100 Things (about a year later?)

1. I come from a long line of Southerners…so long that I could be a Daughter of the Confederacy (if I wanted to…which I don’t).
2. I was born in Alexandria, Virginia.
3. My great-great-grandfather is listed on the east side of the Confederate Statue in Alexandria, VA.
4. Even though I think he was on the “wrong” side of the war, I think that it’s really cool that I have a relative on a statue. I can go there and say, “that guy, right there” *point* “was part of my family.” Interesting tidbit: To ensure that the statue would not be moved at some future date, the R.E. Lee Camp had legislation introduced into the Virginia House of Delegates on January 9, 1890. The legislation read in part:
   And whereas it is the desire of the said Robert E. Lee Camp of Confederate Veterans and also the citizens and inhabitants of said City of Alexandria that such monument shall remain in its present position as a perpetual and lasting testimonial to the courage, fidelity and patriotism of the heroes in whose memory it was erected...the permission so given by the said City Council of Alexandria for its erection shall not be repealed, revoked, altered, modified, or changed by any future Council or other municipal power or authority.
5. My mother was an Air Force Brat…and I know the swear words to prove it.
6. I have never been outside of the US/Canada. I can now proudly state that I have been to the UK. :)
7. Even though I am not a religious person, I am fascinated with religious art and artifacts.
8. I find Art History interesting.
9. I wear a size 7 shoe. I have a terrible time finding shoes that fit my short, wide feet.
10. I had my appendix removed a few years ago. It didn’t like me anymore.
11. I have a herniated belly button (an innie/outie), but it does not bother me physically.
12. I do not have any cavities in my teeth.
13. I am a terrible pregnant person. Everything hurts and I’m grumpy.
14. However, I’m a champ at delivery.
15. I have scars from third degree burns on my left forearm.
16. I am an only child.
17. I hated being an only child growing up.
18. When I was 5 and my step sister was 6, we decided we wanted to see the next door neighbor naked. He was in our brother’s room, changing into his swim trunks. We scaled the outside of the house to look in the window. Our progress was halted when a garter snake slithered up my step-sister’s leg and we both started screaming. (Gee, I started young)
19. Had we not moved during the school year, I would have failed 3rd grade due to having an idiot for a teacher.
20. My heritage is English, Irish, Polish and German.
21. I do not like peas or cooked carrots, no matter what you do to them.
22. I like lima beans.
23. I cannot eat an Arby’s roast beef sandwich without opening it up and rearranging the meat.
24. I have three four tattoos and wish I had more.
25. Every car ride is better with the radio blasting while you sing along.
26. I have really small hands. (6.75” from wrist to middle finger tip)
27. My mind is perpetually in the gutter. I have a nice house there.
28. Bananas are nasty.
29. My eyelashes are naturally black.
30. My eyes change color. (blue, green, grey) depending on what I’m wearing.
31. I do not handle heat well.
32. Humidity is also not my friend, I cannot breathe.
33. I cannot do anything in the car except drive, or watch the road. Anything else makes me carsick. If I take a Dramamine, it helps.
34. I’m not a huge dessert person. I prefer snack food.
35. When I was little, I learned that in England, they take milk in their tea. Ever since, I have been an English tea drinker. I get weird looks for this.
36. I have a spot on the inside of my right knee that I cannot feel. This is the result of falling down approximately 846 times on the same ice patch while skiing.
37. I fractured my pinky playing ragball in Jr. High. Yep, I broke my finger catching a ball full of fabric. Only me.
38. This caused my Orchestra teacher to have a coronary (not really). I had to pluck (picatto) for 6 weeks. LOL.
39. Other than the fractured finger, I have never broken a bone.
40. In my opinion, there is only one kind of apple. Granny Smith (tart).
41. I like eating grapefruit plain.
42. I cannot stand people that ride the right line while merging into traffic. Find a spot and GET OVER!
43. I know how to knit, crochet, quilt, cross stitch, sew clothes and draw.
44. I play online games. My current vice is World of Warcraft. This competes with my knitting time…and my sleeping time.
45. My favorite ice cream is mint chocolate chip.
46. I do not drink beer. If I drink, it’s Tequila (Margaritas, Tequila Sunrise) or Amaretto Sours.
47. If I do not eat at regular intervals (6 hours max), I get migraines.
48. I do not tan. I’m either WHITE or RED/PURPLE. I avoid sunsoaking activities.
49. Sometimes, I’d like to be taller. I’m 5’4”.
50. I used to be a dog person. I think I’m beginning to understand cats, too.
51. I can talk to ANYONE. It’s a sickness. I cannot help it.
52. During my first pregnancy, I ate a Subway Turkey Sub once a day. My second pregnancy, it was Cheez-Its.
53. I am obsessed with architecture and how things are built.
54. I like to read. I’ll even read a horrible book to the end…because I have to know what happens. The only book I have not read all the way through was Gerald’s Game by Stephen King.
55. I have never left a movie theater in the middle of a movie. I have wished in retrospect that I had, but haven’t ever done it.
56. I think Kevin Smith is a genius.
57. The first 20 minutes of Chasing Amy is the funniest thing I have ever seen….except possibly the episode of Actor’s Studio with Robin Williams.
58. I have 20/15 vision in one eye, and 20/10 in the other.
59. I used to have my tongue pierced.
60. I do not wear shorts or skirts unless the heat is unbearable. My legs do not see the light of day….and they could blind people. :P
61. I have a great sense of direction, because I hate to be lost. My step-dad used to say, “We’re not lost. I just don’t know where we are.”
62. Once I plot out a course on a map, I have it memorized.
63. The “vibe” I get when meeting people is almost never wrong. Sometimes I will not like someone and not know why….then they do something appalling, and it all comes together.
64. I have very thick hair. It takes me a hour with the blow dryer to get it dry.
65. Some of them are GREY!
66. When I was little, I was diagnosed ADD. Now that I’m older, I’ve been diagnosed as OCD. I’m not sure I agree with either assessment. Especially since I don’t have a clean house. Aren’t Obsessive Compulsive people CLEAN FREAKS?
67. My first car was a 1980 Oldsmobile Toronado Ragtop with leather interior and power everything. I got it for my 17th birthday in 1991.
68. My current vehicle is a purple 1996 Saturn SL2. I am the only owner. I know its quirks.
69. I don’t want to know about your foot injury. EVER.
70. I also don’t want a foot massage.
71. Flip Flops are evil.
72. I was a child of the 80’s and I have the hair band CD’s to prove it.
73. I used to have a Senegal Parrot named Vinnie. He beeped like the microwave when he was hungry.
74. If left to my druthers…..I’d stay up all night and sleep all day.
75. I have a lot of yarn and fabric stashed away. By 'a lot'…I mean it’s everywhere.
76. I wanted to be a drummer.
77. or a bass player.
78. I consider long hair on a guy to be a bonus.
79. This is probably a reflection of my hair band teens.
80. I have always had long hair, and I’m afraid of getting a short hairdo.
81. I used to have a poodle perm. It was heinous.
82. I never skipped school, until college.
83. My curfew all through High School was 10 pm on school nights and 11 pm on weekends. I hated it. Every minute of it.
84. My room when I was a teen was covered in posters. Even on the ceiling.
85. Sometimes….I eat peanut butter straight from the jar.
86. I would highly recommend smelling any milk in my refrigerator before consuming.
87. Alton Brown is my hero.
88. I used to work for a florist. In most cases, I find that flowers are pointless. If you love someone…tell them, or show them. However, my girly side does see the appeal…once in awhile.
89. I have rocks from locations all over the world.
90. I enjoy making people laugh.
91. I enjoy laughing.
92. If I have a friend that needs/wants something, chances are I’ll buy it for them, if I can.
93. I love watching people open gifts. Even ones I didn’t get for them.
94. I often say things I don’t mean. i.e. putting my foot in my mouth.
95. I’m really amazed I’ve stuck with this meme long enough to get to #95.
96. I hate clothes shopping. My wardrobe is horrifically out of style.
97. I never wear make up or hair spray.
98. I cannot walk outside barefoot, unless it’s grass…then I have to look where I’m walking.
99. I know how to throw a pot on a potter’s wheel.
100. All in all…I’m a rather odd person, and I’m ok with that.

(Silent) Poetry Reading

In memory of Susie Robison. The best friend a person could have.

Binker---

Binker-what I call him - is a secret of my own,
And Binker is the reason why I never feel alone.
Playing in the nursery, sitting on the stair,
Whatever I am busy at, Binker will be there.

Oh, Daddy is clever, he's a clever sort of man,
And Mummy is the best since the world began,
And Nanny is Nanny, and I call her Nan -

But they can't See Binker.

Binker's always talking, 'cos I'm teaching him to speak
He sometimes likes to do it in a funny sort of squeak,
And he sometimes likes to do it in a hoodling sort of roar...
And I have to do it for him 'cos his throat is rather sore.

Oh, Daddy is clever, he's a clever sort of man,
And Mummy knows all that anybody can,
And Nanny is Nanny, and I call her Nan -

But they don't Know Binker.

Binker's brave as lions when we're running in the park;
Binker's brave as tigers when we're lying in the dark;
Binker's brave as elephants. He never, never cries...
Except (like other people) when the soap gets in his eyes.

Oh, Daddy is Daddy, he's a Daddy sort of man,
And Mummy is as Mummy as anybody can,
And Nanny is Nanny, and I call her Nan...

But they're not Like Binker.

Binker isn't greedy, but he does like things to eat,
So I have to say to people when they're giving me a sweet,
"Oh, Binker wants a chocolate, so could you give me two?"
And then I eat it for him, 'cos his teeth are rather new.

Well, I'm very fond of Daddy, but he hasn't time to play,
And I'm very fond of Mummy, but she sometimes goes away,
And I'm often cross with Nanny when she wants to brush my hair...

But Binker's always Binker, and is certain to be there.

By A. A. Milne from Now We Are Six

Susie was a huge Pooh Fan and gave me her hardback copies of the Pooh Library when I was little. Binker was one of her favorites.

This one was always one of my favorites:

The End

When I was One,
I had just begun.

When I was Two,
I was nearly new.

When I was Three,
I was hardly Me.

When I was Four,
I was not much more.

When I was Five,
I was just alive.

But now I am Six, I'm as clever as clever.
So I think I'll be six now for ever and ever.

A. A. Milne from Now We Are Six

Thank you, Susie.

I miss you.

Click Here to read about how the poetry reading started.

Here is the happy recipient of my latest FO. You can just see the belly starting at the bottom of the photo. She's due Feb. 25th. I don't think she's gonna make it!

Leslie is the teacher at the after school program for my kids. They love her to death, and to be honest, so do I! She will truly be the BEST MOM EVER! She has the patience of a Saint, and obviously, works well with children!

I wanted to post a word about Kitchener/Grafting. There is an AWESOME pictorial tutorial over on Knitty. The one and only thing I would change on that tutorial is the mantra. She uses "knit, purl -- purl, knit." I would recommend changing it to, "knit, off, purl -- purl, off, knit." This really made the difference for me.

really, REALLY, FO!

Alrighty...here are both socks (blocked because they are a gift and I wanted them to look purty).


Clicking should take you to the bigger version...I'm testing something new!

From the book, Knit Socks! Easily Remembered Pattern, just a 2 line repeat. Knit on Size 3 (US) needles with Sockotta. Cuff down, kitchener toe...



The left one was my second ever kitchener toe (don't ask about the first). The second wasn't much better. The right one, however, is very close to perfect. If you can't find the owie, I'm not gonna tell you where it is. Kinda sucked that I was down to the green repeat in the yarn right at the toe. LOL.

FO

Stitch Markers

I'm sending these to Misocrafty tomorrow. Do you think she'll like the colors? :)

and these:





are for some other people I know....bet you can't guess who!

KMKS has arrived!

My Knit Mitt Kit Swap package arrived today! It was from Becky.

Here are the photos/descriptions:

Opening the box:



And the goodies inside:



That's 4 skeins of KnitPicks Swish in Dublin, Jade and Aloe (Green, Green and Green!). There's a pattern book with 5 mitten patterns in it from Mission Falls, and 2 sets of DPN's.

Here's a close up of the pattern:



and a close up of the bag fabric:



Thanks! It looks like fun!

Yesterday...

The sky looked like this:

Isn't that just a great view to have from your desk?

I also sent out my Knit Mitt Kit Swap package.
Here is what was in it:
Stitch Markers, made by yours truly.


The Mitten Pattern “Fiber Fish”.


The project bag. I know...it's a mitten swap, but I couldn’t imagine her using a bag with mittens on it in the summer, and she’s much more likely to be knitting socks than mittens, anyhow.


Merino goodness hidden inside. That’s KnitPicks Memories in the “Fly Fishing” colorway. Appropriate, non?


I also included some home made candies, some Ghirardelli candies, a Dragonfly refrigerator magnet, a copy of Knitters magazine, a cube of rainbow post it notes and a short note. I really hope she enjoys it!!!

In other news, I frogged the Gorilla socks back to the toe increases. The ribbing was irritating and ugly. I've narrowed them by 8 stitches from 64 to 56. Let's all hope that they will fit now. I ripped out about 3 inches of sock, which was really depressing.



I also finished an infant sock, which is blocking, and the freaking colors bled when I soaked it for blocking. I am so NOT impressed.

Until next time, may your BOs be swift, and your FOs be many!

Things I Learned Last Night....

1. Second graders do not *get* the concept of a timeline. Even if it is homework and they have several days to create one. NOTE: Screaming at your second grader about such things as "chronology" and "evenly spaced years" does not improve their understanding of the timeline concept. I really think the teacher should have helped them create the actual line, with years marked on it, before sending it home as homework. The worst was when she got so mad at me she screamed, "I TOLD DADDY YOU'D DO IT DIFFERENT!!!" *sigh*

2. Infant socks, while cute and quick, are a pain to figure out where you are at when you're doing a lace ankle. There isn't any other part to compare it to...that's it! It's in your hand...wtf did I do to the damn thing? Seriously, somehow my rounds were off, ending on the side opposite of the join/tail....and THEN one sock was back to ending rounds the right way...and the other was wrong. How the hell did I do that? Isn't that what magic loop is supposed to fix? Make it so you're doing the same thing to each sock at the same time?? Anyhow, the one sock is on it's own set of needles, and hopefully I can fix it tonight. (Ang, it's the sock from the back of that book you gave me, the green and yellow with the specific infant instructions.)

3. If you do your YO backwards (i.e. over the top of the right needle then down and between the needles) it's a big pain in the butt to knit that stitch on the next round. Well, it is if you don't realize you were doing them backwards and try to knit it properly, instead of through the back loop (which may or may not be a correct fix, but too bad...LOL). WHY was I doing them backwards? I have no flipping clue.

4. It's confirmed. DH thinks it's hilarious when I have to rip out my knitting. Although, he wouldn't say if it was just sick amusement, or if the swearing is what tickles him. I'd like to think it's the sudden "D'OH!" that gets him. (not to mention the words that would make a sailor blush that follow quickly behind the initial exclamation of discovery.)

5. I really need to knit more often. How could I "forget" how to YO? That really blew my mind.

WIPs:

Toe-up socks of my own design (stand back!) I've already had to add ribbing to the instep to "shrink" them. Ang, Beth and I have dubbed these the "Gorilla Socks." Inox circular needles (ICK!) with Lang Jawoll Jacquard sock yarn
Infant socks, cuff down from Knit Socks! Knitpicks circular needles, Sockotta yarn
Crib Afghan, Denise needles, Red Heart Acrylic (don't ask)

UFOs:

Baby garter stitch sweater. Lost track of the row count....bleh.
Bill's SSoD, The toes have holes, it's getting ripped back. I CANNOT M1 by pulling the bar up from previous row. Leaves a hole every time. K1FB for me. I can live with the small strand look.
Baby Bib. I've stalled out on the I cord. I think it's too fiddly, plus I have to throw when I do it or it looks like it went through a blender.


OK...now....what should I do with 1 skein of Lion Brand Chenille that a coworker gave me? She's having a grandbaby soon, and I'd like to make something out of it and give it back to her. Let me know!!!!

This just in....

Say What?!

I cannot fathom that I have any readers that don't read Yarn Harlot, but just in case, please click the link above and read, in disbelief, what some bankers in Oregon have done to Blue Moon Fiber Arts (makers of Socks that Rock yarn).

Thanks.