I can't think of a catchy title

Thanks to everyone for the nice comments. I either don't look quite as scary as I think, or you all are really nice! Or you all lie, but I don't believe that one, at all!!

I finished the panta for my friend Cindy, but in the excitement of getting another project done, I rushed it over to her before taking a picture. Oops! It's been so crazy busy around here, I've been rushing around like a lunatic! Oh well, I guess that's just how life goes. It's better than doing nothing, being bored, right?

So, the things I'm working on haven't changed enough for new pics. I have the second jaywalker, a baby hat, the awesome scarf, another baby hat planned, a gift dishcloth just started, and I don't even know what else! As soon as I'm done here, I'm going to do a little knitting before the housework. That's right, I'm knitting first!

I have this really neat picture I felt like sharing, though. It's of a really old building that is being torn down. The old rotted (maybe burned) wood part is being knocked down and taken away, I don't know what they'll do with the stone part. It's so beautiful. It's also a lot bigger than the pic makes it look. I don't think they'll leave it or fix it, though. I want to run over and take some more pictures before it's gone forever.

Also, in other knit news, I can finally say the who is having a baby. Yay! My bestfriend, Lisa's sister is! I couldn't say anything, because my friend Carrie is one of L-sis's bestfriends, and she reads this blog (Hi, Carrie!). Lisa's sister wanted to be the one to tell Carrie. Luckily, Carrie didn't even imagine it would be L-sis.

I want to knit a blanket, and a couple of little hats, and who knows what else. The blanket I really want to knit is the pinwheel blanket. I think the blanket is by Genia Planck. I'm afraid it will take me forever, though. Life keeps slowing down my knitting!!

So, I am going to go knit, and think about my sweater, and the blanket. I have to decide the blanket way before the sweater. Knit on, everybody!!

Home Again!

Hi, everybody! Thanks for the nice comments from my last post. I had a very nice trip downstate. About 4 and a half hours of uninterrupted knitting time! On the way there and on the way back! Whoo-Hoo!! Thanks for driving Cindy! hehe. I finished this Panta earwarmer. I guess it's a headband, but I did mine out of some handdyed wool, left over from a purse I knit forever ago. It'll keep my ears warm in the Michigan weather! Now, keep in mind, I took this picture early this morning in my jammies with NO makeup on and my hair not even brushed, so be nice!

Man, I look tired! Cindy's family took such good care of me this weekend. I was totally spoiled and I should look a little more rested. Payment for being driven the whole way is a Panta earwarmer for Cindy. I can do that! (She even bought the yarn!) I started it on the way home, and I'll finish it soon! What a quick knit!

I got Cindy all addicted to knitting. Hehe, you should see her sock. She was even knitting at the dinner table, well, under the dinner table. Oh, oops, I think that was a secret. Haha! My jaywalker got a tiny bit longer, and I did a few rows on the Marji scarf.

My kids don't have school today, so I've gotta go play some games, and stuff. I'm trying to catch up on all of the blog postings everyone did. I was only gone a few days, I don't know how I got so far behind!

Just keep knitting!! LOL!

I'm back - the canoe trip didn't kill me

Thanks for all of the comments on the canoe trip. It was fun, it was definitely exercise, but it wasn't too bad. LD will have those memories forever. She wrote about it in her journal at school, and drew a picture of the three of us going down the river. So cute! If I can get the mom with all of the pictures to give or send me one, I'll post it. I'll just show me, and LD not the other kids. Let me tell ya, it's a good thing we went Monday, because the weather has turned really nasty. There is white stuff in the deep grass and stuck to the leaves that are on the ground. I hate white stuff on the ground!

Knitting Picture!

Once again I prove I am not a great photographer! I have another jaywalker done, and one more started. Then, the mint green/light blue thing is a baby hat. Cotton Ease. It will (hopefully) fit a full term size baby or a little bigger. I didn't photo the scarf. It looks about the same as it did before. I will put a finished pic up when it's done, though. It is so nice! A picture does not show the soft sparkleyness of it!!

The kids get out of school early today and tomorrow. Then, no school on Monday. They are glad. Who doesn't love some time off school? I'm going on an overnight trip with a friend of mine this weekend. No kids or hubbys. Yay! I'll have some knitting time, too, 'cuz she's driving. Double Yay!!

I promised LD some new socks out of LB Magic Stripes. She went to put one of her fave pairs on, and they're too small. I have the yarn, but would somebody send me some extra time?

Blogger was being so bad earlier. I couldn't get to the home page, or my blog, or any blogger blog. Sheeshe!! At least it's working now. LOL.

I have to run and get those kids from school already! Have a great weekend everybody!!

Is this a knit blog?

No knitting pictures, I'm sorry!

I've been canoeing all day with the second graders. I'm beat! It's October in Michigan, but we didn't freeze to death. I did have to get into the river, but at least I only got wet up to my knees.

Two second graders plus me in a canoe was a really fun idea. (That was sarcasm) The girls that were with me have the experience of going down the river sideways, and backwards. We also got stuck in a downed tree and a couple of sandbars. And a big biker dude said I have more cahonies than he does!!

We did paddle across the lake without mishap. Thank God, and all that is Holy!! People were scaring me about the lake. I made it across the lake!!

We saw heron, salmon, turtles, and seagulls. We also got to see the wild life worker people harvesting the salmon. It was pretty cool.

LD is a good paddler, but at the half wayish point the kids switched, and the second girl did not want to paddle, except when I'd tell her not to paddle. She also had a hard time with left and right. Oh well, we're home and warm, and dry (now)!

Knitting Stuff Tomorrow!! (I hope)

Quick

Quick post.

Life is very busy right now!

Thanks for all of the comments on my baby stuff and fancy yarn! I started knitting the scarf pattern that Marji sent with the awesome yarn. I had to show off pictures. Sorry they're so crappy. I'm a knitter, not a photographer. hehe. I say that a lot, don't I?

I have to get some stuff done, so I can go knit some more! I think about what yarn and sweater pattern I really want as I do everything. I need to figure that out, and just go do it!!

Gotta run! Hope everyone has a great weekend! (hope I find some time to read some blogs)

Quick Edit: Check out Linda's Blog if you'd like to help with some charity knitting!!

Gray Michigan and Motley Knitting

Another gray rainy day in Michigan. Yesterday was actually very nice. We even went to the park after dinner. My hubby and I walked laps, while I knitted and LD played. I lost a stitch marker, though. I kept thinking I'd stop when I got to the stitch marker, but I never found it, so I looked on my needles, and no more stitch marker. Come to think of it, I've lost dpns at that park before, too.

Thanks for the comments on my super-duper gift from Marji. I am really surprised by the kindness of knitters, sometimes. That yarn is seriously the most fancy, soft stuff that I have ever fondled. Yarny goodness!! I did start casting on for the scarf. 250 stitches. If I could keep going, instead of stopping every few seconds to feel the yarn, I could probably get it done. hehehe.

Baby Dutchican Three stuff!! I knitted three hats, two pair of socks, and one pair of booties. My blogless friend Cindy gave me the most adorable baby blanket, and a pair of wee mittens. There is a picture of the blanket and mittens with the stuff I made at the Warm up the Dutchicans site. Go check it out. That blanket is so cute, I might try to copy it for a pregnant friend of mine, who needs to tell other people that she is expecting so that I can talk about it!! (I did tell my hubby, I tell him everything. It's so hard to keep a secret. Tell already, Lady!!) I need to email somebody, and find out where to send all of this cute baby warmth.
Well, yesterday, I met Carrie for knitting. Mary came over and did some work (eww), but at least she had company while she was working. So, Carrie had to refresh my memory on using two circulars. I'd done it a little before, but then I was using my fave dpns, and I forgot how to do the two circ. thing. As I was leaving, I said that I had to go home and do laundry. Laundry! Yeah, right. I came home and finished the two little tiny hats, and cast on for the scarf that Marji sent me. So, now I really need to go do the laundry, or my kids won't have anything clean to wear to school.

I still don't know what yarn and pattern to spend my b-day money on. I really don't have this problem very often. Usually, I know just what I want, but I don't have any money.

I didn't even read very many blogs yesterday. If I go do laundry and dishes, maybe I'll have a little time to read. Sheeshe! I need a maid so that I can read blogs, and knit, and post on blogs. haha. I'd even just take a dishwasher.

Look at this gorgeous fancy yarn!

Marji from Fiber Arts Afloat sent me a package!! Shiny, soft purple and pink fancy yarn. I swear I haven't ever used yarn this fancy before, ever!! Two are Kid Mohair. I'm so excited!! Pardon those darn exclamation points. This super cute yarn came with a scarf pattern, wrapped in the cutest little lizard paper. Cute, cute, cute!!

I'm still knitting baby things for The Dutchican Three. I have 2 pair baby socks, one pair of baby booties, and 3 hats planned, started, or finished. My friend Cindy also gave me an adorable handknit blankie, and baby mittens to send with my stuff. I also just found out about a different little Michigan baby coming soon, but it's a secret, so I have to wait to talk about who's baby it is until other people hear about it. I know a secret .... I know a secret. And No way is it my secret! We have three kids and three is enough for us!

Tomorrow, I'm going to go knit with my friend Carrie. She finished a scarf she wants to show off, and she just cast on for a sweater. I really need to find time to help my friend Cindy start her socks, too. Life just keeps getting in the way of all of the knitting I want to do.

Gotta go deal with life, and knit some hats. hehe

Birthday Thanks and Baby Socks

First of all, I have to say thank you to everybody for the super birthday wishes! I got so many. I needed them, too. Thank you all!! I had a pretty good day. The house was clean (for a while), we won't talk about the kids. (Two of them had little meltdowns. Kids!) One relative (I won't say who) missed my birthday. So, the birthday wishes from everyone here, made me feel so much better! Thank you, thank you, thank you all!!!! I got gifts, and my MIL made me a cake! Time to brag a little. I got an mp3 player -- Knitcasts, here I come! I got the Shark steam cleaner. Whoo Hoo. (I told you I have an inner Monk) My friend, Carrie gave me a Yarn Harlot book. I've been wanting to read it, too. It's so funny. Then, I got yarn $$. $$, with the strict orders for it to be just for me, from one relative, then $$ from Cindy (cps) with orders for it to be just for yarn for myself! LOL. Guess I'd better pick which sweater I want to knit. Since I actually have some money to spend on me. That doesn't happen much around here!

Ok, so. Last night I went over to Cindy's, for a sock lesson. I brought the little baby hat that I'm knitting for the Dutchican Three. I should probably stop referring to Kristi's little boys as that, but it's so cute! We got all the yarn and needles, and everything out, and the other girls showed up. We talked (and my fingers went round n round on the tiny hat). We had a great time, but no knitting lesson. :( One of the other women there, has been wanting a knitting lesson from me for forever. Next time, everyone has to bring needles, and yarn!! LOL
Well, here's a picture of the two pair of little socks that are done. The middle picture has a quarter (US twenty-five cents). See how tiny they are. They stretch to about as big as the little blue socks, though. I didn't follow the directions, as usual. When will I learn? I did a little afterthought heel, instead of the short row heel. It's cute, but not so stretchy. Next time I'll listen to you, Boogie, I promise! So, I have two pair of baby socks, and Cindy gave me a beautiful hand knit baby blanket to send, and a pair of little blue mittens. I'm also knitting a little hat. I'll probably post this over at the warm those triplets up site, too.

The weekend (without kids since they are in Ohio with their Granny) is calling. Gotta go! I just have to say thanks again to everyone who wished me a happy birthday. You seriously don't know how much that meant to me. Hope everybody has a great, knit-filled weekend!!

Fly-By Post

I'm going to be super fast today. I was not even going to come any where near this computer, I swear! (Too much to do)! I have a couple of things I have to share, though! First, yesterday, my friend (and cousin-in-law) cps called and wanted to run to the yarn shop. Yes! She is turning into a knitaddict, just like me and C. She got sock yarn and dpns, then we went and got some cotton, and LB Magic Stripes. She's ready for socks! WooHoo!! We are going to have to get together and knit socks on her day off. Yay!

Then, although I still have to put the heels in, (afterthought heel), I had to show off the eensy, teensy socks for the Dutchican Three. Aren't they the cutest? Where the tiny pink stripes are is where the heels will go. See the book under the e.t. socks???? I got a birthday present at school this morning! Thank you C!!!! Isn't that so awesome? Knitters are so absolutely wicked awesome!!!

Ok, sorry for all of the !! At least I'm not typing in all caps. It's a miracle I didn't get hit walking home from dropping LD off at school, because I was reading my new book as I walked home. Sorry no links, or answers to last posts comments. We have family coming over for cake tonight, and my bathroom is in a sorry state! I have more knitterly things to say, but if I want to knit and read blogs later, I'd better get a move on!

Woohoo!!

Edit: I got the house picked up! Hehe. Last night, my hubby said: "When I get home, I'll clean the bathroom, and do the touch ups." Well, the poor guy works his butt off all day, and even though, it's my birthday, I cleaned it all up. Yay!! Happy b-day to me!

There's a virtual baby shower going on!

I thought I was going to be able to write one of those "I have secret knitting" posts. It's not a secret anymore, though. That's probably good. I can't keep secrets very well. hehe. So, there is a virtual baby shower going on. Kristi of Reddogknits is having three boys. All at the same time. So, knowing she loves and appreciates handknits, some blogging ladies decided she needs help covering them in handknitted baby stuff. Well, Kristi found out the first day, (We made her cry, I bet) so it's not a secret, and I can post pics of the baby knitting that I'm doing. So, here are a pair of little baby socks that I knitted a while ago. There was no baby to give them to, but now there are three who can fight over them. Then, I started a new baby sock, using Boogie's Baby Keep Your Socks on pattern. Not really a pic, since it was easier to throw the tiny sock on the scanner. I haven't used this pattern before, but so far I love it! Super quick! Scroll down on the page to see the Boogie Baby with her socks in action. She's so cute! On the top of her page she has a link to her free patterns. Creative woman!

I met my friend C this morning for knitting. We went over to M's house, and knitted and chatted. C and I have decided Tuesday mornings after dropping the bigger kids at school, will be out get together and knit time. Now I need to set up regular knitting time with cps, LD has been bugging me every night to go back, so she can play with the kids.

I'm sure there are a million other things that I could / should post about, but I want to get back to that baby knitting! Some day, after I play catch up around here, I think some of my knitting will be for the Michigan Preemie Project thing. Knitting baby things is great, and these will be for people who will love them.

P.S. thanks for the comments to my last post. I guess I really do knit more than just dishcloths. They really do make doing the dishes a bit more fun. Not that doing dishes is any kind of fun. I am thinking of how to change some dishcloth patterns into bibs. Sort of like the Mason-Dixon one, but a little different. I swear, I can knit with yarn that's not cotton! Really!!

Guess what I've been knitting

Thanks everybody for the comments, and the offers of switching climates. Hehe. I would seriously love to live where it isn't so cold. I have never lived anywhere else, but I like new experiences. Oh, man, I'm a dork. I love contests. I'd never in my whole life done a scavenger hunt, so it was pretty fun. Thanks for the wishes of luck. I need them, I've won two things, in my whole life. Really, just two!! Ever!!

Yeah, I've been knitting. Guess what I've been knitting .... Dishcloths!

I got together with cps, and we chatted and knitted and watched some Ghost Whisperer while the kids played. She finished her second ever dishcloth. We were admiring it and wondering how on earth it got so much looser at the end. The last third of the dishcloth had twisted stitches. Great teacher I am, I didn't even notice. Oops. Sorry cps. Then, it was time to go and the next day, she ripped it out and fixed it up all by herself. Pretty cool!

Well, I didn't feel like getting my camera out, so I scanned the two dishcloths I did this weekend. I have quite a pile of dishcloths done. The green / blue / black 9 patch will probably go with any other green and blue ones I've done to my sister for Christmas. She loves blue and green, and she'll like the dishcloths. The garterlac one might be for LD. She asked for a new face cloth, or I might just go let her pick out her own cotton, and we can knit one together. She has a triangle face cloth that she knit herself, but I guess she needs a new one.

I picked up and knitted a black border on the 9 patch. I might crochet or knit one on the garterlac cloth, too. I really know how to spend some time, don't I? Yeah, I do have a jaywalker sock shouting for it's toe. I love knitting the toe. Decreasing and then kitchener stitch. What's not to love? Maybe I'm saving it for some special time. LOL. It's really just sitting there waiting for it's toe. Soon, I'll finish it and start it's mate.

What sweater? Hahaha, I am looking around, and I'll settle on a pattern, and some affordable yarn. Someday. I am a procrastaknitter.

Blogger is being a little bit of a pain for me today. Holey Moley! Guess I'll go clean up my knitting before I go get the kids. Knit on Knitters!!

Look what I have!

Look what I have! I finished the scavenger hunt!

Remember when I loved Ralph Macchio?

Tatjana at Crafty fox is having a contest, with yarn as the prize. I have to enter of course! I am a yarn lover! So, here's my entry.

Remember when I loved Ralph Macchio?

I did, too. Lisa remembers, I know she does. We watched The Karate Kid eight million times, and The Karate Kid II fifty million times. hehehehe. My mom had a crush on Pat Morito, so he's up there, too. The Ralph face on toast is so funny. I had the bottom picture as a poster on my wall. How embarrassing is that? I remember his shirt was hot pink and black. Weird!

Apparently, I will totally embarrass myself in the hopes for some yarn. Whimsical Knitting is also having a contest with yarn as the prize. I'm working hard on that one. I really should stop telling people that there are these contests. I'd probably have a better chance at winning if I shut up!

p.s. thanks for the comments everybody!- ginx, please send that heat here. I'm wearing jeans and a fleece, and I'd much rather wear shorts and a tshirt!

I added some edits in red in my last post. Fixed up some stuff. Do you think I'll have a knitting post next time? Good question, huh? Have a great weekend!!

Motley Post

Thanks for the comments. I love the pirate talk. LOL. The pirate and the ninja don't know I posted that pic, but I don't think they'll mind. They are so funny about my blog. SP's friend was here one day when I was posting, and she asked to see my blog. (Or maybe I said "Wanna see it? Wanna see it?") He had told her about it. LOL. Later, he told me she said I'm cool! That's pretty wicked, coming from a 16 yr. old!!

No knitting photos. Lazy me, I killed I don't even know how much time yesterday with this awesome, hilarious time sucker. It's a video, so I apologize if you have dial-up. It's not naughty or anything like that, just funny! I could watch those all day long. My hubby said, "Why is my face that color?" It's my fault, because I picked an awful picture of him, but the look on his face is hysterical. I am snorting because I'm laughing so hard. I sent my bestfriend Lisa a link, but I don't know if she's seen it yet. I think she'll email me as soon as she does. I saw this link on a knit blog, that I followed from another knit blog. Let me know if you know where I borrowed it from, 'cuz I can't remember. I do believe Marji is right (in the comments) I got this from her blog post yesterday. Thanks Marji!

Sweater. I guess I'll really have to knit one now. Just kidding. I've been wanting to do one for quite a while. I just need to find some $ for yarn, and pick out a pattern. I have a ton to choose from. Kellyhl is so right about knitting in the round. I forgot that requirement. Long sleeves, in the round, pull over. I like the bell sleeves, too. Who knows what I'll do. G-girl is thinking about a first sweater, too. Tatjana has offered to help me figure out what I want because she can't start any more sweaters. Is that because you have too many already knit? Or too many you are currently knitting?

Cps offered sewing help. She is the greatest quilter in the world. By the way: LD took the quilt you made her for her second b-day to school with her yesterday to show off. And, Mouse offered to send the 85 degree heat up here to IC Michigan. We will take it! Then, maybe I could knit a short sleeved sweater. hahaha

Oh yeah, what the heck is going on with the knitter's review? I can't get there. I am having serious withdrawals. I need to go see what everyone's posting and knitting and stuff. Bernie, I think you go to KR, are you having problems? If anyone knows what's going on tell me, please. *panic filled voice* Ok, deep breathing. Knitter's Review is awesome, and it must be fixed soon. Another deep breath, ok, I'm better.

Guess I'd better go get something done, since yesterday was spent messing around on this machine. Maybe some knitting stuff next time!!

Edit: It looks like knitter's review is back on track. I guess I'll go check it out. And cps reminded me that our friend C A quilts too, and says she is better than cps. I don't sew, but let me tell ya, looking at her quilts and stuff almost makes me want to. hehe

I Missed ITLAP Day

Yesterday was International Talk Like A Pirate Day. I'm no good at talking like a pirate, but I have a Pirate picture to make up for it. It even has a ninja in it for good measure!
This was from 1998. MM is the Little Pirate Skeleton guy and SP is the ninja. I have an actual knitting post from yesterday. Scroll down, but aren't they the cutest?

Did you know My Weird Hubby named this blog?

Yep, The Weird Poet of MI, came up with Arleta's Motley Wool. In real life he's really quiet and laid back, online, apparently he is a very strange poet. Hmm. Weird guy!

Remember the cute baby pic of LD, I meant to tell del that she loves that pic, because it's her and she's in a frilly pink dress, and she's a baby. LD loves babies, she loves frilly pink stuff, and LD loves pics of herself! Well, del asked, so there!

So, LD thanks everyone for the hat compliments. (maybe I should change this blog to Arleta's and Arleta's Motley Wool) She is right this minute working on a golf club sock. I guess that is what you call those things.

Yeah, I think, as soon as I catch up on some things, I want to knit a sweater for myself. I think I want a pull over, definitely long sleeves. That's all I've got so far. g-girl says how about the Mariah. Hmm. I don't like to sew, (I can do it, cps, just not as well as you!) so no zipper, but it is a neat pattern. I think I'll go a little easier, though. I see g-girl is thinking about the Ivy knitalong. I like the Ivy pattern, it's a really pretty sweater. I still think I'm leaning toward a pull over, though. I just can't make up my mind, yet. I'm a Libra, I want it all, so I can't decide!!

Thanks to everyone for the nice words about the new Jaywalker Sock.
I did have a little time to knit on it today. I met Carrie this morning, and she worked on a sweater, and ran around (haha), while I worked on my sock. I got through the gusset, so I should get it finished really quickly, if the starving horde here, will let me find any time to knit. I swear the only time I do get to knit is when Carrie says "Let's go knit." When I'm here with the kids, they need me, when they aren't here, I see things I should be doing. By time everything's done, I'm tired!

So, this pic is of the Jaywalker sock taken with a plain stockinette stitch sock knit with the same yarn. Isn't the difference neat? Same yarn different pattern. Totally different look. I love the zig zags. They are sort of hard to see in the pic, but when the sock is all done, you'll see 'em. They are there in real life.



I started this post earlier this afternoon, then had to go run a few errands. Now, it's almost 9 and this old lady needs to make kids get ready for bed. When they are in bed I can finally go to sleep. It was so dreary here today, that I just felt yucky all day long. I need sunshine! Somebody send some sun up here to icy cold Michigan! Please!!

A Finished Object and A Work In Progress

Thanks for the comments. Yeah, I don't eat bon-bons and watch soaps, I knit and watch Charmed reruns. haha. What a tiring weekend. Aren't weekends supposed to be restful breaks? When I typed about my inner-monk I said 4 people, a dog, and a cat. I wasn't counting myself, but I guess I should have said 5 people, since about 70% of the mess is mine. Or maybe 60%.

I turned the heel on my newest jaywalker sock. I knitted a few rows on some slippers that may or may not turn out to be a Christmas gift, and I started another dishcloth. I think I'll make a list of all of my WIPs and UFOs and really work on them before starting the thousand other projects I want to do.

Here is another progress pic of the jaywalker! I swear, I feel like the most boring knitter sometimes. I really want to do a sweater for myself. I've never knitted a sweater, and I think it's time. I need some ideas, though. I also need to finish some things that are going first.

My little knitter made a hat for her baby doll, on her knitting loom. Isn't that cute! She has one started for herself on one of the bigger looms, in the green and rainbowish red heart (oh) that she got for her birthday. I woke up Saturday, to the sounds of LD sitting on the couch, knitting on her loom; saying "I'm hungry, Mom. I'm hungry, Mom." Which is the normal chant around here, but she was working on her loom!

It is so neat to see her pick up her knitting! She is very proud of the hat. She has plans to knit her cousin some golf club sock thingys for his 6th b-day. There is a pattern in the knitting loom booklet. I think I'll crochet (double-oh) a golf tee holder. It's neat, I made one for his dad, it looks just like a huge tea-bag for a cup of tea, but when you unfold it, it is full of golf tees.

So, the FO wasn't even mine! LD has knitted (on needles) half of a face cloth for herself. She decided to bind off when it was a triangle. She uses it, too. I think both of my boys started knitting something - ages ago, but never finished anything.

Well, time to go try to set this place back to rights after the weekend. I really don't know why, though, as soon as they get home, it'll be all undone again! Then, I am going to work on those WIPs, so I can show off my own FO.

Many Thanks!

Edit: check out my hubby's new post. He put a knitting reference in. hehe

The offers of oven usage are much appreciated. That darn thing! When we moved in here, there was a brand new oven. Yay! After about three years, it died. Dead, no good oven! The part for it was more than a new oven. How can that be? My hubby's aunt got a new oven, and gave us hers. It was old, but good, and it baked food! Then, a few months later--another dead, no good oven. We will be getting a new one. My hubby-- the funny one --does not like to spend money, but this is something we need. So, we will be getting one ASAP!

I totally kicked butt cleaning this insane asylum yesterday! We had family coming over for LD's bday, and they all already think all I do is knit all day long. LOL. Usually all of the things I did yesterday would have taken me all day long, but with hubby at work, and the kids at school, I was done in two hours. The cake was baked, and frosted (waiting for Her Majesty to come decorate it). The kitchen, bathroom, living room, dining room, and front hall were clean(enough).

Deep down inside of me is the Monk. Ya know the guy on TV who has OCD, and everything has to be clean and disinfected? Living here, though, with four people who collect stuff, (lots of stuff), and a dog, and a cat does not let me keep this place as neat and clean as I would like. I hate cleaning, but afterwards, when everything is shiny, I love it! I even asked for the shark steam cleaner for my bday. hehehe


Thank you everyone for the wonderful birthday wishes. Lil' Diva has had a blast since Thursday. She got so many nice gifts from our family. Unfortunately $5 of her b-day money was lost somewhere. Longish story. Poor girl. Actually probably poor me, because I feel bad and I will end up replacing the 5 bucks. She got yarn, and a knifty knitter. Her Granny asked if I was shopping for her or myself, and I told her that I would never buy that kind of yarn for myself!! haha, just joking; of course; Sort of. LD does know the difference between yarn, good yarn, and great yarn. I'll teach her more as she grows into a real fiber addict. haha Right now, the colors are pretty important to her.

Also, thanks for the compliments on the stitch markers. I've made quite a few sets of them. I need to get really good pics of the sets, then I will add them to my etsy shop. Everyone who has seen them in "real life" seems to like them. I'll show them off here, as soon as I get some good pics. I haven't even gotten any good knitting time in lately, because I've been making stitch markers, and painting goo on the bottom of my slippers. I do not recommend the black dip the tool goo stuff, because if you slide your foot across a hard floor, you get a black mark. I'm going to find some clear stuff, I think.

Well, gotta go feed kids, pick up a kid, and drop another kid off at her house. Who on earth came up with the term Stay At Home Mom?

Wasn't it yesterday?

Wasn't this yesterday?

Happy Birthday to my baby!!

How on earth did this much time pass so quickly?

A Baking Tip and A Slipper Fix

Thanks to everyone who left me a comment. I am a commenter. I see things I like on other people's blogs, and I just type away!! I like getting comments, too. hehe

I got to go knit with my blog-less friend, Carrie, today. It was a lot of fun. Chatting with another grown up woman is just what I needed. Thanks, Carrie!!

So, the all important baking tip that everyone is on pins and needles waiting for is: Baking cupcakes (half a dozen at a time; in a toaster oven) is no fun! Don't do it, if you don't have to! Our oven is dead, and LD needs cupcakes for school tomorrow. She is very excited about frosting and decorating them after school today. She is going to be eight years old, tomorrow! Holey Moley, I really don't know where the years went.

Well, who said the dining room table was for eating? Mine is apparently for beading. At least, it is right now. (and yesterday) hehe. I've been making stitch markers for sock needles. I asked Carrie's opinion, and she seems to like them, or else she's just being nice. haha. Oh, my jaywalker sock is sitting there, too.
Here is the slipper fix. The first pic is my poor felted slipper bottom with patches all over it. Then, the pink and purple one belongs to LD. The last pic is the finished product.

If any one cares, here's what I did: I got a can of stuff that you dip your tool handles in, and it coats them with a plastic-rubbery substance. I got it at the hardware store. Then, I taped around the foot bottom, and painted the stuff on. I let them dry all day. I've been wearing them around the house for a couple of days, and they feel the same. (just no more skating in the kitchen) I see a couple of thin spots on my slippers, and I think I'll just paint a little more on those spots. The only problem there is that I'll have to take them off!

The cupcakes are done and waiting for frosting, but now there are more dishes to wash. Oh well, so goes my life. I also have to fold the clean laundry. The kids can take their piles and put them away when they get home. I didn't do it yesterday because those stitch markers are just too fun to make. I have to do it today, though. I dumped the baskets on my bed to make sure I don't put it off again!

Someday, I'll get to all of those knitting projects I want to do!

Family Friends and Stitch Markers

Yesterday really made me think about the people I love. My kids, (of course!!) my hubby, my bestfriend, and all of my family and friends are my life. My hubby started a blog. I am a blog pusher! I keep trying to get my knitty friend, Carrie to start one, and my hubby, too. Well, he caved. If you want to check it out, go ahead. He does have a weird sense of humor, though. hehe. I haven't read his last post, but I think he said it has to do with music.


Here are a couple of pictures of my bestfriend and me, in Florida last spring. It was the first trip we'd ever taken together away from our kids. Hubby did a very good job for the whole week. I'd never been away for so long, but it flew by. I told her yesterday that we need to do it again!! Her mom and stepdad took care of us like princesses. We payed for our tickets there, and that was it. They cooked for us, or took us out every night. It was just like when we were kids. We've been bestfriends for (ok she'll kick my arse if I'm wrong) I think....21 years? I'm close, I know it, I just can't do any math right now. hahahaha. She read my blog, and said I'm an old lady, and I crack her up. She's an old lady, too, but I think old age must have made her forget that fact!

Well, well, well, Blogger is being nice! It let me put another picture in this post!! I tried my hand at making some stitch markers. They are really small, for sock needles. I gave them to Carrie for her birthday. Then, I sat down and made some more. I think I'll send one out with each skein of sock yarn I sell on my etsy shop. I might even sell some separately. I've been using one on the jaywalker sock I'm knitting; instead of the little coil-less safety pin that I usually use. It works just as well, and looks a lot better.

Tomorrow, or whenever I post next, I'll show some pictures of how I fixed my felted slippers. I kept getting holes in them. I would have to darn them, over and over. I know why they call that darning!! So, I bought some gunk that goes on tool handles, and fixed them right up. They feel the same on my feet, but, no more slipping around in the kitchen. The bottoms are not slippery any more. Oh, well, hopefully no more darning!

Housework calls! Darn It!

Remembrance

Here is a list of people who are honoring and remembering all of the people who lost their lives five years ago today. I hope it's ok to link to this list. I think everyone who has the time should check it out.
Edited to add: They have suspended url of the site I linked to for some reason. Sorry.

Duh!

I was re-reading my last post, and I can't believe I forgot one of my favorite jobs! I painted antique reproduction game boards at a little shop called The Painted Pony. I loved that work. How could I forget? It was so fun, and artistical!!

Hey, Whimsical, thanks for the compliment on my third jaywalker. I said second in my last post, but it's not the second sock, it's the first sock of the second pair. So, really it's the third Jaywalker sock. I guess I really am forgetful lately.
Mindy, I can't wait to read your meme. I loved Charmed. I am a geek! Supernatural is ok, too, but I forget to watch sometimes.
Sharon, thank you for the compliment on my yarn. Dyeing is so much fun for me. I would love to come to Australia someday. It is one of the places that just fascinate me for some reason.

I have to go get on with my weekend. I have to go buy a birthday present for my Little Diva. She has a birthday next week, then mine is two weeks later. Fun! Have a great one, all!

A me meme - knitters!

Comments! Thanks to all. Larjmarj says I'm a pro! Thank you! I like etsy so far. I just started and haven't sold anything, yet, so we'll see. g-girl, I read that info on the knitter's review, but they always seem to know what's going on, so I'll buy as much LB Magic Stripes as I can!

A Things About Me Meme

Things you may not have known about me. In no particular order.

Four jobs I have had in my life:

• candy counter/cashier at the Garden Theater
• cashier at the Cherry Bowl Drive in
• maid/cottage cleaner at the Frankfort Condos, and at Chimney Corners (I hate cleaning)
• Mom to Jordan, Malcolm, and Lil' Arleta

Four Movies I have watched over and over:

• Sixteen Candles (I heart Jake Ryan!)
• Dirty Dancing (Patrick)
• Chocolat (Johnny)
• A Knight's Tale (Heath)

Four of my favorite tv shows:

• Charmed (it's over--wah!)
• Ghost Whisperer
• CSI (Las Vegas)
• Three Moons Over Milford

Four places I have been on vacation:

• Florida
• Colorado
• Ohio
• The U.P.

Four of my favorite foods:

• Chocolate (it is food)
• Coffee (yes-it counts)
• Roasted Vegies
• Seafood (Lobster, Crab, Shrimp, all of it--Yum!)

Four places I would rather be right now:

• The Beach (in July)
• On vacation on a beach (in July)
• On vacation anywhere (in July)
• I think I'd like to be in Summer!

Four things I need to do:

• Laundry (yuck)
• the breakfast dishes (yuck)
• roll the leviathan yarn for etsy. (yay)
• knit on my Jaywalker sock (yay)

If you do this meme, let me know so I can come learn about you ok?

For all of you who read and were patient; here is a pic of my second jaywalker sock!! Lion Brand Magic Stripe sock yarn in a fun, funky color. I don't know where the ball band is, so that's what color we're calling it!

Time to go work and then ---- knit!

My newest hand painted yarn

Thanks for the nice comments! I did bike a little farther yesterday. Today, though, it's yucky looking out there. I hope it doesn't rain! MM and the other 8th graders are on a field trip. An outdoor field trip.


Well, here are a couple of pics of my newest hand painted yarn. I call it hand painted because I do "paint" the kool ade right onto it. I don't immerse the wool into the dye. I guess that's the difference between hand dyed and hand painted. It turned out really pretty. Different shades of purples, blues, and greens. SP told me I should call it leviathan. I guess I can, if I can figure out how to spell it. haha. Handy spell check! It does remind me of the deepest sea. It's a little darker in real life than in these pics.

I will be putting it in my etsy shop. It is worsted weight Virgin wool. 8 ounces, about 465 yards. This yarn makes some great felted items. I need to remember to mention that in the description. I have some acid dyes, that I'm dying (haha) to try, but I need another slow cooker, or some pans specifically for acid dyeing, first.

I think, before I do any house work, I'll go scan some other blogs. I've got over 60 on bloglines, and more that I check often, and need to add to bloglines. That is such a time saver. I used to check if anyone posted by going to each of my favorite blogs, and it took forever! I love that I can go to one place and find out if there is a new post.

I have a little meme thing that I meant to post, but I guess I had more pressing knitterly things to talk about. Maybe tomorrow. It's one that is things about me.

Time to go read blogs and knit. Then, on to the housework. (Yuck!)

The kids are at school and I have yarn

Thanks, all, for the nice comments about my socks. I will definitely use the sewn bind off next time I do toe up socks. It used less yarn than the normal knit bind off, too. Those poor socks probably weren't any good, because anyone with a foot big enough for them, wouldn't have been able to get them on. Now, they are just right!!

I saw a pet meme on Red dog knits. It was cute, but I'm lazy, so I'll do mine in pictures. Here is Billie Holiday, and Princess Ein. She is really not very princess-like, or even very lady like, but LD was playing dress up yesterday, and apparently the dog wanted to play, too. She liked the crown and left it on for a long time. When she saw the camera, she posed. Pretty funny. Ein is part Corgi (short legs) and part black lab. She looks like a lab with half sized legs.

Billie is a little snooty. She puts up with the dog, but that's about it. I'm her favorite! She is a short haired tortoise shell. We've had Billie for 5 years, and Ein since January 31st. We got them both from the same shelter. Billie was given up because the previous owners didn't have time for her, and Ein was found wandering around. She obviously was not treated very well. She's afraid of a lot of stuff.

My kids are at school!! We got up on time and everything. After I dropped LD off, I tried to kill myself on my bike. I've been riding all summer, and I've lost 4 pounds! But, today, I decided to go at a grownup speed instead of a 7yr old's speed, and holey cow! I thought I'd die. For real! I only went a few miles, but I went fast and hard, and I think my bike tires need air. I definitely got my heart rate up there.

Now, I'm going to go do the breakfast dishes, so that I have room to dye my yarn. Then, I think I'll even have some time to knit before I go get the kids from school. Whoo hoooo!

Hand knit socks -- Redone

Well, I got my friend Carrie to leave a comment. haha. She's really funny. Mouse, you should try your camera's software. It might have something good. I almost didn't load this on, because I have the stuff from the last two digital cameras on here, and I figured it would be about the same. Glad I did, though. Tatjana, I probably would like your mom's kitchen. I go through phases, where I think I'd want different decorating styles. Right now, I'd take any kind of style. It's a mess in here! Marce, what a nice comment. I feel like I hardly ever get anything finished. Probably because I start new things all of the time.

These socks in this picture are for my best friend, Lisa. I finished them in June. I hadn't given them to her, yet, because I didn't like the cuff. It was way too tight. I had already bound them off and woven in the ends, so I had to find the ends and unweave them. Then, stitch by stitch; because I didn't want to drop any stitches, I undid the bind off. The yarn was all crickly. Then, I took a needle and did the sewn bind off. It is much stretchier. Why on earth didn't I do it in the first place? Oh, yeah, I started it at home, and finished it in the car. Now I feel like I can give them to her.

Then, I started another dishcloth, and a new Jaywalker sock. I got some Lion Brand Magic Stripes yarn, and cast on today. I read that the Magic Stripes is being discontinued. I really like that yarn. It's affordable, and I like the colors, too. I got the yarn on sale for five dollars. I love a good deal!! Oh, yeah, in the pics up there you can see my other Magic Stripes socks under the Bestfriend socks. I was resting the Bestfriend sock on my foot to take the picture. I heart my handknit socks!! The Bestfriend socks are my hand dyed yarn. I can never seem to get orange or reds to turn out right when I try to take a picture. I also got another skein of worsted wool to dye. I can't wait until I have time to do it.

So, picnic/barbecue and surprise birthday party for the MIL, tomorrow. I really should be in bed. I'm scared that on Tuesday we'll oversleep. I keep telling the boys to go brush their teeth, and go to bed. It's weird having teenagers. They are trying to bribe me with shoulder rubs. It could almost work, they are pretty good at it. Time for us all to sleep, though. So, I have to be tough. LOL.

September is a big birthday month for us. We have b-days in our family on the 8th, 14th, 19th, 21st, 27th, and two on the 28th! Well, I'll be spending tomorrow visiting and knitting. Hope you have a good day, all!!

Photo Secrets, and more dishcloths!

Ok, I'll tell my secret. I can load six pictures as if they are one. My HP camera had some software that can make album pages. I like the look of them. Different colors, and from 1 to 6 pics per page. I wish there were more colors, though. There are only a few. Then, you can also add text under each pic. So, here are my nine patch cloths. I think I'm done with that pattern for a little bit. It is a fun, quick knit for me. Maybe I need one more. I love the colors of these ones. Some day, I want my kitchen all black and white with bright red or orange accents. Crisp. I stuck a couple of pics of my last handpainted skein in there, too. You know, 'cuz I can. I should have saved this one a little bigger so you could see more detail, though. Live and learn, right? I have a message for a certain lurker, too. Come out and leave a comment! And start your own blog so we all can read it, already! You know who you are. LOL! Sorry, I couldn't resist. I know you have a good sense of humor. (I'm pretty sure, anyway.) So, are you going to leave a comment? Start a blog???? I know you're not shy.

I have a busy weekend coming up. I wish we could just chill and enjoy the next few days before school starts. Which is in 4 days. LD keeps chanting it. The boys don't want to hear it, though. We've been playing checkers, and Uno, and she's been being a waitress and "serving" me coffee (for $10 per cup!) all day. Oh, she just informed me, I am also paying for the use of the cafe's computer. Well, holey cow! That's still too rich for me. LOL!

I was looking at the Jaywalker sock gallery, and I saw a pair, and thought they were mine! I had to go to Ericajo's blog, and check it out. We have almost matching socks. I think that's pretty cool.

I just got another comment about the garterlac cloths right now, while I was typing away. I love that pattern. I might just have to start another one. I want to do the Yarn Girl, and the Born to Knit ones, too. I already have the yarn, and I still think knitting dishcloths is like housework, because I really need them for doing dishes! haha

I guess I'd better get started on the weekend. Hope everyone has a great one!

Longer Post This Time

Thanks for all of the comments. I'm glad everyone seems to like what I'm working on right now. I finally got brave and put the yarn I dyed onto my Etsy shop. You have my special permission to go and check it out. Lazy me, I didn't take new pics, but they look ok. Now, I just need to take pics of my bracelets and put them on there, too. I had to put the yarn on etsy, because I started with 10 skeins of sock yarn for the shop, but....well....I posted 7. The other ones got used, for gifts, and maybe a little for me, too.


You wouldn't believe how fast this photo loaded. Haha, I was just talking to my hubby about flicker or photobucket. I'm going to look into one of those. All ya'll keep saying they're better than blogger for the pics, so, I guess I could listen to you more experienced, wiser people. I seem to have better luck at night with Blogger. It could be that I'm not surrounded by screaming children who run around like crazy animals. I can concentrate a lot better when it's not deafening in here.

Here are a couple of garterlac dishcloths, and one ninepatch dishrag. I crocheted around the edges of the garterlacs, and I'm going to do it to the ninepatch, too.
The little change purse with it's too big zipper is in there. Then, there is the photo with more cotton! I do have more dishcloths planned. The plain colors are for a Born to Knit and a Yarn Girl one, at least. Whimsical wrote those and a bunch of other neato patterns.
So, LD had her best best friend over today. She was here for a little longer than expected. Then, tonight, we had a meet the teacher thing at the elementary school. It was really fun to see everyone that we haven't seen all summer. (and not so fun seeing some other people) We met the 2nd grade teacher she'll have, and the new music teacher. I'm so glad school's starting, but also a little sad, because we have to get back on a schedule. This has been the most lazy, do-whatever-we-want summer that we've had in a while. Fun, but now we are in trouble. We have to get used to getting to bed earlier, and getting up earlier! Especially the boys. They got away with way too much this summer. Staying up late, and watching movies and playing video games. No more. School starts in 5 days, or something. Next Tuesday, the 5th. Wow!

I wanted to let you know I am now a member of the knitter's review blogring. Check out the link, if you want to check out some blogs you might not have seen before. It's right above the Michigan Knits blogring on the left of the screen. Well, I have to go see what other bloggers have written and go to bed!

Knit on!

Etsy update

I finally updated my Etsy Shop! Click link! More posting later!

What I did yesterday.

Ok, guys, apparently I look young!! Woohoo! No one has mistaken me for Jordan's sister in a long time. I love the look on people's faces when they hear I have two teenagers. Let me tell ya, I am not advising anyone to have a baby when they are 16. I know how lucky I am that I got to finish high school, and I'm not homeless, or something. The best thing my mom ever did for me was to make me go back to school, and to watch baby SkaterPunk so that I could. What's kind-of funny is that he is older now, than I was when he was born. I let my kids know that no grandbabies are allowed until I'm at least 50. Of course, SP said, "Do you know I'll be 34 then?" haha. Good!


Yay! Blogger finally let me put my picture in! This is what I did yesterday (in between loads of laundry). Three kids = lots of laundry. I also finished another garterlac dishcloth, and started a ninepatch dishrag. I can't seem to find a link to it now, though. Darn it!

I took some fat, gushy worsted weight wool, and poured rainbow colors of Kool-aid all over it. It was sorta hard to make myself do it randomly. I have a bunch of striped sock yarn, and even when I hand dye non-striping yarn, I find myself making patterns with the colors. This time, though, I was very random, and it looks pretty cool, if I do say so myself!

I might stick it in my Etsy shop for a while, and if it doesn't sell, then I'll make myself knit something with it. Haha, yeah, I'll force myself to. I know this wool felts pretty well, so we'll see what I do with it.

I was outside today, in my jammies, taking pics of yarn. My neighbors love me. hehe. They really do. Luckily for us, they are really old, one of them is past 90, so they don't know how loud and annoying we really are.

I'm so lazy, I have 8 or 9 skeins of sock yarn ready to go, all I have to do is list them on Etsy. I need to do it, so that when they sell I can buy new yarn. Why don't I just get off my butt and do it, then? Good question!

Guess I'll go do something productive. Like go read and blab on knitter's review!

Book Meme

Hi, guys, thanks for the nice comments about my hair. One funny thing about the snobby people, my hair wasn't even pink, yet. Haha. It was "naturalish" reddish brown. These people have known me my whole life, anyway. They are just rude, sometimes I don't even think they realize it. But, you guys, are too nice, saying I don't look old. Amy, I've seen your pics on your blog, and, there's no way I look younger than you! I was born in 1973, so even though I feel like I'm still 16, I really am 32, and will be 33 soon!


Book Meme
I was tagged by Gina from It seemed like a good idea at the time. Isn't that cool? I've never been tagged before. Ok, so let's go:

1. One book that changed your life: Dave Pelzer's : A Child Called It. I don't know about changed, but certainly affected. Every time I feel sorry for myself, or something I try to remind myself that he actually went through hell, and still became a good man.

2. One book that you've read more than once: William Shakespeare-Four Tragedies(Romeo&Juliet, Macbeth, Hamlet, and Julius Caesar in one really old book)(actually every book I really like I read again and again)

3. One book you'd want on a desert island: Only One?? How To Find Food (and yarn) On A Desert Island. hahaha

4. One book that made you laugh: Gingersnaps by Delorys Welch-Tyson

5. One book that made you cry: Lost Boys by Orson Scott Card (scary)(not the vampire story lost boys a different story)

6. One book that you wish had been written: How To Get Rich Just Sitting Here Knitting For Fun.

7. One book you wish had never been written: Any book that's full of hate. Like some bad nasty nazibooks or something. Our world doesn't need any more hate in it!

8. One book you're currently reading: Crime Brulee by Nancy Fairbanks--I don't know if I like it yet.

9. One book you've been meaning to read: Wuthering Heights or maybe some important spiritual book. I've tried to read some, but I like to be entertained too much, and get bored. Shame on me.

10. Tag 6 people:Adriane, Crafty Fox, Stacey, Terri D., Whimsical, Zippiknits,
If you don't have time, or don't feel like it, don't feel bad, guys. Let me know if you play along, though, because I'd like to read your answers!!

I read books that I like, mysteries, novels, teen books, plays, whatever. I know I should read more important literature, but I probably won't; so there!!

Well, off to a b-day party. I have to finish the scarf I'm knitting for the gift, on the way there. It's almost done. I took pics of it last night, but stupid blogger won't let me post them. Even though they don't look great, I'll try again later.

Man, we're going to be late if I don't get going! I have to speed knit in the car!! Knit on!

Just Call Me Pinkie!

I really hate pictures of myself. I look sooooooo old and tired and pale in these. Darn new camera sure can capture those wrinkles! Maybe I just need a nap. Whimsical: it's so cool that your son does your tats. You could save quite a bit of $ that way. Of course, if you average out how many years you'll have the tattoo, it really isn't that expensive, right? I am the queen of rationalizing. Rationalization? Whatever!

I hope this post works, blogger seems to be acting up again. I am having a crappy day. The kids are being horrible. They seem to get this way every year right before school starts. Maybe it's nerves. I don't know, but I hate it. I was also snubbed by some people who live here in Snobsville. I hate feeling like it's 5th grade all over again, and the other kids are all being invited somewhere fun, and the inviter says "Sorry, Arleta, I could only ask 8 people, and you're the 9th." Blah! Jerks!

Sorry for that whine. My feelings are hurt, and apparently I'm old, tired, and pale! I think I need to go find some soft gushy yarn to knit with, or just wrap myself in!

Hope you guys are all having a better day than I am! The weekend better shape up into something nice, too! Or else!

p.s. I almost forgot: I was tagged for a meme, I'll do it and post sometime soon!!

Let's Talk about Knits, Babee.

Hey guys, Thanks for the comments. You bet I'll post a pic of my hair when it's done. I actually did a little yesterday, but it barely shows up, so I'll have to bleach the streaks in, and then dye them pink. I just need to get one of those caps with the holes in it, and I'm all set. I'll just use some of hubby's hair bleach. He is a (bottle) blond. It's just hair, it'll grow out. Well, mine will, hubby's is another story.

So, here's my knitting from yesterday. I'm still doing dishcloths, but I tried this Lion Brand Landscapes yarn. It's half wool; half acrylic, and it says on the label that it felts in the washer and dryer. Sorry my pics are so bad. It's all my fault, the camera is awesome, but the photographer kind of stinks.

The first pic is while I was knitting, the second is before I felted it. I forgot to measure it, though! The last pic is after I felted it in the sink with hot boiling water, and one sink of cold ice water. It's a good thing that I didn't just throw it into the laundry like I was going to, because the dye in this yarn ran like crazy! The water turned a really dark green. Pretty color, but I would have been really mad if it had run on my laundry.

It did shrink some I think it was close to 6-7 inches before I felted it. You can, of course, see the acrylic stitches, but the wool part of the yarn melded all together nicely. Does that make sense? The yarn was weird, almost like it was barely spun, or something.

The finished coinpurse will have a zipper, and it measures about 4 and 3/4 inches square. I wish I had remembered to measure it before felting, but I was just so excited to start, that I threw it in the sink, and went at it.

I really need to start practicing with my new camera. It takes great pictures for everyone else. I want to be a great photographer. Darn it! I'd even like to be a good photographer. Then I could do Eye Candy Friday, like on Purly Whites. I think it's a great idea. It would get me some practice, too.

I sent Marj a package yesterday. I hope she likes it.

Well, a motley post, huh? I have teenagers running all over the house making noise, so I guess I'll go knit some more on my dishcloth. At least that won't take a lot of concentration!!

I have a camera! (in a sing-song voice)

Thanks again for all of the anniversary wishes. It's so nice to hear from everyone! A few of you said your anniversaries are this week, too. So, happy anniversary to you guys, too!!

Yeah, Diamond Dave was really cool. He did a bunch of kicks. It was neat. My hubby, Donnie, saw him like 18 yrs. ago, and he said he doesn't get as high off the ground now, but geeze, who does? Terri, he did do Jump. Love that song!! Don't be jealous, though, because we hardly ever go anywhere. Especially without the kids!


I got the link to make this funny pic from Terri's blog. That's my dishcloth on there!! Isn't that funny? I took that bad pic with my really old digital camera. Go look at her photo when you're done here. It's really good.

Well, my good digital was broken. It wasn't the stupid battery, I guess it just got dropped a few too many times. My honey surprised me with a new camera today. (The actual anniversary). Poor guy. I'm broke, so you know, no gift from the store for him.

A couple more dishcloths. Photo with new camera. Yay!




Then, my oldest son, my little (6 foot something) SkaterPunk went shopping with his girlfriend,
and her mom the other day. He bought me a giftie. I've been wanting some really cool pink hair dye, and he got it for me. Wasn't that sweet? His girlfriend's mom already thinks I'm weird. I was 16 when I had him. She was 36 when she had her. She's really very nice, now that she's used to my age. At first she thought I was probably out partying or something, because at 32, she was! Now she knows I'm a boring homebody. I'm going to be a boring homebody with pink streaks in my hair, though!! It's called Candy Pink. Hehehe


I also took a picture of the gifties I have for Larj Marj. I already told ya'll how I took all of the names of everyone who commented on the day I got my 100th comment, and then I dropped them in front of my fan, and the one that went the farthest was Marj's. It went really far, too. It was weird. I won't show that pic yet, though. I'm going to send the gifties out tomorrow, and I don't want to ruin the surprise if she reads this.

So, I guess I've babbled on long enough tonight. It's late, and I'm going to bed. After I knit a little anyway!! I started a little change purse with some Lion Brand Landscapes. I hope it felts, it says it will on the label. I got it for half price, so if it doesn't work, oh well. $3 down the drain is a lot better than $6 lost, right? I have a couple of dishcloths going too. I can't seem to stay away from them.
Knit on Knitters!!

Diamond Dave, Donnie, and a Dishcloth

Thank you to everyone for the sweet comments about my wedding anniversary. Thanks, Larj Marj for saying I look like Laura San Giacomo. She's beautiful! It's funny how white I look in that picture! I sure don't remember being that white, especially in the summer. I don't exactly worship the sun, but I get pretty dark in the summer. Dad's genes and all that.


My honey and I went out of town on Friday, and came home Sunday. Man, I wish I'd have had my camera working. My dishcloth would have liked to have had his picture taken at the David Lee Roth concert. It was so much fun. He really put on a great show! We had (cheap) lawn seats, that were actually pretty good, but then when the warm up band was done, and the rich people seats weren't full, we got to move up and sit (who sits at a concert?) in real seats. The warm up band was Ashes to Soma, or Ashes of Soma. Either way, they were good. Here's how eclectic our music tastes are: For my B-day last year, hubby took me to Naughty by Nature. Rap. Yeah, I listen to it all!! N.byN. was the kind of music my friends and I listened to in jr. and sr. high. My best friend was there, too, and Lisa and I were right up in front of the stage at that one!!


So, we stayed at a hotel. It was so wonderful to be able to sleep without the dog cramping my legs at the foot of the bed, and then to get up and not have to wait on other people(kids). They were at their Granny's for the weekend. On Saturday, hubby and I were going to go to the mall. But, we ended up at this little historical village. It's called Olde World Canterbury Village. Full of antique stained glass windows, and wooden doors, and artifacts. There's a castle (restaurant) and a store called Always Christmas. There are little shops that were buildings of the original farm. They are going to have a festival there with spinners. Yarn--yummy! They have an empty store that could be a yarn shop. There could be a spinning wheel demo, and they could sell the spun stuff, and have knitting going on. Oh, and dyeing the wool in the old way, like with natural dyes!! That would be so cool.

I tried to put up an awful pic of my awesome garterlac dishcloth right here. I guess Blogger is being dumb now. The pic of DLR worked, now I can't add my knitting pic! I've tried a bunch of times! I'll try again tomorrow. Well, if you've gotten this far, you know there is something to look forward to!!


I love this pattern. I finished one on our trip this weekend, and started another one. It was fun knitting in the car. My hubby, Donnie and I talked and listened to music, and he even pointed out other knitters in other cars. I used Sugar 'N Cream in Rosewood. I'd call it Neapolitan. It looks like the ice cream to me. That's one of the things I like about this cotton yarn: the colors. I have so many different colored dishcloths. I'm doing one right now in Summer Splash, it's bright bright green, blue, and yellow. I keep thinking of knitting a bunch of these squares in the garterlac pattern, and joining them together for a blanket. That would be cute!

Well, time to go do some housework. I think knitting dishcloths could count for housework, you know, you need them to do dishes. Right?

Happy Anniversary, Honey!!

It's not until Tuesday, really, but since we'll be celebrating this weekend; I'll share our wedding photo. Fourteen years. Weren't we cute? Just babies, really. I was 18, and he was 20. Man, time flies, right? Oh, yes we do have a 16yr old. He was at the wedding. He wore a little tux just like his daddy's. Very cute. Modern family, and all.

My knitting is beyond boring right now. I keep picking one thing up, knitting a little, then picking something else up, and knitting a little. I just started this dishcloth, and I also got some Sugar n' Cream for this and this. Great free patterns. Check 'em out.

OK, so, I took all of the names from the comments on August 7th. That's the day I got my 100th comment. I put each name on a scrap of paper, same size, etc. Then, I dropped them all in front of the fan, and the one that blew the farthest was declared a winner!! I'm going to do some snooping and come up with some little prize for her. Figure out some little thing. I'll have to go snoop around her blog!!

Well, back to my dishcloth. Hope everyone is knitting happily!! 'Til next week!!!!

Tired Mommy = A meme

Oh my Gosh! Long day. My hubby and I took all 3 kids to Traverse City, and did all the school shopping in one day! Crazy, I know, but it is done!


I got this meme from either All she wants to do is knit, or to knit perchance to dream. I can't remember who I snagged it from!! (and I'm too lazy to figure it out!)

1. First Name? Arleta

2. Were you named after anyone? My mom, Arleta. I named my LittleDiva that, too!

3. Last time you cried? At the relay for life, during the slide show, when I saw the "in memory of" pic of my FIL on his motorcycle.

4. Do you like your handwriting? It's ok, if I take my time.

5. What is your favorite lunch meat? Roast Beef. MMM.

6. Do you have kids? Three of 'em. Two boys and a girl. Jordan=SP 16, Malcolm=MM 13, and Lil' Arleta=LD 7yrs old.

7. Would you be friends with you if you were someone else? Yep, I'm very cool.

8. Do you keep a journal? Only if you count this blog.

9. Do you tend toward sarcasm? Nooooo. (sarcastically)

10. Do you still have your tonsils? Yes.

11. Would you bungee jump? Yeah, it looks like fun.

12. What’s your favorite cereal? Golden Grahams.

13. Do you untie your shoes before you take them off? Only if I can't get them off without untying them.

14. Are you strong? No, not really. If that means physically. Mentally yes!

15. What is your favorite ice cream? I don't really like icecream. Chocolate if I have any at all.

16. Shoe size? 9.5 or 10 US Women's.

17. What do you like least about yourself? I am super unorganized, and I want to be organized, and not lazy.

18. Who do you miss the most? My dad, I'm a Daddy's Girl. He's been gone for 9 yrs.

19. Do you want this sent back to you? We could change that to "Do you want to know if someone else is doing this meme", and the answer would be "yes" I like reading other people's memes.

20. What color pants and shoes are you wearing right now? grey shorts, and no shoes.

21. Last thing you ate? burger and fries. Now I'm eating a little chocolate with peanut butter.

22. What are you listening to right now? My two boys and the oldest's girlfriend talking, and my hubby in the kitchen.

23. If you were a crayon, what color would you be? To choose just one isn't my style. I can never decide. I love all colors!

24. Favorite smell? fresh fruity smells.

25. Last person you talked to on the phone? probably someone trying to fix my stupid paperwork problem.

26. First thing you notice about someone of the opposite sex? Cute face, eyes, lips, nose, chin

27. Do you like the person who sent this to you? I do like both of the blogs this may have come from. I'm too lazy to go see who did it first.

28. Favorite drink? coffee

29. Favorite sport? Not very sporty

30. Eye color? green. sometimes blue

31. Hat size? I think my hats are all one size fits all, except he hand knit ones.

32. Do you wear contacts? Yes. I love them.

33. Favorite food? Chocolate. Cheese, and fruit, too.

34. Scary movie or happy ending? Both!

35. Last movie you saw at a movie theater? Aunt Bully. I slept through Superman. (Drive in)

36. What color shirt are you wearing? Dark grey.

37. Summer or winter? Summer. I'm a beach baby!

38. Hugs or kisses? Both, usually. I'm not super touchy-feely sometimes, though.

39. Favorite dessert? Cherry pie, or chocolate anything.

40. Who is most likely to respond? Good question! Whoever wants to copy and do this meme. Let me know if you do, so I can read it!

41. Least likely to respond? I guess whoever already did this, or doesn't like memes.

42. What books are you reading? Grand Ambition by Lisa Michaels, and whatever else I grab, I'm in a reading funk to go along with my knitting mojo being off!

43. What’s on your mousepad? A university name

44. What did you watch on TV last night? That three moons show, and celebrity fit club.

45. Favorite sounds? birds, my kids laughing.

46. Rolling Stones or Beatles? Either, neither are my faves.

47. The furthest you’ve been from home? Colorado or Florida. I live in Michigan, which is father? Too lazy to go check.

48. What’s your special talent? I whistle pretty well, I play flute.

49. Where were you born? Same small town I still live in, Michigan, USA

50. Who sent this to you? Noone did. I grabbed it off someone else's blog, now you do the same!!

So, if you read this far, just let me say I don't have a winner or prize (yet) for my lil' contest, but I will soon. I also wanted to say thanks for the comments about my felted bags. They really are fun to knit. The dyeing part is also a grand obsession of mine now, too!

Happy knitting! Later....after some rest and after that darn paper work problem is solved!

Felted bags and stuff--lots of stuff

First of all: Thanks everyone for the kind words about my Clapotis.
Roo-bee-faye: You're right; some jerkface keeps putting stupid make money comments on my blog. I think I finally fixed them, though. We'll see. By the way, what happened to your blog? If you deleted it, or something I think it's been blog-jacked. When I try to see it, I'm sent to some advertising place. I'm sorry for putting this here, but I can't figure out another way to get ahold of you. I miss your blog!

Ok, now. Knitting. I want to do a contest for all of you wonderful knitters. I got my 100th comment the other day. Not counting the jerky spam comments. I think what I'll do, is take the names of the commenters from the day I got my 100th, and randomly pick one, then I'll send the winner a little knitty prize. Nothing too big, because I'm poor. I just think it's so neat that you like my blah-blah-blah. Even though, since I started this blog, I've been pretty boring on the knitting front. So, I'm going to do that, and then I'll let y'all know. OK? OK!


I have some pretty knitting pictures to share with ya'll. Actually, the first one is crocheted, and then felted. I can do that, too. (Crochet) I just don't very much. It seems to take more yarn, but it is faster. For me, anyway. This is a little handbag I made for myself. It is out of LB Fisherman's wool, that I dyed with kool-ade. The purple stuff in the foreground of the picture is the lining fabric, and the zipper. I use this one quite a bit.

These four bags are just some that I knitted, and felted, then they were either given away as holiday gifts, or I sold them. It's all LB Fisherman's wool, dyed with kool-ade, with really old buttons on the flaps. I didn't really use patterns, I just knitted in the round until I got a size and shape I thought would look good, then I felted them in the washer and stuck them on boxes to dry. Very technical.

So, I am going to be pretty busy the rest of the week. I finished up the charity cloths, and I have to deliver them. I actually did a few rounds on my hedera-like sock yesterday. I have some crazy paperwork that is all messed up, and I've been on the phone a lot trying to fix it. Then, the relay for life thing is this weekend. I'll be painting faces, and walking, and whatever else. I hope to get a battery for my camera before then because I really want pictures.

So, as soon as I get all of my she-ee-it together, I'll have a little prize for someone. Have a great weekend--if I don't get to post again-til next week!!

It's Monday--Already?!

Thanks for the comments. Everyone seems to like the MI pictures. The sunset one was taken by my MIL. The colors that night were amazing! As to Marji's question: Yes, we have climbed all of the way to Lake Michigan. It is quite a trek! Then, there is Pierce Stocking Drive, and the Cottonwood Trail, and of course, Old Indian Trail. We do them all. You'd think we'd be in better shape!

What a lazy weekend. We didn't do much at all. I finished three dishcloths for a charity event coming up next weekend. Cleaned out the car, while the couch covers and the dog bed washed. That was about it. So, today, I have a ton of catching up to do. Five people in the house makes for a lot of laundry and dishes. LD just washed the cups, plates, and bowls. She's blasting my 80's cd. It's so cute to see her sing along to The Gogos and The Bangles and Heart. I could go on & on.

I counted my comments, and I have 96. I think that is just amazing. I know there are bloggers who have that many in less than a week, but I'm just a babbling knitter, who can't believe people actually want to read what I go on about. I'm thinking of a contest, or something, having to do with the nice comments I get from y'all. I'm going to figure it out, and I'll let everyone know what I've decided this week.

Knitting content! Knitting content!

Of course every knit blogger, and their mom, and sister, and uncle, and cousin has probably made at least one of these. If they haven't, then they have heard of it. These are some crappy (sorry) pictures of a Clapotis I knitted. It is made of -gasp- Red Heart acrylic. I liked the colors, and the price, so there! I also made one out of Knit Picks Shimmer, held double. That one is more of a scarf size, and it is so soft. I don't seem to have a picture of it, though, and my camera still doesn't have a battery.

I think I'm going to knit one more cloth, then I really need to get back to my hedera sock. I have the urge to do it, but I just keep picking up easier projects. Who knows why, I sure don't.

My friend is going to make up a basket, or some baskets with hand knit cloths by me, and another knitting friend. She will add dishsoap and whatever in the basket, too. They will go to the silent auction to raise money for the Relay for Life event. I will be there painting faces, too.
It's in Elberta, MI on August 12-13, I think. I'd better find out for sure!!

Well, time to get that laundry and nasty housework done. Hope you had a great weekend, and have a great week. Later....

Why yes, I do love summer!!

First of all. Thanks to everyone for the nice comments the other day!! I think I'll take Marji's advice and get some stormy pics of the lake some time. It's really something then!

My knitting is suffering from the heat. I just don't feel like knitting the projects I have going. I have been knitting cotton dishcloths. When I told my friend that, she told me another friend is knitting some for a charity. So, I'm going to donate a few, too. Not very exciting, I know. I guess this is what everyone on the Knitter's Review Forums call a slump. Whatever. This is my hobby, and my blog I guess I can do what I want!!


The picture above is from the Sleeping Bear Dunes. It's the view from close to the top. I am pretty sure the lakes in the background are Little and Big Glen Lake. On the other side of the dunes is Lake Michigan. I do love Michigan in the summer, but I am not a big winter kind of person. Michigan is a big kind of winter place, though! Cold and snowy!!


This other dunes picture is the view from the opposite way. I mean: it is me looking up toward the top of the dunes at LD and The Don. It is really hard to climb up, (for me anyway), but the views are unbelievable!!!!


One more non-knitting related picture. Bear with me, I am so bored right now. This is a sunset over Lake Michigan. Our town has this awesome gateway thing spanning the road coming into town. The gateway in the picture is a miniature one someone made. I thought that sunset was so cool, that I'd share it.
Ok, then. Knitting next time. I promise! Even if I have to make something up!!