Non Knitting News...

This is going to be a boring post with no knitting and no pictures, but I just have to share some news I'm very happy about!


First of all I don't think I ever mentioned that the guy who shot my husband was given 20 years by the judge. We were very happy about that. The judge said he wanted to make a point, and I'm very glad he did!


Second of all I have decided to go back part time. I was trying to think of everything I could to work out my schedule so I could be home with my son after school and at least one day during the weekend. I work retail, so it's pretty essential that I be there on the weekend. And especially essential since I was full time. Being full time meant my life was theirs and not my own. So in a way I took my life back. I changed my availability and told them I could no longer work Sundays. It will be less money, but I know I'll be happier. I'll just have to cut back on a few things each week, start cutting coupons, and buying less yarn (eek), but I'm determined to make it work. I'm also planning on putting a few things on eBay, and possibly start an eBay yarn store in the future to supplement my income. Like I said I'm determined!!! :) I said there were no pictures, but I have to post one, the reason for it all....

Thank you Secret Pal!!

My Secret Pal is the best!! She sent me a great package yesterday! It couldn't have come at a better time because I had a very rough day at work, and when I came home and saw the package I almost instantly felt better! She sent the most beautiful, huge hank of Interlacements yarn - Rick Rack II. I cast on for the feather and fan shawl last night. I love how it's coming out!



The colors are charcoal gray, light gray, and purple... so pretty!



A close up of the stitch pattern.


Also included in the package was a cute candle holder and some yummy sour candies. Tied around the yarn was a gorgeous ribbon, here's a pic...





My pal also revealed to me who she was! She's Amy from Knit it Yourself. As I was reading her blog I realized she expecting! That makes everthing even more wonderful! I mean I couldn't even get off the couch during my first trimester much less put together a package and get it sent off! Thank you for everything Amy! I love it all!!!

So far I stink at knitting lace!

Kiri, a beautiful mohair lace shawl.. can't you tell?


I don't know what my problem is, but lace knitting has kicked my butt! I have started and restarted 3 different lace projects with 3 different types of yarn more times than I care to admit! I really want to learn, but I'm just having so much trouble! Argh! Ok, just had to vent. Maybe I'll try one more time??

I'm such a slacker!

A blogging slacker that is! I've been knitting, just haven't been keeping up with the blog. I think it's because I have to fight more and more for computer time with the kids! They're only 2 and 5! I can't imagine when they're teenagers. I guess we'll have to have to have a computer for each room!! :) Anyway, I finished all the regular knitting on Jenny...





I've been working on my second sock pal sock...





And I've been working on my Hourglass Sweater...





Oh! And I finished the back of my Debbie Bliss Grace Sweater. It's seemed to take forever!!





Sorry about the poor quality of pictures taken on my carpet at night. No creative photography here. Well, the children are fighting again. Anyone out there have a clue on how to stop little boys from fighting?? I'd better go!

Wow!! Sorry it's been so long....

I've been having to fight the kids to use the computer lately!! I think I need to get another modem, so they can use the other computer. Well, not much has been going on really. Just working a lot lately. I finally have a day off today. Yeah! Here are some pictures of things I've finished, some yarn I've bought, and some things I'm working on...



One Broadripple Koigu sock finished for my Sockpal2za pal.



One Skein Wonder - Knit with Debbie Bliss Cashmerino



The back of my One Skein Wonder - Unfortunately it's a little tight.



The back of Rowan Jenny - Knit with Rowan Handknit DK.



One front of Jenny with the back - I've decided to make a short sleeve cardi.



I went to the The Whole Nine Yarns in Woodstock. I got Debbie Bliss Alpaca 2 book and two skeins of Artyarns Supermerino in a pretty light blue color.



I also started The Hourglass sweater from the Last Minute Knitted Gifts book. I'm using the Purple Cashmerino I bought a while ago. I think I'm going to like it!

Well that's all for now! I'll post more pictures later of some other things I'm working on. I promise to update more often!! :)

Home from Michigan!

It's good to be home! The boys and I got in late last night. Our flight was delayed about 2 1/2 hours because of Dennis. It was probably a good thing because when I did get home the rain was gone! I was pretty lucky to have missed it all. It was beautiful in Michigan every day, the weather was just perfect! Here are a few pics....



Jake on my dad's boat on Fenton Lake.



Bradley and Jake on the boat.



Purple Koigu sock #2 on the boat.



Bradley and Jake at the Detroit Zoo.


I could've taken plenty more pictures, but my batteries died. I did get to visit one yarn shop - Heritage Spinning and Weaving. They had a lot of sock yarn and a lot of yarn they hand-dyed. I ended up getting some lace weight hand-dyed alpaca. It's so pretty! When I get new batteries I'll take a pic of my goodies. I also got to visit my brother and go to his church Orchard Grove. I had never seen him give a sermon before, and it was awesome! He was so great, it makes me so proud to have such a smart brother! :)

Well, that's about it. It's so great to be home! Rex has definitely grown! I'll post more pics soon! :)

I'm obsessed!

I have been knitting my Broadripple socks non stop! My house is a total mess, for some reason I just can't tear myself away from them! I'll definitely have to make a pair for me. And I thought I could get away with only using two skeins of Koigu, nope it's definitely going to need three. So I need to run to Roswell, which isn't too close to get more yarn (and maybe some more for me?). Here's a couple of progress pics....



Not on my foot.



On my foot.


I was a little worried that they were turning out too big, but thankfully when I tried them on I realized they were fine! Well, I'd better go... write more later!!

Finally!

I got batteries for my camera! I actually stole them out of Bradley's Leapster! :) First is my box from my Secret pal! She was so creative! I wish I had just an ounce of her creativity! :)



Inside is a card, dark chocolate, needles, and a lilac scented candle.



The needles are handmade and have the cutest little sheepies on top!



Here's a close up of the sheep - I just love them!


Again I just wanted to say how much I loved everything! Thanks Secret Pal!!


I started my Sockpal-2-za socks the other day. I'm doing the Broadripple pattern for Koigu. I'm using the blue green Koigu (P531) from my stash...





I have two little boo boos. I tried fixing one, but I think I made it worse. So hopefully my sock pal won't mind. Maybe she will think it adds character! :)






This is how it looks on my arm.


I have also been working on Jenny from the Rowan Magazine #37. Only I'm doing the eyelets, instead of beads. I think it's coming out ok so far...



I'm using the Rowan yarn I got from Geez Lweez.


I also placed my first order with Knit Happens to get the Rowan magazine and to get some sock yarn...



Lorna's Laces in the Georgetown colorway.


I can't wait to knit some socks with this yarn! Speaking of socks, I dyed my own sock yarn with Kool-aid! I think it came out pretty cute. I used Grape, Black Cherry, and Orange Kool-aid, and the yarn is from Knit Picks. I used Diana's dyeing method that's on her blog Streets and YO's. I also can't wait to knit these socks! Here's a couple pics of the yarn...








Well, I think that's all for now. Today is my last day off before I leave for Michigan to visit my dad. I can't wait to scope out all the yarn shops around him! I'll leave you with one last picture...



Rex - he'll be 12 weeks tomorrow.


I'll really be glad when the puppy stage is over, I just know he'll be a great dog one day. He grabbed my Koigu sock today and I about had a heart attack! Thankfully no damage was done. I'll definitely be washing them before I send them off though! Well, I'm doing much better this week. I'm feeling more confident that the judge will see that justice is served. Dh and I were talking and I think even he was shocked with the verdict. Anyway I'm trying not to think about it too much because it really is out of our hands. Write more later!!

An emotional week.

I had just wrote a long post and lost it. What a pain! I'll write the short version...


My husband's trial was this past week for the man who shot my husband last year while he was performing a search warrent. Unfortunately the man was found Not Guilty because the jury believed he was justified because he thought he was being robbed. I was shocked and hurt and I still am. I just wanted to scream at them would it still be justified if he had killed my husband or shot him more than twice. I just don't understand it, and I don't think I ever will. It's been a hard week, and I'm just sad at the way it ended. They did convict him on a weapons charge, which really makes no sense. But we'll see what the judge decides to do. Hopefully he'll give him the max on that.


To my secret pal... I just wanted to thank you so much for the package! I loved everything, and I'll take a picture as soon as I get batteries for my camera. I haven't knit much this week, I need to get back to it, it's my therapy! :) Write more later.

Florida - Part 2

Well, I said I would do part two the next day, but it didn't quite work out that way. Work, kids, hubby and puppy have kept me pretty busy. And I still haven't unpacked yet!! Ok... let's see where did I leave off? Oh, it was Bradley's birthday and then the next day we took off for Sanibel Island.



Unfortunately it was raining and windy because of Tropical Storm Arlene.



See the sunny Gulf of Mexico?



Here we are crossing the sunny Sunshine Skyway bridge!



I finished my sock on the way, but realized I wouldn't have enough for another one. :(



I worked on Grace some, but kept dropping my cable needle (it was driving dh crazy!), so I put it away. I really need to learn how to cable without a needle!



I took this while waiting for dh to check in the hotel, it's one of the rooms, but not the one we stayed in.



The rain stopped for a moment, so we walked out to see the beach... not very pretty!


We ended up eating at the first Cheeburger Cheeburger, and then went to the local hangout (sports bar) to watch the Braves game (they lost). The next day we woke up to this....



What a difference! Unfortunately (or fortunately) we woke up at 10:00 am and had to check out at 11:00, so we really didn't get a chance to enjoy the beach.



We ate at Amy's Over Easy Cafe for breakfast, the food was great! And it was decorated so cute!!


After breakfast we went to the cutest needlework shop - Geez Lweez.



They carried many different types of yarn from Rowan to Lion's Brand. It was pretty cool!



This is what I ended up getting... 7 skeins of Rowan Handknit Cotton to make Jenny (short sleeve) from Rowan #37.



And here we are leaving the island. Too bad we couldn't have stayed a week! :)



Since I gave up on the other sock I decided to get my 2nd rainbow sherbet sock out!


Well, That was our trip. We did end up staying another night on St. Pete beach, but I don't have any pictures. We drove around a lot exploring different places we'd never been. I can't wait to go again! Well, not much else! Write more later!