Look...

...what we woke up to this morning....unexpected in a way, but it is Kansas and December...however by 3p.m. it had started to melt. So now we have snow and sludge---just right for my light colored carpet (which, by the way, is SOOOOOO gone if we buy this house!).

I've been in bed all day with a really nasty bug. Hopefully tomorrow will be better. I have made good progress on the purple alpaca scarf, so I guess that's the upside.

Breakfast of Champions

Oh My Gosh! This is what I made today from the current issue of Tea Time magazine. The only changes that I made were that the glazed one in the front are simply cinnamon scones with a powdered sugar glaze--my boys won't eat pecans. I doubled the recipe and put pecans in one batch for hubby and I. The recipe makes 8, but if you are counting, yes, three had been immediately consumed by kids and hubby. The honey cream recipe that goes on the pecan scones is really good. My only change was that I made it up the night before and put it in the fridge to give the flavors more time to blend....Since I used the whole grain white flour, they are at least better for you than doughnuts and they fill you up. Couple this with a cup of coffee by a local roaster in Wichita (Corsair) and it was a good start to the day. Except that my camera may have bit the dust after I took this picture...

Knitting pics

Here is yet another work in progress. It is knit with Alpaca yarn from Knit Pics. Even though it is technically a "bulky" weight yarn, any more than a size 9 needle would be too large. I take it everywhere at this point,especially since I put it on shorter needles--the pattern is sooooo easy that I got several inches done this Christmas before we hit the Oklahoma border. I plan to take it with me to Stillwater, Oklahoma (my hometown) and bang out several more inches at Aspen coffee company--a local coffee shop and coffee roaster in Stillwater. Good coffee and outrageously good treats! I have to take my mother to the cardiologist in Tulsa again, so it will be coming. I tried knitting while my mother was driving recently and was treated to stories of people being impaled by their needles in an accident.....and it took every bit of my resolve not to say "So would that also include not writing while driving or carrying pens anywhere near your body?---but I am slowly learning that just invited more "details"--I think I ought to send this one in to "MythBusters"....and you wonder how Urban Legends start.......

Good Friday!

My cute hubby still has off from work so this afternoon he came by the office so we could go to lunch. We ate at an Indian restaurant (TOTAL YUM) and then blew some serious money on chocolate at Cocoa Dolce. If you have a chance to visit Wichita or if you already live in the area---GO! While deciding, the girl at the counter let me sample a full piece of the eggnog cream filled candy---it almost made my eyes roll back in my head....we went in with the intention of getting one piece each (they are a little pricey) but ended up buying a sample box of 9 pieces. Even though it was $15 for a box that is maybe 3x3", it is MORE than worth the price!!!!! One little piece is soooooo rich that it immediately satisfied me--and I am a chocolate addict....Yes, I AM drooling!!! At any rate, I have decided that in 2007, I am going to focus on the quality of what I consume. This experience proves that a little of something of excellent quality goes much farther that lots of lower quality...

On it's way to me from Amazon is a copy of Bob Greene's new book "The Best Life Diet"--I am looking forward to starting this book. I looked at it while at Barne's and Nobles and thought it was a very sensible approach..I really like that he explains metabolism and basics of body functioning when dieting! That will be my goal for 2007---changing my attitudes and behaviors so that I can change my eating/exercise...Tomorrow I will fix cinnamon pecan scones--but will use whole wheat white flour instead and just have one piece with a cup of really good coffee...Little indulges, done at least a little healthier...that will be the focus instead of deprivation.

You know it's going to be a bumpy week when....

Thankfully one of my friends from another department at work has my home number......For SOME reason I had it in my mind that we had until Thursday off for Christmas break. Don't ask me how I came up with that theory, but it was a firm belief of mine. So much that when my friend called me at 10:16 a.m. to ask why I wasn't at work, I thought she was messing with me......Imagine my surprise....in short, technically I was supposed to be at work by 9:00 a.m. at the latest....Thankfully nothing was going on and I can make it up. Yep---GONNA BE A LONG WEEK....
No pictures, I'm afraid to touch anything mechanical or involving even a minimum of brain power.....

More Pictures from Christmas...

And above, you see my father giving me a "Don't take my picture" look...and then he remembers that the Obedience Fairy missed this daughter! I'm thinking my new year's resolution is going to involve some exercise---I'm looking a little fluffy in the picture above...I'd like to think our camera malfunctioned and added 50 pounds, but the only thing wrong with it (realistically) is the clarity of the pictures...and that may be operator error since I can't seem to slog through the owner's manual.....for the camera either...

I'm thinking my son in the green flight jacket needs a sheering---too bad you can't spin kid hair..at least human kid...but that is a little weird, I guess. You know you have a knitting addiction when anything is measured for possible fiber content....

This is at my parent's home. The bright red walls at my Mom and Dad's actually look really good in photos. They used to be plain wood paneling that made everything look like a cave, but the red really livens it up....

Humor courtesy of In-Laws

We went to see in law and my parents today. I had to post this sign, it really made me laugh and completely sums up my Dad-in-law's humor. I had not noticed it before, but hubby said it has been there for quite some time.......

Countdown!

Well, cute man and I got up at 7:30 this morning and braced ourselves to join the throngs of last minute shoppers and general mayhem at the mall....only there wasn't any. We parked almost in front and had no wait at the registers in any store... HMMMM....Maybe it was too early and it will be different this afternoon. Actually we hit Sam's first to get some baking supplies such as chocolate chips (they sell the yummy Ghiradelli Bittersweet chips), lemons, flour (they had whole grain white--score!), and other things. Luckily I had taken inventory before I went since I am notorious for overbuying...I practiced restraint and didn't get things to make EVERYTHING in my cookbook, like I have in the past...I am working on restraint and knowing when enough is enough...it is really hard! So, while hubby is checking on a friend's animals and braving Wal-Mart, I am working on the following goodies:

Cream cheese citrus pound cake
Lemon Bars
Giant Ginger Cookies
Mississippi Mud Cake
Fudge

And later the kids can help me package up some Hot Cocoa Mix in quart jars, and then we will dip pretzels in white chocolate coating. The recipe for the cocoa is really easy. I multiply it by 4 and make enough for jars of various sizes. Here is the recipe:

4 cups powdered milk
1 cup cocoa powder
2 cups sugar
dash salt
1 cup non-dairy creamer

Mix it all together and put in jars of desired sizes. Add card to jar with the following instructions:

Mix 1/4 cup cocoa mix in a mug with 1 cup water. Enjoy!

We finally have the kids gifts taken care of---now we just need to wrap them. I practiced restraint in that areana too and let the kids know they will only be getting a few gifts since each one asked for a high dollar item. Usually I go on a buying binge at Christmas and the kids end up with stuff they really don't use too much...I came from a family where my mother went overboard every year, my husband came from the exact opposite, so we have been working towards a happy medium. It still makes me feel a little anxious to not underneath the tree completedly filled in......

Reading list....

Got the newest Knit Simple---actually bought both within a week of each other. The holiday issue has some really neat scarves---and you know what a scarf freak I am!There is a bamboo stitch scarf that is soooo cute on page 80--but that is just the start. The Winter 06/07 has a rockin' article on socks! And the One Skein book-----I can't even start to gush over this one!It is packed with winderful patterns!!!

Baby, It's cold outside!

It's Friday morning, I am cranky and I want to hibernate....given that Friday always follows Thursday, it IS WINTER and I am not a bear (no matter what my husband says), this should leave me no room to gripe....so I will leave you with a picture of unbearable cuteness. Pay no attention to the basket of laundry and the ugly pink chair--concentrate on the adorable mound of blonde dachsund cuteness that is Sugar Baby........

Testing 1-2-3

Yep--today is post heavy, but I am tweaking my blog ---this time I am trying to get the time set correctly....so I will use this entry to post 5 things I am thankful for: 1: My kids 2: My husband and the fact he lets me be cranky whenever I darn well please. Also that he cooks and cleans equally with me...actually he probably does more.... 3:Good coffee 4: Friends 5:My job.

More Pictures

I haven't figured out how to post multiple pictures yet. I am just happy it decided to post one picture--multiple pictures may be pushing it...

Another purse on the needles

I figured I'd post some pictures of my projects --- the first is a red and white purse from the same pattern as the other. This is still on the needles, so not ready to felt. Other pictures are of a white scarf done in farrow stitch and using Lamb's Pride Bulky (my favorite). The other is a purple scarf on the needles using Knit Picks alpaca....I'm finally on a knitting binge...and I found Lamb's Pride BURLY SPUN at my LYS!!! She just started carrying it! TEARS OF JOY!!!!

I'm not sure how, but I got pictures to post. Hopefully this will continue since I really do think blogs with pictures are much more interesting than ones without!

I am sitting here nursing my morning cup of coffee and contemplating the fact I need to be getting out the door to go to work. I was home yesterday since I was supposed to drive my mom to Tulsa, but she ended up cancelling due to the fact we were supposed to have bad weather and she didn't want me driving from Kansas to Oklahoma and back if the roads were going to be yucky. So instead I snagged a friend and we went Christmas shopping, which I had not done yet. This is how the whole day looked ---rainy and overcast---but I love the rain and actually like overcast days, so it was good. I snagged the last 2GB PSP memory stick at Best Buy---good since that is the primary thing Brandon wanted. I told the boys that this year there will be less gifts since what they want is so expensive....it still feels weird not filling up the bottom of the tree...

WOOOOOO HOOOOOO! PICTURE!!!!!!!!!!!!

Did it Work?

I am really close to giving up and just getting out crayons and paper!

Okay-maybe not

It appears the new version of Blogger is not as user friendly as I thought......maybe pictures later----if the Blogger fairy gets off her electronic arse!!!

Pictures, Finally!

Here is a picture of the purse I made from the classs in Lawrence, before it was felted. I love this pattern! You can do one in a couple marathon knitting session or over a week of relaxed knitting. Ideally I would have done on for all the women in my family for Christmas, but that is not going to happen this year considering the date......maybe winter soltice presents?

I am eyeing an electric fireplace at Wal-Mart...I know, but if you don't have the possibility of knocking a hole in the wall (we rent) and putting in a fireplace, this is a viable option.....I have ths image of sitting in front of a fire (even if it is man-made), in an comfy chair and knitting....now I just have to figure out how to clean up my room so I can fit one in....and that would entail housework......

It's Monday

This weekend went WAY too fast. Hubbie and I had a party for my work on Saturday so the better part of the day was spent doing a little Christmas shopping then braving the crowds at Sam's Club for a cheese tray. I thought I could get away with one for $15, but the cheapest they had was $26, so I decided to just get some summer sausage and cheeses and arrange my own. It turned out darn good if I do say so myself! And I finally got to use the silver serving platter I found at DAV for $2.48. Hubby was impressed, which made it sweeter--especially since he questioned why I even bought the thing.......I will recreate the tray again for Christmas with my side of the family.

Speaking of Christmas with my side, it looks like this is going to be another one of those traveling Christmas'. We have to go to my in-laws on the 23rd and then my family on the 24th. Both trips are 3 hours each way......It would be sooooo nice to have Christmas season with no travel......We spent Thanksgiving at my in laws, which is nice since they are in the country and the boys get to go shooting (which they love), but Hubby forgot to include me in on the discussion to go there for Christmas too. My goal for the coming year is to have my house cleaned up so I can have someone house-sit and keep an eye on all the animals so we can go away for a day or more. As I said---goal for 2007.......

Holidays can be a rough time when you are in the middle of a life transition---I am trying to figure out how to plan a "New Chapter" party for a friend of ours that is getting a divorce. All of the websites that have "divorce party" plans sound more like drunken male bashing fiascos, and since her support system is going to include a lot of guys that are close friends, it doesn't seem appropriate. So I am trying to plan a dignified party for her....

Monday did not come gently to my house....the boys were really cranky this morning --which I knew was going to be the case since we had to tell them to quit talking at 11:30! Some days I just focus on GETTING THEM OUT THE DOOR!!!!!This was one of them!

On the knitting note, I started another felted purse. This is the same pattern, but in red and white. I am going to put pockets in this one since it is driving me nuts trying to find my cell phone at the bottom of the bag! I am still working on an alpaca scarf in a very simple farrow stitch pattern that is soooo relaxing to knit. It is my standard pattern and I have done several in several kinds of yarns. multiple of 4, plus one at the end. 3 knit, 1 purl, ending with a knit. Turn, then do it again. I'll post a picture of where I got the pattern (it is a deck/box called "The Little Box of Scarves" by Melissa Matthay and Sheryl Thies-----I HIGHLY recommend getting it!). I have the second box in the series, but haven't played too much with the card patterns in it because time has been so short lately.....However, I will have plenty of knitting time Wednesday since I have to take my mother back to Tulsa for the day. This round of test will last the whole day, so I will bring plenty of yarn....

I guess I'd better shoot off to work, I will post pictures tonight. I have finally found my cable to the camera...Actually they all look alike, so we'll see if I am right...

Total for the Haul

It is only 10:30 a.m and I am up surfing other blogs. Funny how hooked you get keeping up with other bloggers!
Total count for the needle box: 84 matched pairs of straight needles, 25 unmatched variety sized/length needles (I'll use these when I knit scarfs that use different sized needles on each row..) and 12 afghan hooks (I have to give my mom in law credit for telling me what those were). Holy smokes, did I get my 5 bucks worth or what?! I will use most of them to teach people how to knit---I can give them a set of started needles, which is always a good thing. And teaching the basics (which is all I can handle) is pretty easy. One of the girls at work wants to knit really bad, so she will be my first victim--oops, I mean student! Always give back to others when you have the chance! I taught a friend to do granny squares (crochet) and we are going to work on some afghans, caps and other things for charities.

Two of my boys spent the night with a friend, so last night it was just my husband, oldest son and I. Hubbie and I went out to dinner with another couple and then to a graduation party for a friend. She is getting her second master's degree. And then she take the qualifying exams for her Ph. D in a week........and I haven't even finished my bachelor's.....but then said friend has no kids, so I guess I'm not slacking that bad....I am going to sign up in the Spring to start working through my math classes to complete college algebra. I have to start at pre algebra and work upwards (or downward since I feel algebra is the slippery slope to hell....but that's a different rant and I told the guys that untied my jacket I would play nice today....). Yep, gonna start the year off with a bang (or a slew of unmentionable words)...I'm married to an engineer---can't I just CLEP out of algebra on that basis?!

Good Trip-Great Haul!

Holy Smokes!Sometimes it IS good to shoot an offhand comment into the air!While trying to sort through a box of knitting needles at a flea market shop yesterday, the owner expressed the same frustration I was feeling at trying to sort through the box to match needles. In a moment of frustration, I said "This is going to take forever! How much for the whole box!!!" to which she shot back "You can take the whole box for $5".....mind you, this was a good sized box of needles and she was selling them for 50 cents a pair. Yep, I bought the box! This morning I have found well over 35 pairs of matched longs and shorts....there are several really old pairs still in the sleeves and several pairs that are not familiar names to me. Pictures to follow once I get them all straighten out. I have also found several unmatched--which I will put in pretty jars or containers in my office for decoration or use when I am working on scarves that would look good with different needle sizes. I will post pictures of the old ones later in hopes someone out there will know about the brand and help me identify them....more later.

Off to Oklahoma I go...

It is bitter cold, hubbie took the kids to school and was sweet enough to gas the car up, so now I am preparing for a 1 1/2 hour ride to Stillwater (Home of the OSU Cowboys--YEAH TEAM!) -- so that I can turn right around and drive to Tulsa (another 1 1/2 hours) to take my mom to the doctor. And then do the whole trip in reverse.....Why am I driving. you ask? Well, my mother is one of those endearing older ladies that does a complete stop on a merge out......needless to say, we get to know the temperament of the drivers behind us if I let her drive in a city (which does not happen often). So weighing the possibility that I will have to drive to Tulsa to pick her up, I decided just to give up......One bright spot is that I may get to go thrift store shopping while there if we have time....I love thrift stores! On the knitting front, I am casting on for Buttonhole Bag #3. I love this pattern! It is sooooooo easy and works up really fast. Somewhere in this house I have a pattern for the Lucy bag, but I put it "in a safe spot"--in other words, somewhere where I knew I wouldn't forget....which I did......And at WHAT age do we become our mothers?!!!

Blogging in bursts!

I have been soooo busy that I have severely neglected to post....that, and the fact that I was waiting to find my camera cable so I could finally post pictures....Needless to say, when you are looking for a specific cable, you find every other one except the one you are looking for. I even found cable for items we no longer own---but no camera cable...UGGGGGGGG!


Speaking of cables, I took a class in Lawrence at the Yarn Barn and learned how to do basic cables! I am so psyched! I saw an Irish hiking scarf on Janette's website www.jbknits.blogspot.com/ and fell in love with her scarf. Luckily she was gracious enough to provide a link to the pattern. I know this one has been going around for a while, but I'm a late bloomer. At any rate, now I know how to cable, so I will be casting on this week. I am needing to get into high gear so I can get some gifts for family members done. As usual, the finances crashed this week (even though I had a buffer built in!), so I will be stash surfing! SEE?! This is why yarn "artists" stash yarn...Kind of like squirrels hide nuts (DO NOT draw a line from yarn artists to nuts!)!You never know when you are going to need it!

I am getting ready to run to work--the kids got off to school without a hitch but I am glad they won't have school tomorrow or for the next couple days. I won't have to worry about herding...Eh, GENTLY GUIDING them to their needed destinations on time!We go to Agra, Oklahoma for Thanksgiving, but Friday I am SLEEPING IN!!! We may hit Stillwater (Home of Oklahoma State University), where my husband and I grew up and he graduated from college--to see my side of the family, but it depends on how Mark is feeling. He gets carsick easily, so we usually limit trips of longer than 3 hours.

At some point this weekend, I am hoping to be given a burst of divine intervention in the energy department--enough to enable me and motivate me to get my house cleaned. It is getting beyond ridiculous! I have a load that needs to be taken to the Goodwill distribution center, but I never seem to have the time to get there!I finally got my husband to put together a DVD cabinet that I had bought 4 months ago, so some things will finally have a home. Isn't it amazing how things can get so out of hand so quickly when you have a small house and lots of people in it? I am going to look at getting more bookshelves for my room--I have quite a knitting library but can never find the right book when I'm looking for it because they are scattered everywhere and under things!

Oops! I has better head out the door! Have a great morning!

Super knitting weekend

Fast entry before going to work -- where I HOPE I didn't forget and leave my candle burning overnight...I woke up last night in a cold sweat and couldn't remember whether I blew the darn thing out! However, a couple weeks ago, one of my coworkers forgot to extinguish her candle and it burned all weekend.....Hopefully mine is out...I have to figure out a "leaving ritual" that includes putting out the candles...

This weekend was utterly fantastic. My husband and I drove to Lawrence, Kansas --which is about three hours away--so that I could take a buttonhole bag class at the YARN BARN. Unfortunately I brought my camera but forgot to get pictures of their fantastic downtown and the beautiful college campus. The last class is this Sunday, so I will get pictures to post. I love that town!!! Unfortunately the class was from 1pm until 4pm -- the exact hours the store was open, so no time to shop. However we are supposedly not going to need the full 3 hours this week, so I might have time to shop a little. The bag class was wonderful. This is only my second attempt at anything that is not a scarf, the first one being the socks that shall remain unfinished and not spoken about at this time....I learned a ton of new techniques and the bag is astonishingly forgiving if you forget to do a second M1 on the other side of your marker....I figured it out and compensated and it really won't affect the overall look of the bag (other than extending the base body a couple rows to get the needed 76 ending stitches before the knit rows)...I am soooooo in love with this pattern that I am going to start another bag this week while waiting for the last class. I will get to the point she told us to stop, which is where we do the buttonhole opening for the handle and she has modified the handle with an I-cord bind off, which is French to me---but she assures us we will catch on quickly....HMMMMM...
I will post pictures on this upcoming Saturday. My dear husband got tired of me exclaiming how much I love that town I'm sure. I adore the downtown. There are tons of college students and every other person has their dog. There are places to tie your dog up outside of all the stores....very dog friendly...I could spend the entire day just talking to people about their dogs!

Ya know it going to be one of those mornings when...

You wake up and trudge down the hall only to be greeted by a honking wet spot on the carpet....and all three dogs are acting guilty! It's not like they didn't go out at midnight....so here I am at 8:30 on the morning shampooing a carpet....the alternate title to this entry was going to be something singing my extreme love for my carpet shampooer, but that smacks heavily of a mental health diagnosis that I probably wouldn't be able to pronounce....at any rate, I had to shoot the spot with Spray and Wash (my other love) and take the kids to school---who by the way apparently did not have their time telling abilities turned on ---- so here I am shampooing this damn thing before I head to work....Thank God for my job! There is plenty of flex time built in!
And how was your morning?!

And here we are again!

I feel as though I have blog whiplash! I post several times, then come to a screeching halt.....I have given up and ordered a weblog for dummies book from Amazon.com......I have so many shortcomings in the blog sphere that maybe this will enlighten me and move me along the path!

The weather has been so strange here for October! Last week we had 95 degree weather and now it has fallen to 60's and drizzly..This is definitely soup weather!I am going to have to fix a big pot of chili this weekend!

I am teaching a friend how to crochet--she is learning and I am refreshing my skills--it's been a long time since I have done this---we are working on granny squares for afghans. On the knitting front, I'm working on a prayer shawl out of Homespun. I haven't worked with synthetic yarns in a while, but this stuff knits up nicely and is really soft. I think it is good for charity project when easy care yarn is needed.
I really like the k3 p3 pattern---it is very soothing and easy to keep up with. Pictures to follow.....

Good Day Shopping, Bad Day Budget

I am currently on a diet to lose quite a bit of weight - let's just say over 70 and leave it at that! Unfortunately, my preoccupation with food has been replaced with a preoccupation with Amazon books and yarn shops...Not to great for the budget! Soooooo I am going to try to make myself spend less time with my checkbook and more time with my bicycle and walking shoes.

On the weight loss side, I have been going to Jenny Craig for 3 weeks and have only lost 3lbs, which is better than none, but I need to pick up the pace! I joined under the 6 weeks for $36 so I have been trying it out. I wanted to make sure their meals didn't taste like Alpo--and surprisingly they are REALLY outrageously good. However I am not sure if I can afford to keep doing this past the six weeks--the meals and snacks run about $120 a week, not counting the dairy, fruit and milk I buy myself. After the six weeks are up I have to pay the standard $300 lifetime fee to continue...Oh well, I like the menu and will use their menus as a template. There is a week one and a week two menu and as far as I can tell, they stay the same, so this may not be something I can do indefinitely.

I got to hang out with my friend today --- lots of knitting and crocheting! Time passes so quickly! I'm working on a prayer shawl from the book "Knitting into the Mystery". It is an inspiring book and the k3 p3 pattern is sooooo easy to follow. Sue, my cohort, only crochets at this point (she too will submit to the darkside of knitting-I'm sure) so I was happy when I found a book of patterns entitled "The Prayer Shawl Ministry" that included instructions for prayer shawls. Good stuff abounds!

On the workfront, I am considering cutting down to mornings only....I really need to finish my degree and all the classes start at 4pm. So I am going to talk to our office manager tomorrow....It has been a really hard decision but I really need to finish my degree....

'til we meet again!

Can you believe?

1. It is almost time for the younger kids to go back to school.
2. The situation is the middle east continues to unravel.
3. A whole summer has almost passed and I haven't even finished a scarf!
4. My house is still not self cleaning...darn it. Willing something to happen doesn't always make it so!
5. My oldest son turns 20 Wednesday!
6. My husband and I celebrate 16 years of marriage on Friday!
7. The yarn and books in my house are multiplying faster than TRIBBLES (if you don't know what a tribble is, search the old (ORIGINAL)Star Trek series....You'll know....

Yikes!

No-he's not flat!

This is a picture of my oldest son's cat. As you can tell, the animals at my house feel no fear, even when it comes to sprawling their overfed fannies under the vehicles....Don't worry, he's still alive...and very well fed!

Maybe we'll get pictures, maybe not!

You never forget how......

to ride a bike....bull! After not riding in over 20 years, I got a wild hair and bought a bike today. Nothing fancy, just a basic cruiser (which by the way was more expensive than a bike with gears!)--so I figured I'd be able to just pop on and go....that did not happen. Thankfully I am starting this new adventure at night when I don't make my neighbors laugh because they are in bed....

I am hoping to get the hang of this again, but it feels really strange. I used to love to ride bikes when I was a girl, so it seemed like something that will help me lose the weight I have gained since having kids. My goal right now is to get at least 70 pounds off and then I will go for a second phase. I have such a huge amount to lose! I am playing roulette with my life being at the weight and the age I am right now. I figure once I get started, I will ride with my boys at night when it is cooler. I get bored walking so this will hopefully keep me on the right path. Starting tomorrow I am going to start taking salads at least 3 times a week -- and mostly greens, not protein. The rest of the week will be whatever. I just need to take small steps. A lot of the girls at the office are on weight watchers, but I just don't have time to get to the meetings so I am going to try it on my own. I have to admit I am inspired by one of the knitters (Lolly) whose blog I read regularly. She has lost almost 50 pounds, and she has her eating regime on a blog, so I am basing mine off that. The water part is going to be a little hard to work into since I do love my diet cola.

On the other front, I am discovering that having a washer on the fritz totally bites! Luckily hubby like doing clothes, so he hits the laundromat. We went looking for one today but came to an impasse--he wants a top loading model because they are much cheaper. I want a front loading one because they are more enviromentally friendly and use less water. I found one I like but we ended with " let's keep looking" --- I will go back this week and buy the darn thing and have it delivered before he realizes --- it took him forever to figure to buy a dishwasher, I had to do the same thing....

Cute animal pictures included with todays post.

Is It Autumn Yet?

While summer is nice for gardening, I am getting pretty darn tired of the humidity!

It rained for a little bit yesterday and last night-just enough to get the ground wet enough to send up steady steam as it heated the earth!
I know it is nowhere like being at the ocean or the swamps, but it still is yucky!

On a different note--you know your housekeeping has kicked your butt when you secretly reason that a tornado wouldn't be half bad---it may even help....However, I would just want one that dipped out and sucked up my house, not my neighbors--they are too nice. Plus their homes are clean...unlike mine! This is the first time I have worked outside the home full time since the twins were born. They turn 13 this year....I am having a little bit of trouble keeping up with everything. Luckily I have a husband that works just as hard-if not harder around the house, but it has run away. Sooooo the next month I will concentrate on purging.A friend of mine is part of a group that leaves books in public places with an identification number and instructions for whoever finds it to log in and put info on where they found it and what they thought of it. Then the finder is supposed to "release" the book into the wild again so it can be tracked. Sounds like fun. I am going to start leaving books in coffee houses and send some to friends to release for me in other states.I like the idea of recycling.

Speaking of recycling, I found a really interesting book called "Save the world for a fiver"--it is British, so I actually had to order from an individual on eBay. It is a small book, but has some good ideas that are easy to do such as use a fabric shopping bag for groceries like they do in France. Although I rarely remember shopping bags when I am actually at the store, I will try to be better about it. At bookstores and places I have small purchases, I forgo the bag altogether. I would love to hear about how everyone else does their part, so email me!

I am hoping to get away for at least a three day weekend with my kids when it cools down a bit this Fall. Either to Arkansas for a little outdoors activity or shopping in Eureka Springs or to go up to Kansas City. The kids want to go to Cabello's so bad it isn't even funny! I like Kansas City - both the Missouri and Kansas side. There is something there for everyone.

On the knitting front, I am almost finished with another scarf. I am going to move on to a scarf made in basket weave with alpaca yarn. If you've never played with it, it is sooooo soft! Surprisingly, the yarn I have a huge crush on lately is a novelty yarn I found at Wal-Mart! It is their brand and it is so soft that I am going to hoard some more skeins when I finish with the one I'm on now. I have a pattern for a "Lucy" bag that I have to start on. I am really bad about getting the supplies but freezing up on the start. I guess that is why I like simple scarves and no-brainer patterns. It is much easier to frog a scarf then a lace shawl that has half your life looped into it!

Oops-gotta run!

Happy July 4th!

Hopin' everyone is having a bang-up 4th! We are hanging close to home-however not without the proper noise making, ear popping firecrackers required as annual tradition dictates. We usually have a pretty big shin dig at our house every year, but we are opting out this year so we can relax and have a quieter night. If the kids really don't like it, we'll ramp it back up next year. It's kind of nice to not have all the crazy prep but it does feel weird-like I should be running around DOING SOMETHING!

On the knitting homefront: I have been pretty darn negligent in anything related to knitting lately, but I have been making efforts to change that. I went to a family reunion with a friend this Saturday and got quite a bit done on a pretty simple scarf that has been in my project bag forever. The reunion gave me lots of time to sit and knit. I go every couple years to keep my friend company-it gives her someone to talk to. We are assisting with the 2008 reunion so I can guarantee we will have more activities to force the different members to mix. Plus we are definitely going to have kid activities....It was a nice diversion and got me thinking I need to get back East to visit family.

I really need to finish the socks that I started on for my son. I think this is going to be a legacy project!I need to just get to the darn yarn shop and have Mary show me how to TURN THE DAMN HEEL--and all will be right with the universe! I will be glad to get that pair finished as I can then say I have finished a pair and can move on to another pair. I already have the pattern picked out...And of course I have yarn for it! I am eyeing the Weekend Knits book at JoAnn's Craft store near me and I just happen to have a 40% off coupon....HMMMMMM. That store is a major danger to my budget when I have the monthly coupons they send in the mail! I go in thinking I am going to get one thing using the coupon and come out with additional things in tow....Which is probably what keeps them in business....

Jeremy started taking lessons on the pottery wheel. I need to get pictures because he is soooo happy! He and I have been taking handbuilding classes for a couple month but he has been really wanting to throw on the wheel. I made him take two handbuilding then promised him he could move on after that. It is so rare to find a studio that will teach youth to work on the wheel, but we have been going to the Secret Gallery where they have wonderful and patient teachers for both wheel and handbuilding. Jeremy actually got two pots thrown--and had a smile on his face I can't describe---this is what makes it fun to be a Mom. After class he announced he is now a potter....

Happy Saturday to you!

It has been a wild and crazy, but interesting month. I went to Topeka for core mediation training--I had taken core almost two years ago but didn't get to complete my co-mediations, so it just sat there. Mid month there was an part-time office administration in the mediation department - thanks to my director, I got the position. And of course, this just adds to the reason I love this company. I am pretty excited. At any rate, I had to drive to Topeka by myself - which I had not done before- and this made me pretty nervous. It ended up being a really easy commute and the bonus was that it was a 20-30 minute drive to Lawrence Kansas. Lawrence is one of my favorite towns in Kansas. I was pleased that Topeka was very easy to get around in. Since it is the capital, I figure it was going to be a madhouse. My city (Wichita)is the biggest city in Kansas, but I still figured it would be complicated to get around....It is soooooo much easier to get around in Topeka --- even in "rush hour", which is practically non-existent. The only drawback is there is no yarn store. Go figure! But then, the Yarn Barn is in Lawrence--so it Half Price Books--which is a favorite. The only bummer is that I didn't have time to run around downtown since I had to turn around and get back to Wichita...I guess that will give me a good reason to road trip again.

I received a beautiful skein of ribbon yarn from my secret pal in the One Skein swap. Thanks pal, it was the highlight of my day that day. I had been having a pretty challenging day training at work when my kids called me to say I had a package from a wheat lab...That was a good cover, pal. I couldn't figure out why I had a wheat sample! For everyone else, I will post a picture tomorrow of the wonderful yarn. I haven't decided what I'll make with it yet...

Almost "free" Saturday

I am relishing the ability to not have to worry about class on Saturdays...As much as I enjoyed the class, I had to miss a lot of my son's soccer games. I finally got to go to a game today. It was the final game of the season, but it was better than nothing. My husband has been at the games, but he can't out yell me (or so my son has said as he rolls his eyes at my antics). I'll post pictures this week. My camera is being a little weird.

I have decided that Amazon.com is the great enabler for those of us with book addictions. They have made it wayyyyyy too easy to just click and order. And the free shipping is so tempting! I have expanded my knitting book library exponentially thanks to them!

On the yarn front, I am going to start working on some scarf patterns for Christmas presents. Maybe if I start on them in May, I might have them done by December. I am considering making some prayer shawls for the cancer support groups here or getting some knitters together to make some throws for patients undergoing chemo. When "Grandma"- our neighbor next door- had to go to chemo and get her daily shots, I noticed that feeling cold was the number one complaint of the patients. As warm as the room was, some of the patients were cold. I will probably use something like the "super soft" yarn that Caron makes. It is softer than Red Heart- this is important since chemo patient's skin can be sensitive. Although wool or alpaca would be warmer, acrylic will be easier to care for and launder. I am considering forming a Christian Knitters Group in Wichita..It would be nice to have the fellowship. We have a really neat Christian bookstore in Wichita with a coffee shop in it. The only problem is that the shop closes at 8pm, but the coffeeshop has a comfy couch and lots of tables and chairs, so there is plenty of seating. It is also usually not too busy --and they make an awesome cup of coffe.

Awesome album: Lifesong by Casting Crowns ---beautiful music for contemplative knitting. The tempo is upbeat enough but the works are thoughtful and invite introspection.

YAAAAHOOO! Last Saturday Class!

REALLY, it seemed like a good idea at the beginning of the semsester---a class on Saturday would be so much more convenient---- Just tumble out of bed and head to class at 12:00. The only problem with that theory was that one of my kids also had soccer games on Saturdays so my hubby ended up going to every game this semester. That was probably a good thing since my son says I yell too loud, but I still think it is important to show up. Anyway, as soon as I signed up for class on my usually completely boring Saturday, all kinds of neat opprtunities for fun activities popped up. Figures. So now that class is over, I am going to plan some roadtrips to some of my favorite towns (Lawrence, Kansas-Kansas City, Kansas and Missouri--Tulsa, Oklahoma--Enid, Oklahoma) and spend some time savoring the choice.

At any rate, the last day of class was yesterday. I spent 2 hours putting my class notebook in order (it is beside the point that I should have been doing that all along...) and stressed over the final all morning. I opted to do a "show" of my pottery that I've been doing over the past couple years instead of a paper, so I was pretty loaded up this morning. I did my presentation--and so did some of the others--then he said everyone that had perfect attendance can leave and not take the final...damn...I missed one day due to a car issue. He let me go anyway. Completely awesome, but I was a total bitch at home trying to get my ducks in a row...I have GOT to work on not stressing during finals.

One the yarn horizon, I am relearning how to crochet. Right now I'm working on simple dishclothes and washclothes, which I am finding pretty satisfying so I am also looking at doing dome for dishclothes. It is something small and almost instant gratification. I was looking for patterns for dishclothes when suddenly it hit me---DUH--- I already have a book of 365 knitting stiches that works up into squares perfect for dishclothes. I have a piano recital rehersal this afternoon for Jeremy, I am going to have to take my projects with me.

On the workfront, I may be moving over to the mediation department in the afternoons. That is extremely awesome! I didn't get the paralegal position when it was open, which was only halfway disappointing, but something better was proposed to me by our director. I have the core mediation traing completed and was just waiting on the final 24 hours to get state certified---my director asked if I might consider going to the mediation section of Kansas Legal Services. OH YES! It is weird how sometimes what seems like a set back is actually a step in the right direction. That is also one reason I adore working at KLS. I had originally started out interning there as part of the paralegal program--that was supposed to end in May, but I stayed on as a volunteer while waiting for someting to open. Something opened up in October of last year...As cheesy as it may sound, even on difficult days, I completely love working at my job. It is a very female and family friendly place.

Really folks- this a happy dog face! Once we took it she was a little stunned by the flash, but she recovered enough to allow us to resume scratching her belly.

I have sooooo totally blown my budget on books this month. I think Amazon.com is actually one big enabler! Is there a 12 step program for Amazon? Can't wait for the book "One Skein" to hit my mailbox. Also ordered Sally Mellville's newest book in the Knitting Experience series (the color book).... I am chompin' at the bit to get the Wendyknits book, but I will have to practice self control until tomorrow --I have a 30% off coupon at Border's. Not to mention that I have a 50% off coupon from JoAnn's and they have some awesome knitting books! This is gonna get expensive!!!

Spendin' money and time!

I am looking forward to getting my new digital camera in the mail --- hopefully this week. I finally found a really good price on an 8 mega pixel digital --it was actually cheaper than the 7 mp that I was looking at last week in Wal-Mart. This is the first time I've ever bought anything electronic on eBay, so I am saying a prayer that it is a good experience.....As soon as it comes, I an going to start posting pictures like crazy! It is about time you get to see me and my little corner of the world. Plus the fiber projects that have taken over my life and home!

It seems it is time to enroll for the summer semester at school. I am going to try to do a math class online. I have to finish college algebra for my paralegal degree and the only thing holding me back is the public speaking and the college algebra....I will be starting at pre algebra though. I personally think algebra should also get foreign language credit! When I want to read, I look at letters. When I want to do math, I look at numbers. Can someone explain to me just what the heck I'm trying to do when looking at algebra?!!! I really believe that we will get to the end of the world and discover the person that came up with algebra was only playing a big joke that went wild. Kind of like the "emperor's New Clothes" in math form!!

The weather is really gorgeous lately. I am getting the urge to travel. I may have to go to Lawrence Kansas and run amuck in their wonderful downtown. It is a college town a couple hours away, but it is home to a great college and one of the best Indian restaurants that I have tried. Actually it has all kinds of wonderful eateries and some of the most incredible shopping! It's a toss up between Lawrence and Tulsa, Oklahoma. I guess we'll just have to see....

AOL Sucks eggs!!

I am really getting tired of sllllloooowwwwllllyyyyy connecting with aol and all the other problems associated with it. We are having problems with our computer--when I mention to the repair guy that we have AOL, he gets a eureka looks and says there's the whole problem. Apparently AOL will kill computers...it is definitely not making ours happy. We are unfortunately bound until next year, but all our other computers will be put on digital. None of my friends using other services are having the problems we are having with AOL, plus the connection is a zillion times faster than AOL and the price is actually comparable. Don't even get me started about my billing nightmare! Just take my advice---the disks that are being whored out are only good for ornaments-DO NOT INSTALL AOL IN YOUR COMPUTER!!

A Sucks eggs

BRRRRRRRR it's cold

After reveling in the 60 and 70 degree weather that has been thrown our way over the past couple weeks, somehow I got it in my mind that winter was gone.....Foolish mortal....Today it is under 40 degrees and they are predicting snow if we are lucky--ice if we aren't. Wow--that is like a choice between the serpent and a rattlesnake. Both are gonna hurt.....I know--cheese and WHINE!

I guess the upside is that it gives me a good excuse to stay home and knit. Or clean the house....Knitting is looking really good! I am at a stand still on my socks. It is time to turn the heel so I have to get out my knitting videos and watch how they do it. I am looking forward to getting these done because I would love to start a second pair. One of the girls from our knitting group is giving lessons on knitting on one long circular in April. I have already ordered my turbo needles and a ton of sock yarn from Knit Picks....It's a good thing! I am also happy to announce my niece is going to have a baby boy. This will give me a good excuse to try to knit a hat and sweater set for a baby. That will allow me a small way to enter the world of sweaters without a huge time commitment. I am addicted to the Yarn Bee yarns at hobby lobby and found some wonderful baby chenille that is calling my name. Now that I know what colors, it's time to play. I am looking on the web for cute and easy baby patterns.

Hope everyone stays warm! Have a hot cocoa for me!

This has definitely been one of those crazy months! I am finally -hopefully- getting over the crud that everybody in the world seems to have gotten. After three months of the hacking coughing yucky stuff and a quick trip to minor emergency (by the way, the doctors there rock- I wish that could be my primary care - mine sucks!)and a good dose of anti-biotics, I can now carry on part of a conversation without hacking through it.....I know--would I like cheese with my WHINE....Sick sucks! Especially when you discover that no, the world doesn't stop and wait for you to get better - and you don't really have the option of going back to bed after the kids have left for school. That is one of the things I do miss about being a stay at home mom....

At any rate-progress on my knitting: socks just waiting for a heel to be turned, 2 scarves just waiting for me to sit down and whip through them. And I am considering starting a set of baby booties for my niece who is expecting a baby in 5 months. Never done baby booties, so this should be " a learning experience"!

The weather here has been unreal! We had a few days of 69 - 70+ degree weather and then a cold snap and today it was warm again. All my bulbs are coming up. This is Kansas so it means that about the time the flowers form and start to bloom, we should have a healthy dose of ice....

Hope everybody has a great Saint Paddy's!

too much

I have come to the sad conclusion that I am probably borderline OCD with the characteristics of a hoarder. I look around my house today and realize I have completely too much stuff and it is extremely hard for me to part with things. I realized this while watching the organizational show "Neat". I think if Ms. B were to walk in my house, she would probably have to admit here is one that is too much for her! So, I am having to formulate my own gameplan and hopefully not get totally overwhelmed. While I understand the concept of keeping too much old around clogs your ability to bring new life into your home, I have serious trouble putting it to action. I have so many interests and have bought the beginnings of many hobbies, only to find out I really don't have the space to pursue them and they get added to the mess somewhere. So I am going to have to formulate a plan to get rid of stuff in a way that I won't abandon. And buying organizational books doesn't help. Six months ago I bought the Messie No More manual, but guess what? I have lost it somewhere. That would almost be funny if it weren't really sad! And I know my husband and kids would be so much happier in an organized house.Hide and seek is only fun for a short time..So I am searching for suggestions from anyone on how to get myself organized and purge this stuff!