Laura, are we twins???

Well..no I guess not since I'm significantly older than Laura. But I saw this test over at her place and we came out the same color. I guess I need to redecorate.

Your Blog Should Be Yellow

You're a cheerful, upbeat blogger who tends to make everyone laugh. You are a great storyteller, and the first to post the latest funny link. You're also friendly and welcoming to everyone who comments on your blog.

What Color Should Your Blog or Journal Be?

And, I think Ann should take this test. And maybe she can tell me how to pronounce my first name *G*

Your Irish Name Is...

Aoife O'Leary

What's your Irish Name?

Clarification Needed

I think I wasn't clear in my post about getting yarn cakes wound at my LYS. They will allow the customer to wind their purchased yarn using their swift and ball winder. The fee comes in if you want them to wind it for you. And, I called and was told that I could come wind my silk stuff and they wouldn't charge me. LOL of course they probably know that it's impossible for me to walk through the yarns to get to the winder without purchasing something, but I was good. got a couple of cards and a pair of #6 bamboo straight needles. I thought probably it would be a good thing since the silk feels sort of slippy, and I have a talent for letting stitches fall off metal needles. *G*

I guess I am just plain ol' nosy. I told the girl working and a customer that I had won the yarn. They both said "that's nice" and smiled. Geez, if someone told me that I would want all the details!

Oh and the second mitt is done except for weaving in the ends, and then it's back to the silly scarf.

Laters...

Two Surprises but no Sky

Well, of course there is a sky..it's just that I haven't been able to get a decent picture of it so far. I woke up to rain and the obviously accompanying gray sky. After a number of cups of coffee and a bath, I decided it was time to open the curtains and embrace the day.

So, what to my wondering eyes should appear? SNOW! The biggest prettiest flakes and lots of them. It was cold enough to stick to the ground and the vehicle but not to the street. It just snowed and snowed. Out I went to take pictures but trying to capture what I was seeing was unsuccessful. Perhaps since many of them had big white spots from the snowflakes that landed on the lens. I did capture some that was landing on a yarrow head that escaped the clippers.

Yesterday, I found a slip in my mailbox telling me that there was something at the post office requiring my signature. Nope, wasn't being sued or served (thank you very much!) Instead, it was the Handmaiden Shawl kit that I won!!! This yarn is amazing. I've tried repeatedly to capture the color and I just can't do it. It goes from a light cream to a darker cream to an almost pinkish cream to a grayish cream. It's just lovely. And I think it's going to be a bitch to get into a ball but hopefully I'm wrong. I tell myself that I'll wait until I have a swift...but I doubt that happens. The yarn is bumpy/textured and very silky and slippy...or at least so it seems now. We shall see. And wonder of wonders, the pattern is quite simple...I even understand it. Yay!

Since we are expecting a long run of cold weather I'm thinking I will finish the other blue Rowan mitt and get really busy on that silly scarf. And who knows what all. I think that hat I made may get a real workout since I also decided that I needed a haircut and whoa is it ever short! It had been way too long between cuts so the difference is startling. Don't want frostbite on my ears!

Hope there are fun things happening in your day!

Happy Birthday to Somebody, Somewhere

Cat sent me this link, and I've had so much fun playing with it. Would be a great tuck-in for a birthday card for those close to you, i.e. you know their date of birth. Or fun for a new baby gift too.

http://www.paulsadowski.org/BirthDay.asp

Mid-Week Goodies

Look what came in my mail today! I came home from work and there was absolutely nothing in my mail box. There was, however, a new battery in my car. Not how I'd planned on spending money, but the cold weather apparently just sucked the life out of the old one. It would charge, but then would slowly go back down. And hey, it started! So to celebrate, I went to the store around the corner and got some milk. Don't want to over do it LOL.

So, I get back home and there's a big squishy envelope sticking out of the mail box. Uh oh...have I ordered something that I've not only forgotten but also neglected to write down in the check book??? Nope...it was a surprise from Cat!

Look, look, look! A copy of my favorite knitting magazine which I can only get here if I order it from England. I love, love this magazine. It's got a nice variety of projects and the majority of them don't require 6pack abs to wear them. And oh the ads! My goodness, it surely seems there is a lot more going on over there and the shops are just so pretty! And it has big pics of techniques and new stitches every issue. And, there is always a little extra goodie inside it's plastic wrapper. This time, it's a knitting diary. Small enough that it can live in my knitting box and hey, maybe I'll even remember to write down names and colors of yarn that I use.

And more...packets of tea! Actually there were two more packets but I made and drank them before I took the pic. *G*

Such a treat! And, I decided that all this happiness needed more than an email thank you, so I called her. First time to talk on the phone with her. Lots of laughing and dang, I sure wish I lived closer! Thanks Cat...you're the bestest!

Sunday Mitt

I shall call these Da Bears! mitts...well, I will when there are 2. Very simple pattern, very scrumptous yarn! I wish I had used a smaller needle on the ribbing, or maybe a 1x1 ribbing. It fits great but it looks sorta spread out.

Specs: Pattern - A free one here. But I made a change in the length of the ribbing. I wanted more rows.
Yarn - that scrumptious Rowan Kid Classic. OMG I love this yarn. I have one whole ball and two partials. This mitt took about 39 yds. (Yes I measured the partial balls...I'm just like that) The color is called Typhoon and is discontinued :-( so I'll have to figure out what to do with the rest of it that can be striped or something.
Needles - #6 dpns.
Time spent: Who knows, I kept taking little naps.

If you heard any strange squealing this afternoon, it was probably my mom up in heaven watching 'her' Bears win their game today. Back in '85, we even had to decorate the living room with pennants and posters to celebrate their season. My little, proper, conservative mom had a thing for Mike Ditka ...and for Don Johnson too! Her life would have been even better if she could have alternated watching the Bears with watching Miami Vice. LOL

It seems like just the other day that I was all excited that it was time for pre-season games and now the season is almost over. I'm not sure if time flies so much faster because I'm older or because I'm having so much fun!

I did make it outside today. Retrieved the newspaper and did NOT have to crawl back up the hill even though it's still just slicker than snot. The snow we got last night just turned into ice but at least I can leave little YakTrak marks in it.

I don't want the weekend to be over. I have another mitt to make and I did absolutely NO sewing as I'd planned. But the cats and I had some really good naps!

It's Snowing!

Not very much though. They say the temps were 1-2 degrees too warm, so instead of the maybe 10" they were forecasting, we seem to be just getting a light snow that's happening almost 24 hours late. The day was one of rain/sleet/freezing rain/rain and so forth. Not much happening in this prairie home other than just being a slug. But it felt really good. A bit of knitting, a lot of napping, a bit of yarn winding and a bit of soup burning. Oops. I hope it snows a little bit more. I have an idea for a card and I need snow as a background; preferably snow that doesn't have footprints or weeds sticking out of it. Guess I'll find out in the morning. Hope your Saturday was fun!

No Sky Yet...

it's still too dark. But I'll share a couple of pics from yesterday. I was coming back across the parking lot when I noticed a change in the color of the sky making these trees just stand out. So I hustled back into the office and grabbed my camera. While everyone just shook their heads and shrugged, I went back out and took a ton of pics..one of which I liked *G*.

Then last night, as I retrieved the trash cart from the alley I noticed this. Some of the stuff on the roof over the patio had melted and was running off. But the temps were dropping and these vines snagged some ice. I experimented with the night scene setting and came up with a really weird pic. For one thing, it took a really long time to take the pic..assuming that because it was night, it needed a really long exposure. But the picture bore no resemblence to what I was photographing. More like an action shot of a brightly colored merry go round in motion. Swirling greens and even some red which it must have picked up from a car's tail lights that went by while it was happening. I don't pretend to understand but it was fun!

But wait there's more! After a long, long day at work and a difficult trip home (not my vehicle, no wreck but much car trouble) I found this in my mail box. Yay...it's my Kalidescope yarn from Dave at Cabin Cove. I was so excited to realize I could still get some. When it hit the store there were no coins in my pocket and I was so bummed. Imagine how excited I was to find that he'd dyed up some more! And, I was majorly surprised since I thought it was going to be mailed today! I'm now ready for the Shut Up and Knit Your Cabin Cove! KAL. And so wonderful to receive it already in yarn cakes since I've yet to get a swift! And, trust me, the colors in real life are way better than I can photograph! I can't wait to see it happening on my needles!

And, there was also a great card from Ann! Thanks sweetie! It's so nice to know someone's thinking about you. And I do love snail mail. Well almost all snail mail; there was also a credit card bill...but I just tucked it in the bill folder and will ignore it for a few more days! *L*

So it will be a fun weekend, but first I must deal with a bit of sorting and hole punching and filing. There has been a lot of printing out this week. Oh and some ironing too. But knowing that fun stuff awaits make those tasks go so much quicker. And, for a break, I can go look out the window and see if the freezing rain/sleet has turned to snow. Please, please!

Nada Friday

Well not completely nada. The car is out of the flower bed!! I worked for almost an hour trying to get something under the tires that would give it enough traction but it ended up that a friend pulled it out using his dually truck. I did feel vindicated since it wasn't like it was just me not knowing what to do. After it was out, and after driving around the block three times and trying to get up the hill, it's finally parked neatly. Well, until I leave for work.

I also was treated to a trip to the grocery. So, since there is more snow coming, I will be comfy with tea, coffee, milk and oatmeal. Oh and DingDongs and muffin mix *G* Gotta have some sweet treats! Went to the locally owned grocery. Prices a bit higher but much much quicker than Walmart AND, one of the nurses, who'd gone there for a patient, said that melting ice made walking through the parking lot there a disaster. Her scrubs were wet halfway up her calf. Thanks but no thanks.

And, I managed to get almost all of the ice on the steps busted and moved. A small amount is left but I also was gifted with a bag of Ice Melt so maybe today the rest of it will leave. I was just toiling away and thought that perhaps I was also removing the paint from the steps since it appeared that I was scraping up the terra cotta colored paint. Then I realized it was blood...MY blood. Dunno how I managed it but I guess I got an ice cut. Gloves? Yeah, I started out with them on but discarded them cause I got too hot. LOL. And nary a bandaid to be found in my house. So, being quite inventive, paper towels and duct tape did the trick and all is well once again.

By the time I got inside I was too tired to do much of anything. Blogger was down for maintenance and probably a good thing as I was being rather whiny. Answered some eMail and was in bed by 9. Ahhhh 8 whole hours of sleep. I must be brand new!

And one more day of work. The snow isn't supposed to come in until late this evening so hopefully the vehicle can make it's way up the driveway and I can just sit and cuddle with cats and yarn this evening.

Need a New Book?

I forgot something.

I ordered this book from Crafter's Choice and it arrived yesterday. Actually TWO of them arrived. I have no idea how I managed that. They will let me return it but I thought I would see if any of you would like it. I only had to pay $9.99 for it. And it will fit in a priority envelope which I think now costs $4.00 to ship. And I'm certainly open for trades! That's a lot more fun. So, let me know. You can email me at beadsorterATyahoo.com if you're interested. I haven't read the book, just looked at the pics *G* so I can't give you a real review, but I think it's going to be a big help to me. Of course, you can take that with a grain of salt because much is a big help to me *G*

FO

Hey look! The hat is finished. Not washed yet but that will happen soon and then I have no idea where it will end up. For awhile, probably in the top drawer. I don't have a wig stand, and the bear's ears made it stick out funny so this pic of the top was taken while being worn by a plastic butter container..minus the butter. It was really fun to make. I think there may have been a glitch or two in the crown shaping, but there ya go. What's next?

Well maybe the barely started fingerless mitts from the Rowan yarn, and probably I'll start some socks in the yarn Devorah sent me. I need some bright! It will have to be one sock at a time because I only have one set of #1 dpns.

The vehicle? Well, it's still in the flower bed. Just one wheel..but it's really liking being there. It's supposed to get up to 34 today so maybe some of the ice will thaw and I can get out. I'm surely hoping that that's the case because I'm just about out of milk. If not, my friend Jackie has promised me a trip to the store after work. Good thing I have the Yak Trax; can't you just see me trying to ferry groceries up the hill on my hands and knees????

The nursing coordinator, who has a 4WD vehicle took me for a spin yesterday afternoon so I could get to the vet's and get Zoey's meds refilled. He's a bit out of town, but since he's actually along US Hwy 66 aka The Mother Road, it wasn't too bad. The state has done a fairly good job of clearing the US Hwys that run through here. The city? Ummm. There are two long streets that cross the park that I drive through in order to get to my office. In years passed, the city plowed or sanded or salted one of them since the ambulances need to get in and out as well as others needing help. Not this year. Well that is, until late yesterday afternoon. They did have the graders out and cleared off a bunch. Only problem was that it must have been quitting time and they left. And the Y where both of these streets branch out from the hospital parking lot had piles of snow clear across the intersection. Duh. Lots of confusion at the stop sign as people tried to decide which one they tried to drive over LOL.

And guess what??? Snow is predicted for the weekend. It's winter, y'all!

Slip, Sliding

Hey, in case you were wondering, I did get out of the flower bed (although I got right back in it last night) Oddly enough getting out of it the next morning was easy peasy, but I wasn't able to get any traction to turn the wheel and get straightened out. It was a bit scary sliding rapidly down the hill sideways. I was so glad that a bump in the ice in the street stopped me! After that, and once the windshield was cleared, off I went. Main streets are pretty much ok, but OMG the side streets are just terrible. Much more so than on Monday. Then, they still had their crunchy sleet topping but that's been worn and polished a bit.

But I have a new weapon. Check these out! LOL it looks as if this might be a part of a BDSM post. But no...they are to help me to stay upright and are called YakTrax. (The pic on their site makes a whole lot more sense than the one I took with them on a houseshoe!)Work provided them and they are great on the ice. I climbed my ice covered steps as easy as if they were dry. There is a glitch however (isn't there always?) You can't wear them on cleared/sanded/salted pavement and you sure can't wear them inside unless you really want to end up on your butt. So, in order to go to the hospital for the mail, I would have to walk carefully on the sidewalk where there is a bit of black ice, but mostly clear. And then where I have to cross the parking lot, stand on one foot and put the thing on one foot and then repeat. And then when I get to the door, take them off again. That's do-able. But going to the doctors' isn't so easy. I get to do this repeatedly...like 10 times. And for someone whose middle name isn't grace, and doesn't do well at imitating a stork, it can be quite comical. They are called Yak Paks and, if we get the snow they are warning us about for the weekend, I'll be able to retrieve the paper without worrying about YouTube. LOL

Knitting, of course! The hat continues to grow. The cables are done and it's time for crown shaping. I need a neon light in my living room that comes on about 9:30 and says "Caution! You are sleepy and can't count worth a damn. Put the knitting away!" So there is some tinking in my future..but only one row. It's really fun to do. Dang...it didn't look that dark when I saw it in Picasa. Oh well. You can use your imagination. It's really whiter with flecks of colors, not this drab looking cream.

ON MY WAY TO WORK

How old am I?

I stole this from Ann, who stole it from Paul...so it must be right, eh?

You Are 23 Years Old

Under 12: You are a kid at heart. You still have an optimistic life view - and you look at the world with awe. 13-19: You are a teenager at heart. You question authority and are still trying to find your place in this world. 20-29: You are a twentysomething at heart. You feel excited about what's to come... love, work, and new experiences. 30-39: You are a thirtysomething at heart. You've had a taste of success and true love, but you want more! 40+: You are a mature adult. You've been through most of the ups and downs of life already. Now you get to sit back and relax.

What Age Do You Act?

Sunday Sleet

and freezing rain. Fortunately, I think the freezing rain has turned to sleet now. but I know it was freezing rain to begin with because I was out in it. The Sunday paper in it's bright orange wrapper was lying out there enticing me so I got dressed, put on my shoes and my coat and my earmuffs and my gloves and tucked the cell phone in my pocket because that's what us older folks are s'posed to do in case we "fall and can't get up". At the bottom of the driveway, there's a little but rather steep hill that you have to go up to get to my house. And of course that's where the paper was...at the bottom. Feeling quite clever and coordinated I made it down the hill safely; retrieved the paper; and then discovered I couldn't get back up the hill. I'd take a few steps up, and then slide right back down. I thought that I would just sit down, and scoot up on my butt, but that didn't work because my shoes couldn't get enough traction to move me. So, I made my way over to the grass part and came up on my hands and knees, using my knees to sort of pound into the frozen stuff. It's not really very far, but it surely seemed like it took forever. Might have been faster if I hadn't kept looking around to see if anyone was watching this hilarious sight. *G*. At last flat ground was reached and I made my way back inside. My bottom step is just an icy slant, so I am really grateful there is a handrail I can use to pull myself back up.

What was really funny though was that when I got back in, I was taking off earmuffs etc and reached in to get my cell out of my pocket and discovered that I'd also tucked in a tiny ball of yarn (one of those dyed yesterday). I guess maybe if I'd really not been able to get back up, I could have sat there and tried to remember how to make a cat's cradle.

Off now to knit.

Cool Yarn!

So, I dyed 3 baby skeins of yarn (Cascade 220 vanilla colored) with Wilton's using the chip and dip/microwave method. Of course the yarn then needed to be cooled. So, I thought the fastest way would be to take a couple of them outside. Waited a bit and brought one in, then decided I was hungry so made pancakes for lunch. OMG, I forgot the green yarn so when I got to the porch swing this is what I saw.

I let it slowly unthaw in the house and then washed it and now it's drying on the cookie rack over the furnace vent.

Thunder Ice

So I'm in the kitchen playing with Wilton colors and I hear a funny noise. I thought it was a big loud vehicle and I went to see. And discovered that we were having a thunderstorm of freezing rain! I grabbed the camera and went out on the front porch. My neighbor yelled at me to get back in the house..maybe because I had on sweat pants but was barefooted and wearing a tank top LOL

I don't know how well this will show up, but what looks like hair or scratches was the freezing rain stuff. The thunder has quit and it's slowed down but still falling. My back, however, doesn't think this is the next big major wave of stuff.

OK, back to the Wiltons

Saturday Sky 011307

The sky is just gray and for this moment there is nothing falling from it. The ground doesn't look really interesting either (thankfully). Sleet on grass doesn't appear to be much until you step on it. And ice on a white car doesn't really show up. A bit of freezing rain so far this morning but the eastern part of the state is really getting it now and have 1" of ice already. Allegedly today it will be freezing rain/drizzle (although I'm still voting for sleet. It's rougher and easier to stand up on and it doesn't stick to the lines) and then tomorrow more sleet and snow tomorrow.

Yesterday and the day before it was all about folks at the grocery and home stores. Today the stories are about folks at the liquor and movie places. Dang...I didn't even think about those. I don't really drink a lot but some wine would have been quite nice. I have some cheapo movies that I haven't watched yet, and the other day discovered a vcr tape that a patient made for me of Mrs. Miniver. I hope it's still functional. And I really wish I had some Thin Man movies. I'll put them on my wishlist.

I was hoping to have cables to show you this morning but I learned a lesson. One should not tink when one really wants to sleep. And, if one does, it would be better to just put it away and go to bed instead of frogging the whole damn hat.

I am feeling the need to dye something. Now to find something to dye, and to figure out what color it needs to be.

Hope you're having a great Saturday morning! Laters..

Home again, home again

Not to market to buy a fat pig though. They sent us home early. The nurses saw all the patients that had to be seen today, and once they were all off the roads, the rest of us left. By 9 AM when I left to make my Dr. offices run, my car was coated with ice and there was freezing rain to accompany the sounds of NPR. But fortunately, it changed to sleet which is somewhat crunchy and a bit easier to get around in. Nobody fell down or had car crunches although that might have something to do with the fact that there weren't a lot of people out on the roads.

I came home and made some potato soup and some noodles (not in the same pan). I couldn't quite decide what sounded best so I had some of each..and they were both yummy.

My plan then was to complete a bit of the cable part of the hat; take a picture and show off. Unfortunately, I discovered that I had made a mistake on the very first row after the ribbing and it threw the whole thing off a bit. So, back to the frog pound and maybe you will see it later this evening.

And, of course, the car started everytime I turned the key. I'm still bummed that I didn't get to go see the quilts and all the fabric. On a happier note, my CP dpns arrived from the Yarn Barn today so maybe while I try to count to 3 correctly, the slick #8 metal needles won't be sliding out. Yay!!

laters...

Friday Morning and all is still well

Just checking in. Car started this morning and I ran to the store and got some instant coffee. Sorta forgot my new pot wouldn't work without power, and I wouldn't work without caffeine. The cold is here so my back should start feeling better soon. And hopefully the freezing rain will hold off until I make my way to the doctors' offices to pick up and deliver paperwork.

I'll post this evening if I can and as long as I have power, probably several times over the weekend. Suddenly it seems I have a lot to say, none of it particularly important, but still.

So, if you don't see me here, you can image me up in my warmest jammies with that light on my head experimenting with making cables without a cable needle. I have one, I just want to try this other way.

Laters! Hope your day is all you want it to be and more!