Let There Be a New Post Already

Just a quick post...April's done and so is on of my UFOs:



I can not believe I actually finished this! Thanks Kat!


Done


Done



And done.

The Mary Poppins Scarf, knit on size 10 needles with an unidentified worsted weight yarn bought long ago. I love this scarf :)

I also finished a few squares for Gracious Parcels Firefly



I bought this little "blocker" at my local grocery store for about $3 and it's perfect for blocking small items like these. I was a little pleased with myself for getting this.



All folded, it uses almost no space.






The squares are 7" each knitted from Encore Worsted, my favorite for this project as they need to be warm and washable. I've decided to use this ongoing project to learn and practice new stitches and some familiar favorites.

There's a contest over at Trek's! Just leave her a comment and spread the word! She's going for comments here, so get on over there and leave one!

Let There be Winners!

This was so much fun! 1st Bloggiversary, 1st Random drawing and 1st Prize issuance!

And the winners are:



First prize is for Bridget of the Ravelld-Sleave


Second prize is for Krista the Coffee Spaz


This is fun! I'll have to do it again sometime. Thank you all for your kind comments and well wishes. I wouldn't be able to get through these days as happily as I can knowing all of you. You make my tribulations seem so small and I thank you.

Let There Be Contest!

Today is Knit and Run's blogiversary! I never dreamed this would be so much fun and become such an important part of my life. Because life has weirded me out beyond my ability to think, I will simply ask you either leave a comment or email me (in the sidebar) to win. There are two prizes to be had, purchased especially for you, not some smelly old yarn I had laying around that I don't want. I'll use a random number generator to pick the 2 winners on Saturday 12 noon EST. After which, I'll post the winners and wax philisophical on how knitting and blogging has enriched my life.


Prize #1 is Art Yarns Silk Rhapsody Color #101 70/30 Mohair/Silk 2 Skeins 100g - 260 yds each




Prize #2 is Louet Gems Superfine Fingering Weight 100% Merino in Willow 2 Skeins 50g - 185 yds each and a mini sock blocker with a pattern to make the mini sock that fits it



Good luck!

Enough of That Whining, Time for Fun

Read my VisualDNA™ Get your own VisualDNA™

Thank you all for your kind words and encouragement as I transition from the land of the Movers and the Shakers to the land of the job seekers. Don't feel sorry for me, I'll be working through the end of summer and I got a really nice package. I may even get some time off if I'm lucky. I'm just amazed at the things I think about under duress. I secretly envisioned myself sitting in a clean house, both fridgies fully stocked, nothing to do but knit and blog.

Now for the fun part. Thursday is my blogiversary and to celebrate, I'm throwing a party contest. I have 2 nice yarny prizes, I just have to figure out what the contest will be. One will definitely be a random draw simply because it's simple. Like me.

Random thought while contemplating what I want to be when I grow up:
If nuts are found in a nutshell, why isn't there salt water in a seashell?

I Can't Eat Friday or Miter Miter Sticks on Fire

Spring has sprung here in Florida too! Not really, it's been spring here since forever. I don't even know what the botanical name is for this flower. I only know it's called a Devil's Horn. I can grow them but not name them. This one was given to me by my MIL about 3 years ago. It was dying. It died. Or so I thought.

It "hibernates" for weeks, sometimes months, then out of the dirt sprouts this tiny bit of a plant. Its root is really a bulb that keeps coming back. Very cool.

An ax fell gently at work today. Every employee was gathered and given the news together. I couldn't help but look around the room and study the many faces I have become so familiar with these past years. I wanted to cry. I didn't though, not a good display of emotion in this particular situation. I started thinking how much I was going to miss so many of these people. I have a tightness in my chest and am on the verge of tears. My family has that be nice to mommy or she'll melt look. What's going to happen to the morning routine? I have 2 kids to safely deliver to 2 schools. Then I realize worse things can happen in life. So, I look to the knit side of things. Also, a concert doesn't hurt.

B and I are going to see The Flaming Lips tomorrow! I know this will cheer me up.

Then I started to think how much I like to eat. I'm not a big eater by any means any more, but I've been known to scarf down 3 donuts with my coffee once in a blue moon.
But in times like these, when most folks say they are more prone to eat more than usual, I can not. This is not good for me, but I can't help it. We are being treated very generously, but this also brings a major life change along with emotional ties that must be broken. I must find something that will cheer me up and keep me cheerful, because I can't stand to be around myself when I feel down. No. Good.

So, I was reading blogs to catch up on the latest and realized that there is much Mitering going on. It all started when The Mothers of Miter let loose their creativity on us, thus encouraging many Miters to be born. Or should I say worn? Cara has been knitting a blanket of many many colors and I so enjoy watching it grow and change. It reminds me of how I enjoyed watching her log cabin grow too. I was fascinated by it. I wanted to get excited about a project that would just make me happy to work on no matter how large or small it would be.

Then I read Wendy's blog and she too, is Mitering away at a project I'm also intrigued by. The thing I noticed in reading these blogs is, how much fun they seem to be having with these projects. I need to find a project that makes me feel happy.

I can't remember where I saw more Miters, but I did.

And thanks to power of positive blogging, I landed a project albeit small, that makes me grin! It isn't a miter, but I do have yarn in the stash slated for some.
I must be sure to remove the dime from the Devil's Horn, I may just need it. What were we told? Oh yes, knit on.

Pals, Yarn and Wishing

A long overdue thank you goes my to my SSP in the Yarn Focus Challenge.

Nancy, you spoiled me with yarn and toys that I simply adore!

I've wanted to try Hemp since I first saw it! Stop that you! You know who you are. I'm thinking of knitting a tote from this, as well as, a table runner in a nice lacy pattern. Has anyone knit with hemp before? This generous amount, Thank you Nancy, will allow me plenty of ideas! If anyone has knit with this, I'd love to hear your input! The candy Nancy sent WAS very yummy. Nancy, was that made from cactus the box is long gone. It's a local treat and I love sampling local treats.

The sheepies are just adorable, The Pez dispenser is on my most used knitting bag already and the big guy talks! Linus thinks the sheep is talking to him so he's very happy to have a new friend see? He's pleased as hail.



Nancy, thanks so much for making my first secret pal swap so much fun! It's also nice to have a new cyberbud. Mwah!

Another long overdue thanks goes to Tani for sending me some yarn to make baby items and chemo caps.



I always believe what goes around, comes around. We reap what we sew. One good turn deserves another. Tani sent this so others would end up feeling warm and loved. So the yarn came from her neck of the woods to FL, will be knit up and sent back to her neck of the woods to warm little heads at a children's hospital where the mom of one of my buds in my knitting group works. Small world huh? And if that weren't enough, Tani has won herself some yarny goodness from a contest she entered. Yep, it went back around. Thank you Tani. Mwah!

Another pal of mine is having a contest! You still have time to get to FKD'sand wish her a happy blogiversary and be entered to win yarny prizes! Her knits alone are worth the click!

Enough of all this gushy stuff! Tomorrow at 11, I find out the fate of my position at work. Me and EVERYone else all at once, called to a mass burial meeting. Looks ominous, but hey? What can I do? I think I'll go get some search tips from The Bez. She can have you moved out, relocated and settled in before you notice something in life had changed.

Now Michelle, don't pass out, but I've joined and actually finished an item in a KAL. Yes I did. I didn't photograph it yet, because I had to jump on the PC to get this post in before the young teen gets on and that could take all night. If you're looking for a fun but light duty KAL, this is it.

Fun Knitting Dishcloths

Yep, that's it. If I can finish something, anyone can.

I know I always complain about my job taking up my knitting time, but it really comes in handy for things like, oh, buying yarn, books, food that kind of stuff but I'd really like to keep it please. Be careful what you wish for, you may just get it.

Celebrate

I said, Happy Easter!

Adulthood

Today is our 21st wedding anniversary. When I think of all the things we've accomplished, I am amazed and a little dazed. If I weren't late for work, I'd wax poetic and leave a tear jerking tribute to the man I love here. But late I am, due to some of those accomplishments in life, so here's my little tribute to you, love.



Happy Anniversary sweetie, now you don't have to suck the gas out of the generator this year.

Wordless Wednesday

Beware the Ends of March

March brought a few surprises on the knitting front and on the job front. I may or may not be employed by the end of April, so it should prove to be an interesting month; but then, aren't they all? I don't know if I'm incredibly blessed that I'm not stressing about it, or immensely irresponsible. I had time for a bit of secret knitting and to join and complete a washcloth KAL with the Fun Knitting Dishcloths group.

I used Peaches & Cream and the band was tossed, but it's an easy color to spot. I would call it summatime!

I swear when I took it off the needles, it was shaped like a kite. But then, March wasn't my month for performing notably intelligent actions. It's now square (always was) and this was a fun knit and I now have a new cloth for the kitchen! I can't wait to see what Judith comes up with for April!

Next up:


On the UFO front, I did work another inch into the tank I'm making. It looks the same so I won't put up a photo til it looks more like something wearable. while stash diving one day, I discovered another UFO that deserves some adding to.



This is a Mile-A-Minute afghan my eldest picked for herself um...a couple of years ago? i was going to scrap this for another she chose, but when she saw this, she really wanted it. So, 3 strips down, 7 to go. I was a little taken but the design that popped out of the cammo variegated square.



Does anyone else see an Awareness ribbon?

I was a month ahead on my squares for the Gracious Parcels Project and those were mailed off to Firefly. More to come.


I also received a surprise from Tani, who so kindly sent me some of her stash to make items for babies and chemo caps for children. Thank you Tani! Some of these items will actually make a trip back to your area to help out those with new babies in need of warm items!

On a weaker note, I caved and bought yarn again. So for the 2... yes 2 yarn diets I'm on:

All I can say is, I'm not doing so good here. But in my weak defense, let me say, my enablers group decided on a KAL for the Branching Out Scarf. I CAN follow when I have to.

That would be Blue Sky Alpacas’ Alpaca and Silk, a 50/50 blend in Blue I27 Lot 1772-need I say more?

Since I was off the wagon anyway, I thought I'd give the Louet Euroflax Linen a try too-also in a nice denimy blue.

I also received a package from my very first Secret Swap Pal, but I would like to dedicate a post just to her, because she really treated me well, and I don't want to mix her goodies in a monthly recap. So Nancy, in a couple of days I promise! I've been looking through books to find the perfect pattern and this has brought me much relaxation in doing so. Thank you Nancy and Hugs!

So April is shaping up to be a busy month and perhaps a career changing one.

My knit list for April includes:

UFO Resurrection: At least one strip for Kate's Mile-A-Minute Afghan and some noteable knitting on the Ribbon Tank.

Gracious Parcels Project: At least one square for Firefly, but it should really be two.

Dishcloth Fun KAL: Can't wait to see the new one!

The Branching Out Scarf KAL: Adventure in lace knitting!

Some giving back knitting: Baby items

Some stealth knitting.

And not so knitty is:

Career or not?: Remains to be seen, but I was told April 10th there will be news. April 10th being a "soft date". What the heck is a soft date? A night out with a stuffed animal? A tease because they really don't know? Are they gonna take us out for ice cream?

My First Bloggiversary! My first contest too! (insert a wink, wink, nod, nod here)

My wedding anniversary: This week!

A family member's birthday and Easter.

What a month to be already! Hope yours is a good one.