Thank you! and some progress...

First, I want to thank you awesome SP10!! Saturday, we got home from bowling, and were about to sit down to dinner when my husband went to get the mail. He brought it over to me and said that I got something from the Easter bunny! I was shocked, and opened the package to find this:


Here you see a needle felting kit!!! I've always wanted to try needle felting, and here's my chance! It's got an easter theme- little chicks. I'm so excited about this! Thanks pal! You rock!

Sunday, we took a mini-roadtrip down to Fairfax to go to Wegmans, aka. the best grocery store in the world. I grew up with Wegmans around the corner, in most towns. The store in Fairfax is just amazing! It's about 4 times the size of most grocery stores in the area, and they do things the same as they do at home. They even carry my "local favorites' from Buffalo, which is so cool! I picked up my favorite hotdogs, spaghetti sauce, baked beans, and wine. Way too much fun.

Here's a few shots:

We ate REAL pizza- yummy!! And when we were sitting down, I saw a group of ladies knitting in the corner, and then recognized one of them as Amber from the dye class I took back in January!




Here's a pic of my progress on the Trinity Jacket! I'm in love!


And, here's one of the Daffodils from my garden. I knew we had bulbs planted (saw them start to come up when we saw the house last year before we bought it. But we didn't know what they were, or what color! Apparently we have daffodils!!

wine, wine and more wine!!

Well, today was one of those mondays. It started off with a trip to my GYN, which is always a gal's favorite thing to do! Then, as I was finishing my lunch, my supervisor came to see me, we went for a walk and I found out some bad news about my department. A lot has been changing, and some things we thought wouldn't change, are likely changing. So I have a lot to think about, and need to figure out some things. Fun times!

Needless to say, I got home and at dinner, my husband mentioned that he was surprised I wasn't drinking! I told him that I was waiting until after I got Celia to bed, since I have less patience with her when I've been drinking. He looked at me funny, and reminded me that I put her to bed last night, and tonight was his night (but of course if I really wanted to put her to bed, I could). Well! I heard that, and said Yeah- I'm hitting the wine...thanks! So 2 glasses of shiraz later, here I am!

I have a great post tomorrow- a huge thank you to my awesome Secret Pal!! She sent this very cool kit to needle felt- chicks!! They're adorable, and I can't wait to try it!! Pics and a proper Thank You tomorrow (when I'm more sober)!

getting personal

I've started a new blog that will be much more personal, dealing with secondary infertility. Here's the blog address, in case you're interested.

contest time!

My SP10 hostess Cecily is having a contest!! First- is to post my SP10 questionnaire! I posted that a week ago, and will link it on the sidebar when I have more time.
Second part of the contest is to post about your favorite WIP. That's easy for me- I am absolutely LOVING the Trinity jacket that I've been working on (KAL is over at Kerry'sblog). It's using Catalina Baby Alpaca Chunky in rich eggplant, and it's just yummy! The stitch pattern is easy to memorize, so it's easy to do while watching TV, and the yarn is just SO soft, it's incredible! This jacket is for me, which is unusual since it's an actual jacket. The only things I've made for myself are accessories. I can't wait for next fall to come so I can wear it! It's going to take me a while to finish though, but it gives me something to look forward to. I'll post a current progress pic tonight!

Thank you!!

Last week was a really great mail week!!

First, I received a beautiful handstamped card from my FCS2 spoilee Emilee, to thank me for her package. What a sweet gesture, thanks!!


Than, I got a box from Tomme! It was a "thank you for hostessing SP9" gift! Inside, I found this lovely scarf (which I have aleady worn a few times and gotten loads of compliments on by the way!)! Thanks Tomme- it was my pleasure!


Then, last, but certainly NOT least, my package from my Favorite Color Swap 2 pal Heather! Inside- a skein of Cherry Tree Hill sock yarn in a great purple, some Panda cotton (bamboo/cotton blend), which is in the process of becoming a pair of short summer socks (thanks for the suggestion Heather!). Plus a cool calculator, button covers, starburst, and some very pretty stitch markers!! Thank you SO much Heather, I really do love everything!

busy!!

Life has been a bit hectic lately! In the last 2 weeks, I celebrated my 5 year wedding anniversary with my hubby, gone to a wedding (that I was a bridesmaid in and my hubby was a groomsman- the couple actually met and hooked up at our wedding 5 yrs ago), had a second birthday party for our daughter, in Buffalo, so our families could be there, taught a class, got sick and recovered, am sick again, and just all sorts of other crazy things!

First- we had our house re-sided. It looks fantastic!!




Then here's some shots from the wedding!! It was so much fun! No better way to spend your anniversary than in a wedding of 2 good friends. What a weekend!!
My hubby- at the other end of the table (there's the bride too!).

Sorry for the poor picture quality here-- we were moving and the hubby whoever took the pic was a bit tipsy! That's what you get when there are bottles of wine on the tables! Yeah!!

Me and my friend Kristi- I'm the matron of honor in her upcoming wedding!


On to yarny goodness-
Sock Madness! I started, then failed... I'll definitely finish the sock though. It's some handdyed yarn from my SP9 Penny, and KnitPicks Essential from Suzie, my KTS2 pal.

Here's my progress on the Trinity jacket KAL I'm in. It's actually much further now, I just didn't get around to taking a pic again. I'm about to bind off for the arms. I love the pattern, and the yarn is a dream!!

Then there's my STR Rockin Sock Club shipment! It arrived while I was away at the wedding, and I tore it open the second I walked in the door. YUMMY!!! Monsoon, how do I love thee!


Next post will have HUGE thank=you's from my FCS2 pal, and a few others!

something new

We've been going out to eat way too much lately! I can tell by the way the bank card shudders when I pull it out of my wallet, and by the way my jeans have been fitting. Somethings' gotta change!! A few months back, a friend invited me to check out Let's Dish, and I checked the website out and nearly choked at the prices. I passed on that one (couldn't make the time anyways). Then, the more I thought about it, the more sense it made. Making a bunch of dinners at once, packaging them up and shoving them in the freezer. Many of them are cooked up in under a half hour, with little work involved at that time. And, they are fresh/healthy ingredients. So...I ran it by my husband last night, and we looked at the online menu, and I signed up to do a session tomorrow night. I'll be preparing 8 dinners, each with 6 servings (there are 3 of us, so it will really work out to 16 total dinners). And if you do the math, it's WAY cheaper than going out to dinner those 16 times...which unfortunately lately, we've been doing. Last week alone, we went out for dinner 4 times. Not including lunch on Saturday AND sunday. Some of the food looks really good, so I'm hoping! Plus it gets me out of the house tomorrow night and a little "me" time. I'm really looking forward to it!

SP10 Questionnaire!!

Once again, I'm hostessing and participating in SP! I hope these answers help my pal! If you have any other questions, don't hesitate to ask!

1. What is/are your favorite yarn/s to knit with? What fibers do you absolutely *not* like?
I love all things natural and soft! Acrylic has its place, but I don't use it often.

2. What do you use to store your needles/hooks in?
my straights are in a roll that my SP7 made for me, my circs are in a zipper bag that my SP8 gave me, and my dpns are in another zipper bag my SP8 gave me. The ones that don't fit are in a drawer. And my KnitPicks Options are in their case.

3. How long have you been knitting & how did you learn? Would you consider your skill level to be beginner, intermediate or advanced?
I first learned when I was 5, and every so often would pick it up. After I had my daughter, I started up again and haven't put the needles down since!! I think I'm intermediate, but not afraid to try anything!

4. Do you have an Amazon or other online wish list?
I do! It's on the side bar.

5. What's your favorite scent?
lavendar, vanilla, and other florals. I really don't like musky scents.

6. Do you have a sweet tooth? Favorite candy?
Yup!! I love milk chocolates, and orange chocolates, Twizzlers, starburst and sweet tarts are also faves of mine.

7. What other crafts or Do-It-Yourself things do you like to do? Do you spin?
I scrapbook, stamp cards, make beaded jewelry, quilt, spin, am getting into dyeing yarn, and I love photography

8. What kind of music do you like? Can your computer/stereo play MP3s? (if your buddy wants to make you a CD)
I have an ibook and an ipod, so I'm good with MP3s!

9. What's your favorite color(s)? Any colors you just can't stand?
Purple and blue are my 2 faves. Then comes green, pink and reds. I really don't like bright yellow or orange. But I love a lighter yellow together with blue or purple.

10. What is your family situation? Do you have any pets?
Married, with a 3 year old daughter, and 2 cats.

11. Do you wear scarves, hats, mittens or ponchos?
scarves, hats and mittens I use constantly! I don't have any ponchos.

12. What is/are your favorite item/s to knit?
socks, and things for my 3 year old daughter

13. What are you knitting right now?
I've got 3 pairs of socks, a few sweaters for my daughter, a sweater for me, and many others... I tend to start more projects than I could ever finish.

14. Do you like to receive handmade gifts?
Absolutely!!!

15. Do you prefer straight or circular needles? Bamboo, aluminum, plastic?
I use them all! Bamboo or other wood ones are probably my favorites.

16. Do you own a yarn winder and/or swift?
Yup!! I got them for Christmas last year!

17. How old is your oldest UFO?
2 years...

18. What is your favorite holiday?
Halloween

19. Is there anything that you collect?
Yarn, roving, wine, and little pins (from places I travel to- they all end up on a hat I wear camping).

20. Any books, yarns, needles or patterns out there you are dying to get your hands on? What knitting magazine subscriptions do you have?
yarns would be Fleece Artist, and other handpainted yarns. Not too many books, I just bought a few (Lace Style and 25 Fav. Socks) that should arrive any day now. Needles- I am always in the need for more sock needles- straights or circs. I subscribe to Vogue Knitting and Interweave Knits.

21. Are there any new techniques you'd like to learn?
I'd like to try some colorwork eventually, though it does terrify me.

22. Are you a sock knitter? What are your foot measurements?
YUP!! I wear a US 10 wide.

23. When is your birthday?
June 25th