Happy Holidays!

Hi! I have got to find some time to go lurk and maybe even comment on my favorite blogs! It's been forever! Thanks for the comments about missing me, Rhoda, Jeanne, LarjMarj, Del, Becka, and Mama Bear! Sorry I've been a bad blogger and blogfan, too!!

So, I finally got a battery for my camera, and I thought "Yay! I can take pictures of the gifts I've knitted for Christmas!" Yeah, I already wrapped them. Ummmmm ~ I will have to remember to get pics when they are opened. I do have some birthday gifts I've knitted that haven't been wrapped yet, though.

Alright train of thought.....I had to take a little break and go build a tent out of sheets and chairs all over the living room. Gotta keep that 10 yr old busy......

Pictures! I have some socks that I hand dyed and hand knit for my hubby's aunt, a pink bunny for a niece, and the tan bunny for my nephew. The inner ears on both bunnies are spun from real bunny wool. So soft! I also finished a throw for us to cuddle up with. I think I started knitting it two years ago, at least!

I want to read blogs and post and all of that, when did life get so crazy busy?? Oh, yeah, when I had kids!

Hope all of your Holiday Knits are done! Mine are, I finished yesterday, as Lil AR and I were wrapping.

Oh, the joys of holiday giving!

Still kickin

I'm alive ~ I swear! Just busy, stressed, and my camera is naughty, so I haven't been able to take any pics of my knitting. I've been knitting like crazy, though, ya know, to help with the stress.

Back soon, hopefully with pictures of knitted goodness! Knit on, all!

Double Digits!

The baby turned ten today! Now all of our kids are in double digits. Lil' AR and Carrie's oldest daughter have been planning an awake over (sleep over - but stay awake all night) since June, and Lil' AR and I decided a birthday party was a good time to do it. I wasn't too sure about six little girls and me, so I invited Carrie and Melanie to stay over, too. We kicked the guys upstairs, made lots of food, and had a party. I always thought having a grown up sleep over would be fun, so I was glad for an excuse to party with my friends.

Surprisingly, I was able to fit ten candles onto one ice cream cone cupcake, and we had presents for the birthday girl (lots of Webkinz). The kids watched dvds in her bedroom, and we mommys meant to watch some Johnny Depp, but we talked all night and never even watched a movie. Knitting was done, though.

The next day was a big one, too. Before everyone left we had some banana pancakes and fruit and mmmm coffee. Then, the family came over to celebrate and give more Webkinz to the decade girl. Staying up until four, up before seven, and then having another birthday party wasn't too smart, but it turned out very well. We all had a great time. I can't wait for another awake over!

Lil' AR loves to bake and cook with me, so she decorated her own cake (and cupcakes for school tomorrow) That's alotta cake!

What a great time, with great friends!

Next post I'll have to tell all about the fo's I've got. They're piling up! Knit on, y'all!

Sock yarn and stuff

Pardon the terrible pictures, (Click on it to look closer) but I took the stripey ones late last night, right before I ripped the sock out, and rolled the yarn back into a ball.

The pattern is really neat, it's called the Treillage Socks, and I found it on Ravelry. I love the way the twisted knit stitches poke out in such a pretty pattern.

The first yarn I was using is Austermann Step with aloe and jojoba oil in it, and although I love the way it feels and looks, the yarn was just too slippery to do the twisted stitches. Especially on my metal needles.

So I ripped it out and started again today with some loverly yarn Rhoda sent me. It's hand dyed from See Jayne Knit. I think it might be an etsy shop. I love the colors, and the pattern is easier to do without the aloe and jojoba making it too slippery.

Well, SP starts his college classes tomorrow. I keep finding reasons to call him. I knew I'd miss him, but it's almost like I forget he's gone to school, and I keep thinking that kid should be home by now! lol I do think I'll have to dye some yarn maroon and gold. I got a bag, that I use for knitting (of course) and a tshirt with the college name on them. I am so going to be one of those parents that gets all of the stuff in her kid's school colors. At least he's only a couple of hours away, and will be visiting during the school year, and he'll be back for summer.

It's late, Lil AR should be in bed, but I told her she could play some mahJongg before bed, so I'd better get going!

Knit On All!!

The day after tomorrow .... yikes help!

Here I go again, life is crazy, so I ignore my blog. I've been knitting and spinning, since my big blister healed up on my hand.

I also painted my Turkish spindle. It is orange now (of course), and has sparkles and little black and orange moons and stars.

Here is a before and after picture, and a close up so you can see the little sparklies better.

I like it! That alpaca (I think - is that what it is Carrie?) is now started on this very spindle. It's so pretty; all black with green and blue shiny stuff in it. I like it, too!




The day after tomorrow is going to be a huge day for me. I have been freaking out all week. SP is going off to college! My little artist is all grown up! High school graduation seemed big, now this!!

The longest we've ever been away from each other is one week. Two times in his life, once last year, and once the year before. I am not worried about him, though. He's always been so independent. How did this happen? No, I mean, this is what we strive for when we decide to have children, right? Oh my gosh, my baby is a grown up! It's a good thing I'm immature enough for both of us. :)

Time to go knit some more, or spin, or pace around hoping for the best!!!!

Fiber Fest Pics and stuff

The fiber fest in Charlevoix was so much fun, but this year I only took two pictures there. The little cuties to the right, and another pic of them that's about the same. lol

I have fiber to show off, though. I got a spindle and superwash merino for my oldest son's girlfriend, and she loved it. I got some wool with tencel and some with bamboo, and alpaca with shiny stuff. I can't find the papers right now so I'm probably spelling things wrong, and I can't remember the shops they came from, but when I post about spinning with them, I'll let ya know where they came from. I also got a turkish spindle which is so cool.

Lil' AR got a pan flute and a llama finger puppet. We left the kids home, though. Carrie, Melanie, and I all needed a Mommy day.
**Warning**

Owie pictures ahead

Today, though, proved the fact that I am the Queen of Dumbasses.

We went out to MIL's house, and over to Crystal Mountain, our local ski resort. They have a couple of big slides set up on the mountain called the
Crystal Coaster. You ride up the chair lift, then down the slopes on carts. They have brakes to slow you down and to stop. The third time down, as I was totally beating Malcolm (No, you are not supposed to race) I had a WIPEOUT. Just before we started, I said I thought my cart felt funny. The brake didn't feel like the first two carts I had, but down I went. Fast, too! Then, at this huge curve, I slowed down before it, and flew out of my cart, slid down a ways on my bare elbow and knee, and even though I knew better, I put my hand down to stop myself. Then, as I was trying to find my shoe, and get back into my cart, I saw Mal pass me. I still got down right behind him, though. I would totally ride it again....yeah dumbass. I (of course) forgot my camera, but we tried to take some pics of it on the phone, but they weren't too great. Don't forget to click the pics and see 'em big. I don't think I'll be spinning that wool for a while. Man, I hope I can knit, though!

Knit on! (and stay safe - lol)

Who needs a title?

Ravelry is the most fun time sucker ever! I am starting to ignore other things for my new love, such as laundry and dishes.

I have been knitting, though. I finished the latest baby blanket. Which is a good thing, because the shower was yesterday. They know it's a girl, so let me tell ya, it was a pink shower. My blankie will stand out in that nursery. ;)

I also started a BYOB. I like it. I think I'll have to make some more when this one is done. The downer while starting this bag was my yarn mess. While I was winding the yarn, it had tangles, then my cat decided I was flinging yarn all over the place for her benefit, and ran off with the dangling end. More tangles. Then, the dog kept walking back and forth from the kitchen to the dining room. The only counter the ball winder fits well on is between the two rooms, so she got tangled in my yarn as well.

Fun times (that's sarcasm, folks)

We have been on the go all summer. Graduation, graduation party, Fourth of July, family reunions, baby shower....it never ends! The most exciting (to me) event coming up, though is a fiber festival! I can't wait! I am taking $$ this year and spending it, too! I've been saving just for this! Carrie, and our friend Melanie, (who needs a blog) and hopefully Carrie's mom (Cuz she's awesome) are all going, too. I will have my awesome new Ravelry button on. Fun times for real!

Holy Crap! That came out huge. Oh well, I am a proud Ravel-a-holic.

Ok, I am off to knit that bag, and try to decide if it's nice enough to go to the beach this afternoon. Have a great one!

I hate thinking of titles

Remember this blanket? The green and yellow one? Well it's gone. I frogged it. I could not make myself want to weave in so many ends, even though the colors looked awesome together. I restarted it, though, and now it is the blues blanket in the pictures to the left. I like it a lot more, and there won't be half as many ends to weave. Maybe that's why I like it so much more.



I'm also showing off LD's killer zap socks that I talked about in that same post. I finished them quite a while ago, but that was when I was being a lazy blogger, and I never posted the fo. MM dyed the wool for those, and I dyed the sock yarn for the other two pair that I am finally posting about.



The pink and yellow ones are for Hubby's Aunt. She asked for bright, stripy socks. They are bright alright! I want to keep them. It's just a plain stockinette sock, but oh, they are nice! If I do say so myself.



The green, purple, blackish, orange striped ones are for me, me, me! I love my handknit socks. I dyed that yarn, too. Actually, I made two skeins the same, so I could put one on my etsy shop, but my friend Melanie bought one before I could list it! I'm using the Monkey pattern. Love it! I know what people say about lace patterns and stripes, but I like how they turn out.

So, here are some super cute pictures from LD's field trip to a one-room school house. My friend Carrie sewed this awesome dress. She has a pic of her daughter wearing it for her field trip, and lucky us, LD's trip was just a bit later. There is a pic of her and her teacher (the one that knits) and her with her best friend.



I also won a bet against Hubby and got some sock yarn money the night before WWKIP day. I bought this Austermann Step that has Aloe and Jojoba Oil in it. Yes, I am a selfish knitter and will make socks for myself with it. The color is 0027 Afrika. It has orange. Orange is important when choosing sock yarn for myself. hehe



The baby blanket is for my nephew's baby that is due in August. I keep picking up the socks, though. I guess I should go work on the blanket. Deadlines and all that stuff.



I am in love with ravelry. It rocks. I keep looking for people I 'know'. If you read my blog, or if I comment on yours and I haven't found you yet, come be my friend. :D

Well, gotta go knit!

Bear with me

I am finally updating my template. It may look weird around here for a bit, sorry! I know I should have done this a long time ago, but all the copying and pasting! Oy!

Back soon with a better blog!! :)

Oh darn, I need a title

Yesterday, we celebrated World Wide Knit In Public Day at the park with a bunch of knitters. LD was my photographer, and even though the date on the pics say the 15th, it was actually the 14th. The same thing happened to the graduation pictures. (They all say the 9th, but it was really the 8th) I fixed it today.

Carrie was there, and Melanie, our knitting buddy, LD's third grade teacher (she also taught me and both of my boys) was there. I should do a post on her sometime; she's awesome. I have posted a little about her before.

The LYS owner brought yarn and there was a special braiding project to try. Unfortuately all of the pics of me knitting look too awful to post. I don't know why I can't just smile until the picture is over. I just have to start talking, or turn my head. Oh well.

It was a really nice, sunny day, but later after we came home there was another thunderstorm (we've had quite a few lately) and there was hail. Click the pics to see it bigger.

There was a real photographer there, too, for a little newspaper here, or something. I'm not sure, because while he or she was there, I was at the yarn shop with Melanie (red shirt in the pics). I had some sock yarn money burning a hole in my pocket. LD will be in the picture, though. That's just the way it goes. lol I did get some really cool looking Austermann Step, though. I'll snap a pic and show it off sometime.

Speaking of showing off....I have some more pics from graduation. My little SkaterPunk is an artist, and he had a showing in the front display case of his school. The art work behind these pictures is all his. Some of the pottery he had there was already removed, though. I am so proud! He asked me for some of his old work, and told me there was going to be a senior art show, he just didn't tell me it was him!! His class voted him most talented, and class rebel. Yeah!!

I stuck a couple of pics of him standing with part of his class, too, because they are just so funny to me. I always think of him as my little boy, but he is tall! As I was looking at all of the pictures from graduation, I realized that he is a head taller than everyone else. I think that's so cool. (He is easy to spot in each pic)

We went to his college orientation on Wednesday, and I would have had a really cool knitting story, if I weren't such a chicken. As Hubby and I were waiting for SP to get done with his student part of the day, I was looking around for a seat to get comfy and knit in, and there was this kid knitting. He was a cool kid, too, you could tell from the yarn he was using. hehe I tried to sneak a pic of him, but none would turn out. Hubby said I should just go tell him I'm a blogger (or crazy knit addict or something) and ask for a pic. His parents were there, and he was probably 18, since he'll be a college freshman, but I chickened out. As they were leaving, though, he saw me knitting, and smiled and gave a nod to my project. I told SP that he should make friends with this kid, since he's obviously very cool. ;)

Well, enough bragging, I am working on four projects right now (sweater, baby blanket, and 2 prs. of socks). I have a list of things my loved ones want, too. I joined ravelry today, though, so who knows when I'll have time to knit. Who'm I kidding? I'll make time!

Knit on!!

Look what I have

a high school graduate!!

Now you know where I've been; busy and stressing out! Real post soon, I swear!!

"Holy Crow!!!!"

"Holy Crow!" To quote a good friend. I haven't posted in almost a month! I have been seriously overwhelmed with life, and when I get like this, I avoid everything, and just do what I have to do to get through the day. I seem to avoid the things I like to do the most, too, which is just weird. I haven't even responded to the nice comments everyone left on my last (long ago) post.

I haven't been avoiding knitting, though. I finished the scarf that I knit for a thank you gift, and then sent it away without taking a picture of it. I reminded myself plenty of times to get a pic first, but I did it anyway. It turned out really nice, too. I folded it in half, and seamed it. It made a really long reversible scarf that will be warm, warm, warm. That is a good thing for Michigan because I swear it never gets warm enough here.

Then, that sweet little baby that got these handknits here, is so cute I just had to knit her one more thing, so she got some bright orange booties knit from handdyed wool. Her mommy didn't care that they'd have to be hand washed, and they are awesome. Thank goodness I remembered to take a picture this time.

During Spring Break the kids and I dyed some yarn, and I started a pair of Killer Zap socks for LD. They are bright! MM chose the colors for that yarn, and for being red/green color blind the kid did good. lol. LD didn't like the way her yarn turned out, but I showed it off at knit group, and the earthy tones were complimented by other people there. I did some sock yarn, and the acid green and hot pink look really cool with the black. I will be having some cool looking socks from that skein when I find the right pattern.

Here are some new pics of my sweater, which is coming along. Too bad I didn't finish it before this week. Michigan is cold again! Surprise! I could be wearing it now.

The green and yellow thing in the pic set is a mistake rib entrelac baby blanket called Bliss, it was on MagKnits, but luckily I found the pattern somewhere else online. I can't seem to find it to link right now, but it's out there somewhere.

Lastly, we have some felted needle holders. I made up some samples for my knitting class that starts tomorrow. The kids will get to choose the wool colors they want, knit them up, felt them, and keep the needles they made the holders with. Unfortunately the class is only for four weeks. I really think that is way too short, but this is a quick project, that uses almost no yarn. The little black and blue bits of yarn next to the orange holder are all you need. I thought I was very clever to have a sample of each stage: knit, seamed, and shrunk. Then they were so quick I just had to make an orange one for myself. ;)

Well, I have rambled enough, I guess. I have dishes (yuck!) and a Killer Zap toe to kitchener. Then, you know I have to start the second sock right away. We don't want any SSS here!

Hope every one's doing well. I need to get around to the blogs and see what every one's knitting!

Blah ~ Whiney Post Ahead

Hopefully everyone has been wondering where I've been. I've been here, waiting for winter to end. It is so gray, and yucky. I haven't even been lurking on blogs. I haven't answered any comments from weeks ago, and I owe two memes. Bad blogger! I have to snap out of it and get back to being a compulsive blog reading, blog posting, comment queen!

I get so depressed this time of year. It feels like winter will never end, money's tight (as usual), and the kids and I are sick to death of being in this house! Luckily, the people at the library are very nice, and help us to find books to get through the boredom that is festering around here. We've been crafting, too, though. That seems to be the only thing that is saving my sanity. Check out the stitch markers I made. Skulls! LD got me these beads. I also made her a bracelet with a skull as the center piece. She is really into pirate stuff right now, and is compulsively watching the Pirate's of the Caribbean movies.

Here's something to cheer me up! Carrie made me this sweet little bunny, almost totally out of real bunny! My picture is yucky, so go check her post out. I saw it and left a comment, thinking "Someone must have done something nice for her", not realizing that it was me. That put a smile on my face.

This sweater here, is making me feel pretty good, too. Thankfully, the pictures are a little blurry and you can't see how blah I am. I am doing the longer sleeved version in wool, and I plan on wearing it all next winter. I will definitely have to do a real photo shoot when it's done. It is my first ever sweater. I am no longer a sweater virgin. (I'm going to be getting some weirdos here, aren't I?)

I knit another pair of fiber trend clogs, and sent them off to my SIL without taking a picture. *smacks forehead* Then I started a

scarf. I have to decide if I want to leave it 8 inches wide, or fold and seam it to 4 inches wide. If I seam it, it will be reversible. I like that, but is 4 inches to narrow for a scarf? It's going to be pretty long. Hmmmmm. Let me know what you all think. Of course, the recipient won't need it until next winter. I am knitting it as a thank you to someone. It feels good to do that, but I don't really know this person well, and (shame on me) I don't really like this person very much. Of course, if I got to know her, maybe I'd like her. Who knows?

OK, so I'm sad, and sick of winter, among other things, and I need to know if 4 inches is too narrow for a scarf. So, is it? Let me know what you think, so maybe I can finish the darn thing before June. lol

I hope all you other knitters are doing better than I am. Maybe I should go blog browsing and find out!

Wool Socks, Warm Feet!

I love handknit socks. So does LD. The red/black ones on the bottom of the pic are hers. I finished them last night, and she's wearing them to school today.
I've been able to wear a brand new pair of socks to knitting every week for three weeks in a row! The stripey ones are jaywalkers, the yarn is some Opal sock yarn that I got from LarjMarj. Pretty springy colors! The greenish/blue ones are Killer Zap socks, and I used Lion Brand Fisherman's wool dyed with kool ade. These are so warm! (Amy's patterns are awesome!) The blue ones are a worsted pattern I found somewhere online. Just a little cable, but I can't remember where it came from I do know that they are Paton's worsted weight wool.
LD's socks are the Killer Zap pattern with black Paton's wool and red/purple kool ade dyed LB Fisherman's wool.
You can also see my tidal wave socks that I knit from the ToFutsies that Rhoda sent me.
I want to knit more socks, but I have to make another pair of slippers. My SIL sent me some wool, and she will get a pair of slippers soon, but first I have to go mop and vacuum again. Last time I wrote that I was going to clean the floors, it worked, I did it, so before I touch those needles and cast on I am going to clean the floors and start some laundry. Man, my life is soooooo exciting!

Knit on!!

I'm back!

Actually, I haven't been anywhere. I've been doing the normal every day run, run, run. School, home, store, hubby's basketball games...throw in some knitting here and there, and that's about all.



I have two pairs of socks almost done (both for me). I think the jaywalkers are going to be really close to matching, and I didn't even try. Just luck. I knitted two more fake isle hats. LD chose the blue/tan yarn for herself, and I knitted her up a little hat. Next winter both of us are going to have some thrummed mittens. Carrie will show me how to do it. ;)

Friday, Carrie invited Melanie (our blogless knitter friend) and I over, and we knitted, and ate, and looked at patterns all day while the kids were at school. That was fun.

On the 24th of February, SP turned 18. Wow! 18 years old. I'm ready for people to say "You don't look old enough to have an 18 year old!" More people used to be surprised to see how old my kids were, but now every one's like "Yep, cool." lol So, happy birthday to him! It's a big one!!

We are having a snow day. Again.. This school never calls a snow day. I did get to go back to bed for a while until LD let me know it was time to eat, and wondered if she should wait for me to help her cook eggs and toast. Since she's only 9, yes, I got up and cooked some eggs and toast to dip in them. She does know not to touch the stove without me. She is a pretty good helper in the kitchen, though.

Now she and MM are playing marbles with a big tape circle on the living room floor. At least they are playing, and it's not too loud. Maybe today, I'll get around to checking on my fave bloggers. I haven't really felt like messing around on the computer.

Before I even touch one of those socks, I need to clean the floors in this place! I have to! There, now that I typed it, maybe I'll actually do it. Maybe I should get to it soon, of course, I can't vacuum the carpet with marbles and tape and kids sprawled all over it. Oh well, maybe cold feet matter more. ;) ;) hehe

Have a great day, hope you find tons of time to knit!

And the winner is ....

mzpookie. Since I don't have an email address for you, you're going to have to get in touch with me! :) Thank you all for your guesses, everyone got one entry, except for amy and punkin. They guessed correctly, and each of them got two entries. I guess it was mzpookie's lucky day, though. She gets a sock knitting prize. Lil AR helped me choose the prize, and picked the yarn. I made the stitch markers, though. Oh, yeah, the year was 1989. Hubby was only 16 when that picture was taken. Whatta cutie. It was those dimples that got me!

Speaking of sock knitting. That's pretty much what I did yesterday. We had a snowday (again). The kids were sapping my computer time, so I got down to the toe of my new Jaywalker sock, courtesy of Marj. It is so cute and stripy. I do love the jaywalkers! Lookit that adorable stitch marker on the back of the sock! Love it!

Well, I'd better get busy doing some housework, or knitting on that sock. Guess which one is most likely to happen. hehe

Knit on!!

You love me; You really love me!

Lookie what I got! Rhoda, Carrie, and Marce all gave me a 'You make my day award'! Thank you, Guys!! I was hoping somebody would ~ hehe

So, I am giving it back to all of them, and these people. I made a list, and I had way more than 10, so if you're not on here, and you're a knitblogger, you're still on the list in my heart, but man...that's a lot of linking!! (Lazy Girl!)

So in no particular order:

• Del





• Boogie





• Noolie





• Marj





• Deborah





• Wool Winder





• Jane





• Kelli





• Kristi





• Linz

Go check out their blogs. Some are funny, some are moms, all are knitters, and when I read them, I feel like I'm catching up with a good friend. Check out the three that named me, too. They also make my day!

Knit picture time! I finished the bunny. It is so darn cute! I probably had enough of the bunny wool to do the inside of the ears, but I was chicken, and plied it with some sock yarn, just to make sure.

The other pic is of some goodies that came in the mail for me recently. I won a contest at Marj's blog! She sent me the cutest stitch markers, and some of my favorite candies. I don't know how she knew, but really my faves! Sock yarn! You know I love me some sock yarn. Thank you so much, Marj!! I love it all!

I also sold some sock yarn on my shop, so I ordered rovings. I got the Sunset Fire Sparkle (orange), and Desert Flower Sparkle (blueish) Superwash Merino from The Ranch. It is so soft, and sparkly, I love it! I'm going to spin them seperately then ply them together. The awesome Alien Autopsy (black, purple, green, and white) Superwash Merino came from Amy's Babies. It's really soft, too, and the colors are great!

OK, time to go get ready for tomorrow. Have a great weekend! Don't forget to enter my contest, if you haven't. It's a sock knitting surprise if you win!!

Post #200 Contest!!

This is my 200th post!! I can't believe it, but that's what it says, so to celebrate, I am having a fun little contest. The prize is sock knitting related. Everyone who leaves a comment guessing when Hubby graduated from high school gets one entry into the contest, and anyone who guesses correctly, gets an extra entry! So, here is Hubby's Mom's favorite Senior Picture of Hubby. If you guess what year he graduated, you might win!!I just wish I could find a copy of his fave sr. pic, he was very cool in his leather jacket. lol. I'll pick a winner in one week, Monday February 11th, so get guessing! Oh, yeah, there may be a couple of hints in the 2006 posts, but checking out that style might help, too. ;)

p.s. Even if you know me, and know what year Hubby graduated, leave a comment for an entry!! I'm talking to you!

More Bunny!

Well, yesterday it was 43 f, and rainy. Lovely weather for January in Michigan. The snow was gone, and I was happy!! This morning it is negative 1 f, lots of ice and snow, and it's a snow day. Even Hubby stayed home from work because the roads were so bad. I don't even want to know what the wind chill factor is. It's cold!!

I have been knitting, though. I finished the second pinwheel blanket, booties, and hat, I just have to finish the last icord tie for the booties, and maybe embroider some flowers on the blankie.

I also started a bunny from Last Minute Knitted Gifts. It is going to be for the baby I knitted the purple striped pinwheel blanket for. Her first birthday is coming up. The inner ears are going to be knit out of real bunny wool. I still have to spin it, though. lol. The roving is in the picture by the bunny's head. Carrie gave it to me, and I will return whatever I don't use, because it is some special stuff!!Nope it's all gone. :)

And I made a garterlac dishcloth with the striping cotton from Lily's Sugar and Cream. I love the way the stripes went into the little squares. I got some more of the cotton just to knit some more of these.

Ok, LD has to use the computer to go here. Fun site. Time sucker, though. :) Then she also has a school project to research on the computer, so I guess I'll get out of the way!

Be back soon with my 200th post! It'll be a contest, so stay tuned!!

p.s. if you want to see some pics from the fun spinning class Carrie and I did, she has some posted here.

Just add a little bunny!

(Yes, I am tired of thinking of titles ~ lol)

Well, we did it. We (Carrie and I) tried to hook another generation on spinning. I think it's working. *Mwah-ha-ha* It must be, because when I went into the school the next morning moms, and kids were coming up to tell me how cool spinning is, and asking wonderful questions.

I do have some tips, if anyone is crazy enough to show spinning to about 20 kids at once. Number one is predraft the heck out of the wool. I did a little, but next time, there will be pencil rovings, all ready to spin, because some kids (the little perfectionists) didn't like the thick yarn they were ending up with. I had a hard time 'getting' drafting when I started, too.

Another tip is having a lot of grown up helpers, even if they don't know how to spin. We had the teacher, and another mom, and LD. She was a great helper, and she loved that she was allowed to go to the other third grade classroom, while all of her friends had to do a writing assignment. Her teacher said that she's such a good student, she could catch up later. Bless her heart.

On Wednesdays, the third graders have the option to stay in for lunch recess, and knit. I go in for about 1/2 an hour and help. The other day, though, after our knitting time, Carrie and I went over to Mr. D's class, and just jumped right into the spinning thing. Carrie saved my bacon with a little speech about wool, and how old spindles are. I didn't even think about how to start, so here's a great big "Thank You!" to her!

LD's teacher is Mrs. D, and the other third grade teacher is her husband. They are both so great, but I love that Mrs. D is so crafty. She's the super nice teacher that gave me two sweater kits. See, nice lady!

After we stayed in Mr. D's class for about an hour, running around helping kids, we went next door, and did the same thing for Mrs. D's class. Carrie had to run, so I asked her to give her little intro first. Sweetie, sweetie ~ what a great friend.

This morning, I said something like "If I ever do that again...." and Carrie said "You'll be doing it next year, because my daughter will be in that class." Then, Melanie, our other knitting buddy, said the same thing. hehe

I was so tired Wednesday night, though. Whew! I don't know how teachers do it. At bedtime, I realized that I must have been tired when I got up that morning, since I had on two different socks! I've never done that before. At least they were knit out of the same yarn, just two different patterns. Trying to be a good blogger, I snapped a pic.

Carrie, Melanie, Riki, and I decided to have a quick little knit meet this morning, and I was spinning some of my Christmas wool when Carrie pulled out a baggy of bunny softness. I was petting it, when she said I could keep it! "Really?" I said "Sure, he'll make more." said Carrie. Hehe ~ so I started adding it to what I was already spinning, and wow! It is so soft, and warm, and pretty. I love it. It's the white fluff there by the spindle, and added on to the other wool. It is indescribably soft. Is that a word? It should be, if it's not.

Ok, laundry's calling. The dishes are done, though. At least I can knit or spin while the washer's going. Be back soon! Contest on the way, too ~ Don't forget. :)

edit: here's a post of Carrie's with a pic of the softest bunny in the world. (scroll down a little)

Too Busy To Think Of A Title

Busy, busy, busy. That's me lately. I keep thinking things will slow down, and I'll have more time to do stuff, but when I finally get time, I'm too tired to do anything, but knit or laze around.

Tomorrow, the third graders are going to have a spinning lesson. The teacher is so excited, and so am I, but now I'm starting to get a bit nervous. They made their cd spindles yesterday, and the kids all had to show me when I went to get LD from school. On Wednesdays the kids can stay in from recess, and the teacher, her friend, and I help them knit, then after that, when the rest of the kids come in, the teacher reads out loud and they can keep knitting, if they listen to the story. Tomorrow, when we're done with the knitting, it's time to spin. They each have a baggie of wool, (from Boogie's shop) and we'll see how it goes. Luckily, I won't be the only grown up there!

I finally finished the picot bind off on the pinwheel blankie for LD's friend's new baby sister. She'll be here in a few weeks. I have one bootie done, and the hat almost done. They are so cute, and soft. I knit the hat a little bigger this time, since babies heads only seem small. Hubby saw the bootie, and said "That wouldn't have fit any of our babies" Yeah, they were big, but the bootie is stretchy, so I think it'll be ok.

Of course, I thought my mom's Christmas slippers were big enough, too, and I ended up giving them to our 4 yr. old niece. Mom's new slippers are done now. I just have to let them dry, and give them to her. I shrunk 'em yesterday, but now I'm afraid they might be a little too big. I guess we'll see about that, too!

I finished the socks for Hubby's Aunt, and gifted them to her. She loved them, and I got a big hug, but I forgot to take a picture of the finished socks, and the cute little label I printed out for them. Sheeze! Good thing I got a new camera for Christmas, huh?

I am almost on my 200th post. If I was ever on here, I'd be past already, but you know; busy! I have a little contest planned. LD and I went to the yarn shop, after her first ever basketball practice to pick out a little prize. :) LD does not like running, and I thought she'd hate b-ball for all of the running, but she loves it! She's been waiting forever to be old enough to start. Poor kid, spending years watching her brother (MM) play ball, and watching her dad on the 'old guys league'. Finally, it's her turn, and although they don't play against other schools yet, she's loving it. The only bad thing is practice is Saturday mornings at 8!

I have been awful about answering my comments. I apologize. Busy, or lazy, whatever....I promise to do better, and to find time to stop being a lurker, and become a comment leaving addict on everyone else's blogs again soon.

Gotta run. Things to do ~ Stuff to knit!

See ya soon, with a fun little contest to celebrate my 200th post.

What you been up to?

Well, tomorrow is the day. The kids go back to school, and I am not ready. We've been staying up way too late, and sleeping in, and doing pretty much nothing for two weeks!

I've been doing a lot of kakuro, and sudoku puzzles. When I was a kid, my mom would get tired of my noise, and sit me down with a puzzle book. Kakuro and sudoku were called cross sums, and to the nines in those books, but they are the same puzzles, and I still love 'em! I was going to put some links, but if you search those names, there are a billion to choose from. I guess if I run out of books, I can do them online. Then, my Brain Age game for the DS has sudoku built in, so I guess I'm all set.

I've been knitting, too. My mom's Christmas slippers, the second pair (the ones that'll fit - oops) are almost done. I just have to do the second sole, and felt them. I'm finally binding off on the baby blanket. I think I'll redo the pink hat and booties with the border yarn. It's white with little bits of blue, green, purple, pink, green, and yellow. Then, I can gift the matching set. I also got yarn for Hubby's Aunt's birthday socks. I have to start them soon. Her birthday was December 30th. Oops. There are the nephew's clogs. Huge footed boys! I forgot to take an after-felted picture, though! Oops again! hehe

The Christmas decorations are packed away, and just need to be stuck back up into the rafters in the garage. That's Hubby's job. I just stand in the way saying "Don't fall!" and "Do you need help?".

Today is the SP's girlfriend's birthday. I just realized a bit ago, that she is older than I was when I got married. Wow! I feel old! She knitted SP the cutest blanket for Christmas. I should see if they'll mind if I post a pic.

I haven't been reading blogs. Oh man, I haven't even wanted to be on the computer, after the really smart (sarcasm) thing I did. I wanted to get all the songs on my mp3 player in the order I wanted them, so I moved them to the computer, changed names, and numbered them, and a bunch of stuff. Then, I put them back on my player, and they were still playing alphabetically, but not the way I wanted them to. So, Hubby says did you hit apply after changing the info? Ugh! 168 songs. Yep, I did it again! I made it work. Pretty much. It's good enough, anyway!!

So, that's what I've been up to. How about all of you? I'll be around to the blogs soon to see!

Knit on!!

p.s. I almost forgot it 48 degrees. In Michigan. In January!