lbs last week and I'm at a grand total of 19.6 lost and weigh in at 178 even! I'd figured on taking the month of November to lose those pounds, but apparently I put myself on the fast track somehow. Really, I just think it was the carrot dangled before me - K, R & I couldn't have our monthly Popeye's lunch unless K & I reached our goals. K still needs to lose 7 pounds to reach her final weight loss goal.

Any hoo, feeling pretty good that I only had 4 pieces of candy Halloween night (they were the teeny tiny little mini bars that are more like hints of candy than actual candy). I'm going to treat myself to some new pants.

In knitting news, I'm going to be knitting a new project for KnitPicks. There's a deadline of 11/18 and it's completely doable. I'll take pics once I pick up the stuff and get going.

Here's some yarny goodness for you:

I actually did finish my Socktober socks before the end of October. I took the picture Halloween night, but didn't post until now and I'm such a slacker, I still need to update Lolly.

More knitting progress:

Mittens for the nieces! I'm using Ann Budd's Handy Book of Patterns and (bad auntie) I'm using acrylic. BUT in my defense, I must state that knowing my sister as I do she will appreciate washable items more than handwash. Yes, yes, I've heard of superwash wool and it's crossed my mind to get some and knit another pair. I have given this a little thought and I'm thinking of lining them with fleece. We'll see.

Did I mention I've also recently bought yarn?

The stuff on top is to knit clogs for Rob and Erin. KnitPicks Wool of the Andes in Evergreen for Rob and in Mist and Coal for Erin. The stuff below is a pumpkin hat kit to knit for Kruz for next year and fun fruity baby hats for any baby that happens along. The baby stuff came courtesy of Busy Hands Yarn. They even included a hand written note with my stuff thanking me for buying from them. Nice people.

Yes, yes, this is the last of it:

Two Heartstrings patterns and yarn. Sis 2 of 2 has been after me to make something for myself. I have some EcoWool, some Lorna's Laces in River (the light blue skein in the masthead above), some Socks that Rock in the Carbon colorway (barely visible above as well). I've added the KnitPicks Shine in Orchid to the pile. I was going to make a Picovoli but now I'm leaning towards Marnie in HotKnits (Look in the table of contents). Kim, thoughts?

Starting Over (Again)

2005-10-27T16:20:00.000-07:00

Yesterday was weigh-in at WeightWatchers. *sigh* I've been stagnating around the same weight for weeks! I hit 182.4 back on July 27th. My weight yesterday? 182.2. My progress in 13 weeks? 0.2 pounds.

When I started WW back in April, my starting weight was 197.6 and I was excited to get back on program (this is my 3rd time) and get down to around 140. WW wants your first goal to be to lose 10% of your current weight. That made my first goal to be 19 lbs. At this time, I've lost 15.4 so I only have less than 4 more to reach my 10% goal and earn the freakin' key chain thingy.

Anyhoo, I've got to get back on track. I wasn't tracking my points well (or at all) and I've got to take another look at the meals we're making. They're obviously not too bad since I've essentially maintained for the last 3 months. And *gulp* I've got to add in exercise.

Part of the drive for the do-over is that I'm feeling left behind on the weight loss front and I know it's totally my fault. My sis is doing LA Weight Loss and we're in a supportive competition, the kind only good sisters can do, and she's coming up rapidly on me. Three friends at work have collectively lost 100 pounds, individually it ranges from 30 to 40 pounds. (And in case K, R or S is reading this, I'm proud of each of you and in no way am I trying undermine the very hard work you've been doing - you guys are inspiring in that annoying way good friends can be without pissing you off)

So, today was the beginning of my new start and what a start I got off to! First, I missed my train stop (I was reading KnitLit the Third), then the train that was immediately heading back to my stop left before I had a chance to hop on. Since a woman on the train reminded me they leave every 15 minutes, I figured that if I waited for the next one, I'd miss my shuttle. Let's see . . . it's 6:55am, if the train leaves in 15 min, that's 7:10 and the shuttle leaves at 7:12, but there's a stop between the station I'm at and the one I'm supposed to be at so that spells disaster.

So what to do? How 'bout deciding to walk back to the shuttle location? So I take off walking quickly and wishing I'd decided to wear my Sauconys rather than my Keds. I'd just passed the middle station when a TRAIN WENT BY IN THE DIRECTION I WANTED TO GO. Has it been 15 minutes? NO. If I'd stopped at the station & caught it would I be on time? YES. Was I screwed? PROBABLY. What to do? Keep walking.

Missed my shuttle (I saw it go by as I was coming up to the cross street), had to wait another 30 minutes before they came back around and almost missed that one because they weren't used to seeing me that late. What did I learn? Check the schedules carefully myself, wear comfortable walking shoes and KNIT instead of reading.

But this started out as a knitting blog and I'm going to stop the whining. For now.

As you can see from the photo below, I had cast-on and started the Christmas mittens as part of Sandy's knitalong.

I say "had cast-on" because I've ripped them off and will be restarting the mittens. Going up a needle size (I'd started on #2s) and I'm going to put a pink heart on each palm of her mittens. I'll do a purple set with pink hearts for another niece.

When I've finally got it started, I'll show you.

I knew I was royalty

2005-10-23T19:09:00.000-07:00

A strong-willed herald of causes against injustice, you passionately strive to right the wrongs around you.

Somebody has to save our skins!

Leia is a character in the Star Wars universe. See her character entry at the Star Wars Databank for more information.

(Although the husband would say I was more of a royal pain. Found this over at Theresa's blog.)

Look! Actual knitting!

2005-10-22T16:15:00.000-07:00

Changes again around Yarn Pig. I figure the sis will be the first to complain about me not leaving things be. (I move the furniture around at least 4 times a year but not the same room)

To deflect her, I offer this:
Particulars anyone? Caron Simply Soft Brites in Watermelon with Friends Mustachio in Cherry on the sleeves. Pattern #8 in FCEK Holiday 2002 for a bolero jacket. Knit with the Caron held doubled to get gauge on #9 needles. Used my Denise set for this.

The sweater knit for this lovely niece:

In this photo, Khylie is groovin' during her birthday party and judging by her face, she's already enjoyed her lunch.

I have been making progress with the socks for Socktoberfest.
I'm actually working the toe on the 2nd sock and should finish it this weekend. As you can see by my knitting corner, the good Dr helps me out. This is Knit Picks Sock Garden in Daffodil on #3 needles. Nice knit, I'm enjoying this yarn.

There are other pictures to share. But we'll drag them out a little.

Just another sheep

2005-10-18T09:31:00.000-07:00

Yeah, I'm a joiner. Not a leader. I'm happy to do some small group leading, but take the lead and do it all start to finish? Nope, not a comfortable fit.

So knowing that about myself and also knowing that I need prodding to get some things done, I've joined two online groups.

Socktoberfest! Lolly's got almost two hundred people working on socks this month. I've tossed my hat into the ring as well. I've got a pair going - one done and the second sock on the needles and another pair I want to have done for a gift for a friend. To show my very real intent, I've added the button in my sidebar.

And the other? A Mitten-Along at Sandy's. I've got mittens planned for the nieces anyway so this will also keep me on track.

Quick post

2005-10-17T11:30:00.000-07:00

This meme is all over the place so what the heck! Type in your name + needs into Google and list the first 10 results. I checked out what most people call me followed by my given name so you'll see two sets of results below. And yeah, I did some skipping since some of it didn't really fit the name+needs.

Gina Needs:
1. a makeover (no kidding)
2. to be interruptible by WinLogon
3. to listen for custom SAS events on another thread
4. a man in her life (got one, thanks!)
5. to be able to reach out to him (I'll try harder)
6. to get some d*ck before she rips somebody's head off (see 4 & 5 above)
7. a diverse group of hairdressers (maybe they can come up with a better style)
8. needs to abandon beginning sentences with "Presently"
9. a severe reprimand
10. someone to talk Girl Talk to

Regina needs:
1. overtime to defeat Huskies (dontcha love sports?)
2. $30000 to save the family home
3. no introduction
4. money to invest in a business with her brothers
5. to set aside time to exercise (yes, I know)
6. 6 points to secure third place
7. your support!
8. to win to keep in the hunt for the 4th playoff spot
9. advice from Julia on a tax question
10. someone who bring handcuffs as well as roses (I'll mention that to Rob)

Sunday, sunday, sunday

2005-09-18T10:17:00.000-07:00

It's a quiet Sunday morning here at Chez Yarn Pig. Everyone's asleep except for me and the dog. Rob's sleeping hard after a few less than stellar nights of solid sleep, Kruz is sleeping again after his 5am call for room service and the cats, well, they're sleeping again because that's just what they do. In fact, the photo below from yesterday afternoon was more sleeping.

Rob & I will have Kruz until Monday night when his parents return from their trip to California for a friend's wedding. I have to say, he's a good kid. He's willing to watch SportsCenter with Rob, lets his auntie tickle him and generally stays put. Although that may be going away too quickly.

See this photo? He started at Point A (Minnie Mouse) and ended up at Point B (under the table). He's scooting backwards or rolling over to where he wants to go. He's pushing himself up on his knees and toes and it won't be long before it all comes together and he's crawling. Yikes! The cats won't be safe then!

Not that Tribble will let him too close. As long as he's reasonably quiet, she's OK with his presence. If he's crying for lack of A) a dry diaper, B) food in his baby buddha belly or C) painless tooth cutting, then she's wandering around growling and avoiding him.

---Later in the morning---

Everyone's up now and had their breakfast. Football is on the tube and the guys have their beverage of choice.

Last Sunday we were on the road to Tri-Cities to meet up with Rob's extended family. Nice drive, good food, great people. The kids had a nice time with family (that's them with Rob's mom below).

They slept on the way home and we *had* to get the pictures of them sleeping.

Did I knit? You betcha.

Well, the Colts are now playing and I've got a sweater to cast on as a gift for Khylie's 3rd birthday.

Oh! Almost forgot!

Erin now has a driver's permit. Beware.

Yarn Pig

One Step at a Time

Quick update, anyone?

I'm still here . . . I think

Happy Easter!

What's Been Happening

It's November already?!

Getting stuff done

Sock Summit!

The End is the Beginning

Feeling (way too) Hot Hot Hot!

Mental Floss Quiz!

Happy Fourth!

My head is spinning!

Happy Mother's Day

Pictures of the recent fun

Where has the time gone?

2 weeks off? Yeah, right

The Big Read

Catching up

Now we start looking for The Dress

End of January?

Gifts!

January so far

Inaugural Poem

Random Post

Silver Lining

Another time sucker

2008 Round-Up

Love is in the air

This Christmas Day, May You

A knitting FO and some weather

How did they know?

Taking it off for charity

Really?

Christmas knitting

Yum!

I still love this show

Not bad

Vacation Plans

Wednesday List

Three times this week and I couldn't claim a headache

Knitting

Working out again, but not reading much

At least my knitting's not affected

Progress!

Getting My Move On

2007 Recap Part 2: The Books

Let's recap 2007, shall we? Part 1: The Knits

Maybe I should read the book

I'm seeing a trend here

July 2007 recap

Catching Up

Yarn and books *do* make it better

Giving her a second chance

On hair, yarn and books

Diary of a Haircut

It'll grow back, right?

Cough, hack, read, knit

Finally, some winter!

Tired of being Physically Phffft

2006 Knitting re-cap

2006 Book wrap-up

Merry Christmas!

Making progress on the list!

Mini update

Christmas To Do List

Upgraded and updated

On my way to reading more

Have I mentioned I know how to read?

The Color of Summer

small knitting update

Catching up

12 business days and counting

True to my name

Pictures to make it up to you

Still here!

Because you asked, Mom

So I lied.

Still alive, will blog more tomorrow

Yarn and books do make it better