Things I SHOULD be doing...

As in making cookies and getting the guest bedroom ready for my son and his girlfriend. Hubby is flying to Tipton as I type to pick the kids up. It is Sona's first time to fly and she is afraid of heights--hopefully she does well. I told hubby NO STEEP TURNS and he is planning to bring air sickness bags just in case. I think she'll do well, but flying for the first time in a small plane can be a little scary---however it is still safer than driving....or so I am told.

I got the new camera and have been playing with it to figure out the new features, so I will post something later.

Yesterday I took a spinning class from one of the ladies in our Knit In Public group. It was so relaxing, and it did come back to me which surprised me since it has been 8 years or more since
I've spun. I did use a castle style wheel (everything is upright in a line) and found it very comfortable. I am eyeing getting one next year if the budget permits. I was able to spin surprisingly thin yarn that will make wonderful sock yarn once plied. I'm hooked!!!! I left the yarn on the bobbin so I can continue in 2 weeks at the next class. since I figured out the camera, I will have pictures of the next class. It is really fun!!

I went from the spinning class to a bead shop with a friend and made a really neat necklace and bracelet. It was an excellent afternoon for creativity and it was capped of by going to Michael's craft store on the East side of town where I found a really good book on wire working--and since I had a 50% off coupon, I got it at a steal. Which left me money to splurge on a REALLY cool thing I found to carry my sock yarn in---I'll tease you for now and post pictures later..It was an excellent and relaxing day!

Pictures soon

According to Amazon, my new camera is slated to be delivered tomorrow, so hopefully as of tomorrow, here is what you will see proof of:

I tried my hand at acid dyeing...and discovered why it is best to wear gloves during the process...yes, I know the whole dye/chemical thing, but more than that-it will dye your nails. Yep, I have beautiful brilliant blue yarn and slightly off cast blue fingernails....just a hint of color--enough to make people go "HUH?!".. lesson learned. But DANG I am soooooo addicted to dyeing my own yarn! It completely rocks! I am just doing single colors right now and there is a skein of merino silk that will be going in the dye pot again since it is a little spotty (note to self, stir gently for 30 minutes as per the instructions so the dye and yarn meet properly..)...I found the perfect shade of blue---pictures tomorrow. It is unbelievable!

On a side note, another addiction: playing with glass and flames! I took the glass bead making class at Beadazzled this weekend and loved it. I made quite a few beginner beads but am sure I will be starting to use the studio in December so I can make more. At $8 an hour or studio rental (after you take the first class), it is a steal considering you get to use the torches and the kiln. And she has a great selection of glass that is pretty inexpensive. I thought I might be intimidated by the torch, but it was absolutely mesmerizing. LOVE IT! If you are in Wichita, I would really recommend giving it a try.

I am actually off work today because of Veteran's Day. Our office is one of the few that closes, which is great. Kids grumbled about having to go to school and hubby went off to work, so the house is quiet. But, lest you think I am having complete bliss, keep in mind I also just finished cleaning up cat puke off a light cream carpet. Yep, real life has a way of slamming through, doesn't it?

Great coffee and good friends to you and yours!

Just a quick post

Just a quick post before I run off to work. It's Monday and I am running behind, as usual.

If anyone sees a digital camera along the highway trying to hitch a ride out of Kansas--yell at me...Mine has gone AWOL and I think it got up an walked away on it's own. Yes, I have been griping about it---a lot--but I would really like to find it so I can at least grab the memory card! So needless to say, it may be hiding in fear somewhere around the house after the last time it screwed up, but it isn't where I left it....It's probably hiding out in the laundry room with all the single socks that have disappeared...darn it!

So for at least a little, while, I may not have pictures...time to order another camera. Darn.

I will post more tonight when I have time to write--good coffee and great friends to you and yours!!

Pictures from last weekend

I ended up not going to Newton as originally planned -- instead one of my sons and I went to the Wichita Art Museum to see the quilt exhibit and to Botonica. I love that place! It was a good day!

How long has it been?

Holy Smokes--it has really been busy at work--so busy that I come home and collapse. I just realized it has been almost 10 DAYS since I posted! It has just flown by!
I found another yarn shop with 20 minutes of Wichita. I went a couple weeks ago and it was really nice. I'm planning on taking a little road trip tomorrow so I will post some pictures and tell you all about it. There is also a bead shop/store in the same business, so it's all good!!! There is also a wonderful quilt shop in the same town, so I am going to be one happy camper!

Good coffee and great friends to you and yours!!

Knitters Coffee Swap III questions and answers

QUESTIONS
1. Whole bean or ground? Whole bean is best since I have a grinder. I love the process of grinding coffee for each brew.

2. Fully-loaded or decaf? Fully loaded!

3. Regular or flavored? I'm fine with anything.

4. How do you drink your coffee? With turbino sugar and creamer or whole milk.

5. Favorite coffee ever? I like to try many types, so I have to say whatever blend I have in my cup that day is my favorite. I did get an unbelievably good bag from my recent Fall into Autumn Buddy... yum!!!!

6. Are you fussy about your coffee or will any old bean do? I love trying different house blends from coffee houses and the smaller coffee shops.

7. Favorite treats to have with your coffee? sugar cookies (the crispy kind) or biscotti of any kind.

8. Anything else about your coffee preferences? Nothing in particular--I just love coffee!

9. Yarn/fiber you love? I am nuts about sock yarn in any fiber blend.

10. Yarn/fiber you hate? Is it possible to hate yarn?!

11. What's on your needles? A sock from Collinette Jitterbug, a facecloth, my first sweater, a scarf and I am about to cast on a sock with some fabulous yarn from my dishcloth buddy...not on one needle, mind you, but many to suit whatever mood I'm in.

12. Favorite colors? Blues, purples, reds, greens, oranges etc--I like all colors actually.

13. Allergies? Nope!

14. Anything you really love, really don't like, or just need to get off your chest? my bra...oops, wrong swap (LOL) and for those of you I have just shocked or offended: Hang on--it's going to be a bumpy ride!

Pretty Places!

I took my mother to a doctor's appointment in Tulsa, Oklahoma today...we used to live there (the twins were born there) so it was nice to go back. I ran around a little while Mom was having her tests run (it was supposed to take several hours) and got to visit the Tulsa Garden Center. My oldest and I were frequent visitors to this place and it has a huge place in my heart.So, I thought I would share just a couple treats from the day...Enjoy!

And even though there were 3 yarn stores and a couple quilting stores in Tulsa, I abstained from the temptation (uggggggghhhh--it hurt! But if I go into a yarn shop, I experience short term memory and wake up with a serious yarn hangover...with skeins of sock yarn lying about..it is a nasty little secret of mine...I tell myself I can handle just holding the skein, and then before I know it, I wake up with strange yarn...I'm so ashamed...okay, maybe not SOOOO ashamed, but I probably should be.).

I got an WONDERFUL package in the mail !!!

Today after I got home, there was a package on my doorstep from my swap buddie! It was the most wonderful surprise package full of the best goodies! Donna--you get a triple A+ !! You definitely hit the nail on the head with all my weaknesses! The coffee smelled SO divine-I am going to wait until I take a picture of everything before I devour--- I mean pour-- a cup so everyone can see. I am a coffee fanatic! I may just have to keep some in a sachet to inhale--it smells that divine!!! And SOCK YARN (I was doing the Snoopy happy dance when I saw it)! In the most perfect colorway!!! Sock yarn is my ultimate weakness!! The spa clothes were really beautiful! I love it that you included the patterns. And everything else was perfect! I have so enjoyed our emails and am hoping to continue "talking" to you. I really do agree, we were perfectly matched! I am looking forward to using the wonderful soap too!

I'm BACK!

Atlanta was wonderful --and painful! I got to see things that I had never seen and got to visit some really wonderful places...and then got to see the emergency room at Southern Regional Medical Center in Riverdale, Georgia....at 3:30 a.m. even! More on that later. I will edit this post with some pictures tomorrow. I didn't take too many since my camera is possessed, but I did get some of the yarn store....

My flight was really smooth to Atlanta. Mind you, having not flown commercially since before my 21 year old was born (and that was my first/last time), I was really unsure of myself. I left Wichita, Kansas --with our 11 gate airport---and landed in Atlanta, with their 10 gazillion gate airport! And the airport has a train in it!!! And it is inhabited around the clock with at least half the number of people that inhabit my little town!!!! Luckily I followed two ladies that got off the flight from Wichita--I figured they were going towards baggage claim, so I followed. This was probably their first time in Atlanta and this very minute one of them is blogging about being stalked by some crazy lady from the flight.....um, that'd be me...

Marita took me for a ride all over different parts of Atlanta and was very graceful when I announced there was a yarn store in Virginia Highlands that I had to visit. If you are in Atlanta, please visit Knitch ! The store is amazing and the staff are sooo friendly! They have the most amazing yarn selection for any kind of yarn or pattern your heart desires! I didn't take my double points with me on the plane so I was really going through withdrawal! I bought 2 skeins of sock yarn from Mountain Colors in an amazing colorway, a set of Brittany double points and some patterns. The owner was very sweet to give a little advice on how to at least save my work if they didn't let me go through with the double points. Luckily I had no questions at the security gate. I assume maybe the TSA guards realize most knitters are very quiet patrons if they are kept busy--plus, there is absolutely no way size 4 double pointed needles can inflict harm without breaking first...However, I definitely would not try my luck with metal. That is asking to get them confiscated.....Knitch is an amazing place with a dye kitchen and a Zen sitting space upstairs. They even have spinning wheels and roving of all sorts. My friend has not been enlightened to the zen of knitting =--but she was pretty patient with me. I really must knit her a scarf for taking me there.......I am going to bring an extra suitcase with me when I go next time so I can get all the cool yarn---oh, I mean souvenirs-- back.....

We took the train to Five points station--accidentally. She got Five Points and Little Five Points confused. It turned out OK because I really enjoyed the train ride--we don't have trains in Wichita. We went to Underground Atlanta since we were already down there. Did you know you can't take pictures in a train station? I certainly didn't---until this guy came up and yelled at us. Mind you, he didn't even tell us who he was, so we thought he was the crazy train station homeless guy. Decently dressed, but crazy nonetheless...I did find an attendant near the train area and he was very gracious about explaining what the issue was with any pictures in the station. I had taken quite a few before we got yelled at and was going to keep them, but the attendant made sense and was very polite, so I deleted them after we left the station. I certainly would not want to post something that a dingbat terrorist could use...It's sad that we even have to consider that...But, now I know you can't take pictures in any major transportation hub...see, I learned something. But the first guy could still use some interpersonal communication skill training. Dear Marta -- please train your staff in manners (except for the older attendant, he was very polite and gracious). OK, maybe just some of the staff --the attendants at the ticket machines and gate entrances were really sweet and quick to offer help to this really confused tourist...

Atlanta has some amazing ethnic restaurants, a Whole Foods Grocery store (I definitely had to visit that store----We NEED one in Wichita!!!), amazing funky stores and beautifully restored neighborhoods. Next time I go, I want to go to Little Five Points for shopping, the Martin Luther King Center and the Jimmy Carter Center. There is so much to do there, a weekend is not enough to cover. We even went downtown to the Atlantic Station area where there was an art fair. This was the first year they've had it, so the crowd was a little light, but hopefully they have it next year. I am saving up just in case. There were many really talented artists and I found a ton of inspiration! I am going to start making jewelry and painting again...

I was supposed to fly out of Atlanta at 8:00 a.m. on Monday, but that didn't happen. Instead, I awoke at 1:30 with a feeling in my left side like something had burst. I took two really hot soaks in the tub and the pain was so bad that I couldn't stand up. My first thought was my appendix burst--but I called hubby and he said the appendix is on the right side...next? At 3:30 it was clear the pain was not going away and was getting so bad I couldn't even breathe--add to that nausea...so I had to scare the bejebees out of my friend and have her take me to an emergency room. Not really what I had in mind. However, I must say, the staff at the hospital in Riverdale are very good with grumpy people in pain. Not to mention they don't blink twice when you get sick....I don't think I ran into a single grumpy staff member the whole time--so I really rate them highly--if you have to go. Everyone from the admitting staff, to the nurses, to the doctor who explained everything clearly, was very kind and patient. If I ever have to have an IV or get blood drawn again, I hope I can find staff as good as them. I am terrified of needles, but they really were good at their jobs. A CT scan, several shots of painkiller and some hours later, I found out I had a kidney stone....I would have never guessed something like that could cause so much extreme pain!! I wish that on nobody! Needless to say, I didn't make the flight home. I flew out on Tuesday afternoon after sleeping all day Monday....interesting ending for the week.

But it was all good. I saw a lot of interesting things, met and saw a lot of interesting people and found a spectacular yarn store (from that moment on, anything else we did and saw was just icing on the cake)..I am glad I had a resident to show me around though. Atlanta is a huge city.

Atlanta Bound!

I leave for Atlanta tomorrow evening. Unfortunately my camera may not be with me since it has been somewhat of a pain in the rear. Next week will be camera buying time! I am looking at a Canon (like what Laura uses on her blog, ) or a Kodak Easy share....Check out her blog--especially today's post. Just don't say anything about couch cushions to her for a little while......
I got my Harmony needle set from Knit picks today. I do have to say that the larger needles that I ordered earlier (sizes 7 and 8) are prettier and have a lot of color to them, but the smaller ones have more single colors than a mix. That's OK. I started to cast on a swatch in the round to play with a sock recipe that we got at the sock knitting class--and I drew a COMPLETE BLANK!
I have completely forgot how I did it and how to do the first couple rounds---what's up with that?!!

Tuesday!

Which is almost Friday....OK, so I am being optimistic....I fly to Atlanta this Friday to visit a friend. I haven't been to Atlanta since childhood and I am looking forward to it. I lived right outside of Atlanta when I was a child but haven't been back since. I am already scoping out the yarn shops. There is one in the Virginia Highlands section of Atlanta that sounds interesting, and my friend said it is reasonably easy to get to, so we just might have to explore.

It has definitely been a week of slogging---that is when you are trying to make some progress, but are just slogging around in the muck. The muck in my case are telephone calls from clients that require more time and energy than is really needed, but still sucks up time anyway no matter what...I'm not a good slogger! As much tail chasing as I have done in the past two days, you'd think mine would be smaller!

I am about to go upstairs and start on the back of the baby sweater I started in class. I got a little frustrated with the front so I am letting it rest overnight. Then I may take it to Twist for some help. It is knit in Berrocco Comfort, which is a synthetic yarn (with baby stuff it is all about the wash ability!) but I may have to block it nonetheless to get an accurate measurement. I am getting uneven measurement on both sides and I know they are even....I WILL finish this sweater...........then I have to cast on a dishcloth or a facecloth for the swap. As if by fate, I happened into a used book store here in Wichita and found a rather thick book of knitting stitch patterns. There are several that look really neat, so I may have to make several to see which ones work best in that format...darn, don't make me knit...

I am hoping that I am able to get on the flight with my wood double points -- I'd love to start some socks before I go so I can work on the ribbing while I am on the plane for 2+ hours. It keeps me calm. I knit when cute man and I fly in single engine planes (hubby is a private pilot) and it is very calming and productive........I am going to buy some wood double points this week if my Harmony set from Knit Picks does not arrive by then. I am waiting....I loved the size seven and eight set so much that I bought the packaged set of smaller ones. I love the colors and they really are smooth and feel good in my hands. I haven't knit with them yet, but since they are from Knit Picks, I trust that they will hold up well and be guaranteed like everything else. I buy their skeins of yarn that you dye yourself when I am kool aid dyeing. I love Kool Aid dyeing--it is so easy! I am about to move into acid dyeing as soon as I get my set of dyes and read a little more about it.

Well, I have to run!
Good friends and great coffee to you and yours!

Camera Comments welcome

As you may have read, my Vivitar Vivicam 8300s is not the best camera for me, and I have been contemplating changing it out for quite some time.

I am considering the Kodak Easyshare line. They have one out with 10 mega pixels for around $200. So--before I actually jump off and spend money, I would love to hear what kind of camera you use, what are the pros and cons and if given a choice, would you buy it again? I need one with a reasonably quick shutter speed--the Vivicam REALLY does not have that ability so I either miss a lot of shots or end up with blurred pictures. I find it is such a hassle to operate that I end up not taking pictures at all. Oh, and I want to keep it under $250.

Talk to me!

Good coffee and a great day to you and yours!

October resolutions

OK--I got back from an initial consultation at Curves and have decided that it is time for a resolution!

I could wait for the new year, but today after weigh in, I got a wake up call. My weight is at a ridiculous and dangerous level. I'm embarrassed to say how much, but trust me, it is NOT good. SOOOO-starting in October I am resolving two things--I am going to lose weight and exercise more--and I am going to use the yarn I have in my stash to keep my mind busy and my wallet closed....since I am really bad at going cold turkey, I am going to treat myself to 2 skeins of some Jitterbug after each 10 lb weight lose. Ten pounds doesn't sound like a lot, but to me it is. Since I love Jitterbug sock yarn so much, it will keep me motivated. I am going to start on a pair of socks using the Jitterbug I featured a couple posts ago. I really have not progressed to anything other than basic socks, but I love sock knitting intensely! I work on double pointed needles and there is just something really calming about going around the needles. I am eyeing a little more complicated cabled sock from the Interweave 25 Favorite Sock book....I've done regular cables and really like it, so it shouldn't be too hard to transfer that technique to something smaller, right?

I haven't gotten as far on the baby sweater as the teacher would like us to. She was wanting us to have two pieces that she can use to show us how to sew seams together. I have not even finished the front, so I am just going to make a couple swatches that I can use for her to show me how to seam them together. I am a slow knitter, I guess. Either that or I am a really busy person. I am going to hang out after class again Saturday. I had such a wonderful time. I probably won't close the place down like last week, but I will sit and visit for a couple hours. I am hoping to be able to make it to the Thursday stitch and bitch at some point--when my schedule slows down.

Ready for the Weekend

Except for the fact that I have not progressed enough on the baby sweater to seam anything together....darn it. I will remedy that tonight. Hubby has class so I am considering taking kids to the library so I can hang out and read/knit. Not that I can do both mind you, but it is nice to have the option of knitting when I have found everything I want and the kids are still looking.
I need to get the front finished-up to the button holes, which I do not know how to do yet and the neckline. After I finish the sweater, I will start another so I can reinforce what I have learned and get back to work on my socks. There is something relaxing about sock making, I'm not sure what.

Had an interesting exchange at 8 O FREAKING CLOCK IN THE MORNING yesterday....my door bell rings and I look out to see a guy and his kids standing there. I figure it has to be important this early in the morning so I answer it--in my pj's and wet hair. The guy asks if that is our blue Thunderbird out front. Mind you, the car is so pitch black, it is inconceivable that it can be mistaken for blue. But hey, it's 8 O FREAKING CLOCK IN THE MORNING, so I'll allow for a little color blindness. Meanwhile 2 of the 4 dogs have decided these people on my doorstep look particularly tasty and are trying to break past me to get a morsel. Still, I'm trying to be graceful. And here is how the exchange goes from there---at 8 O FREAKING CLOCK IN THE MORNING:
me: yes, that is our Thunderbird.
moron: does it run?
me: yes.
moron: Are you selling it?

NEVER MIND THAT THERE IS NOT A SINGLE INDICATION THAT THE CAR IS FOR SALE, NOT SIGN, NOTHING...NADA...ZIP...

me: no, it is not for sale.
moron: it's not for sale?
me: no, it's not for sale.
moron: does it run?
me: yes, the starter may need to be looked at, but it does run...
moron: it runs?

Mind you, he is taking time to formulate each witty response while I am contemplating being rude and shutting the door, or releasing the hounds, but I know too much about liability law to be comfortable with that...

me: it's going to be going to Iowa soon.
moron: you're taking it to Iowa?
me: yes, IOWA.
moron: where are you going to get it fixed? (the first non repeating statement he has made in the whole conversation, so I'll grace him...)
me: to Doug's (one of the few mechanics in town and an absolute wonderful owner and staff but I did not add this since I saw the next sentence coming..)
moron: To Doug's?
By this time I am starting to get visibly pissy so I guess his common sense button was finally tripped and the nice man took his son and got the hell of my landing at 8 O FREAKING CLOCK IN THE MORNING....

And the scary thing is he got in a vehicle as a driver....isn't there some law that says you have to have a brain to drive...never mind. The flip side of that is that maybe he was having a pissy morning and just felt the need to knock on a random strangers door and share it. uuuuuuuuuuuuuuggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggg!!!!!

Secondary note, did you know spell check doesn't recognize "pissy"? Go ahead, spell it and ask for the alternatives....

Fall Into Autumn Swap Topic of the week...

TOPIC OF THE WEEK

When you knit or crochet dish clothes, wash clothes or face clothes, what do you use?

I knit both face clothes and dish clothes. I am working on some right now just for my face using a really nice Egyptian cotton. One of the ladies I met while hanging out at Twist got me hooked on this yarn....so soft....


What size needle or hook? Wood? what type? Metal? Plastic? A specific Brand? Why do you love that needle or hook so much? Is there one you are dying to try?

I tend to be a tight knitter so anything in the 7-10 size range works well for me if we are talking about straights. Metal or plastic is fine with me. I really love the plastic needles that I found at Jo Anne's crafts. They are cream plastic and have a little whale on the package. I can't remember what they are called, but I have a whole set of them.They are flexible and the tips are sharp for getting into tight stitches (as I am known to do). I'd like to try the new casein ones out by Swallow. I'm not really picky.

For double pointed and circulars, I recently discovered the Harmony needles by Knit Picks. I have a set of the double pointed in 7 and 8 dp's and they are truly beautiful .



Is there a particular yarn you love and use all the time for clothes? What is so special about it?

Cotton is my favorite, but I am open to any brand.

Things I SHOULD be doing....

I should be doing my online math class...but as you can see, I'm just not at that special place where I can do the M word yet...technically I need to get it done quickly since we are leaving in an hour to have brunch with a friend then check out a townhouse she's considering buying. She's already warned us it is going to need some TLC--which we can definitely assist with. Afterwards, I am heading off to see the The Yarn Harlot---I would say just "Harlot" but I would confuse myself with exactly who I'm talking about....so many of my friends aspire to that title....I would, but it requires too darn much work....

I am hoping Stephanie got a proper Kansas welcome at the gate---complete with some fool dressed up like Dorothy, the Tin Man, Lion and Scarecrow.

Well, probably not Tin Man since I doubt he'd get through the metal detectors. He is still at the security office getting interrogated and frisked...and maybe not the Lion--I'm sure he is on some kind of "no-fly, no pass" status for whizzing on a kiosk at some airport....And maybe not the Scarecrow. He has been deemed a possible inflammatory device....And while we're at it, Toto is a dog, so no unsecured animals. Security probably grabbed him and threw him in some crate. Good thing he is a master at getting out of enclosed spaces. The airline would lose him anyway....

So that leaves poor Dorothy. Hopefully they would send a fresh faced young Dorothy. I would volunteer, but menopausal age Dorothy just doesn't have the same effect. That be like giving someone a menopausal age Barbie. You know the one--you press the button and she says "Get you own damn dinner" or "I gave birth to you--you don't see me whining do you?" and for Ken when he presses the button "You have two perfectly good hands--leave me the hell alone"...Yep, fresh faced, young Dorothy would probably be a safer impression.

OK, I'll be quiet...

FUN day!

I spent the whole day at Twist today! It was awesome!

I had the last of the 2 classes for the sock knitting class. I loved that class! I learned how to turn a heel and shape the gusset, which will get me unstuck on the legacy sock. I have a ton of worsted weight yarn that has been hiding at my house, so it now has a purpose since the pattern we used calls for worsted weight yarn. I am going to work on an orange and black sock soon. Not for Halloween, although the timing is great, but for the Oklahoma State Cowboys--where hubby graduated from college and both of our hometown.

I had the sweater class from 10-11:30 and the sweater class from 1:30 to 3 ish...I say "ish" because most of us hung around long afterwards......the shop has a really neat seating area, so after everyone from class left, I hung out there. I also discovered the shop stays open on Saturdays until 8 p.m! Oh Yeah! You know I stayed until then! I also found out how small the world really is when you knit. I ran into an attorney from the office--I never even knew she knit! And had a great conversation with a lady who turned out to be a friend of our State Director...and another lady came in that I haven't seen in ages. Amazing! It was a lot of fun to hang out with everyone and just knit. I did pick up some awesome yarn for the Fall into Autumn swap in cotton. Since I was a dork and revealed my name accidentally to my swap buddy, I won't blow it here--but it is good yarn! Soooooooo smooth.....so soft......mmmmmmm....ok, I'll stop. But it is really good yarn.....mmmmmmm...... Dear Buddy..I promise the yarn you get will not be drooled on.....

I have to bust it this week to get the sweater pieces done. She is going to show us how to join them next week. I did learn a Russian edge that makes really smooth ends. Supposedly it will result in a really smooth join with no seams showing. No seams showing is a good thing......... I also picked up another good tip on managing the yarn I'm knitting with. One of the ladies at the shop has her yarn wound into yarn cakes (OK, yarn balls--but cakes sound much more yummy)and slips them into a zip lock baggie that has a hole punched in the middle of one top. Through that hole she puts the start of the yarn. Isn't that clever? The yarn stays clean and manageable.

Yarn Harlot comes tomorrow! I am really looking forward to seeing her! I love her books and her blog--although I have to admit I haven't visited the blog in a while. Bad me! I will have to make it a point to stop by there more often since she is such a hoot. For those of you who don't speak redneck, hoot means she's "funny".....Not like the business "Hooters", which would mean something totally different--but we won't go there.....

Good yarn and great coffee to you and yours!

Tuesday.....

Hubby just came home after being on a business trip to Oklahoma. He usually takes the boys to school in the morning and gets them up, so it was my job this time...I was a little afraid I might sleep through the alarm and get the boys to school late--but it all worked out. I actually woke up a little early. Unfortunately he did not get home in time for me to be able to make my Japanese class. I knew this in advance, so I emailed the teacher to let her know and she was graceful enough to allow me to take the test next week.

It has been a busy week! I am looking forward to the next/last sock class this weekend. I start the beginning sweater class too--so Saturday will be a blissful day of knitting.YEAH!!!!! And Sunday I get to see the Yarn Harlot in Wichita---double scoop of YEAH!!!! I ordered a set of size 7 and size 8 double pointed needles from Knit picks and am looking forward to playing with them. These are the right size to make socks out of worsted weight yarn. I need some boot socks, or socks to where with my clogs around the office. I want to learn to acid dye so I can make some really bright and funky socks that shock!

The weather is finally starting to cool off! I love Fall! The golds,yellows, oranges and reds are among my favorites! Actually, orange, red, mixed with a little cobalt or royal blue are my favorite color combinations! Like the colors of a charka.I don't actually think I've ever met a color I didn't like, but bright is best. I want a pair of socks in those colors! And that is exactly what I am going to make when I learn to knit socks!!

I am on a pattern quest after work tomorrow. I want to start my dishcloth for the swap. I haven't decided what pattern---maybe something simple. I have to look at my secret pals blog again and see what she likes. I wish I still made handcrafted soaps--I'd be set on that! But instead I will find a local soapmaker so my buddy gets a taste of Kansas....For those of my fellow knitters that need sources for handcrafted soaps, try the Handcrafted Soapmakers Guild. You can find a soapmaker by state etc...Good stuff!

Fall Into Autumn Swap Topic

Here is the question and answer to the weekly topic for the Fall into Autumn Swap.

Now that in some geographic locations the weather is starting to turn cooler, do you change the type of yarn(s) you knit/crochet with?
If so, what do you now knit/crochet with instead and why? If not, why do you not switch and what do you knit/crochet with?

When the weather starts cooling off, I tend to put away the lighter cottons and go more towards wools and alpaca. That being said, I still knit with cotton year round when I am making dishcloths or sample swatches. It allows me to see my stitch definition and see where I am making mistakes. I'm really not picky. Yarn is like chocolate--I've yet to find one I don't like!

Rockin' Weekend!!!

This weekend was one of those EXCELLENT weekends that just makes you warm all over!!! OK, maybe it was the fact it was actually a billion degrees outside. Either that or hot flashes...it's so hard to tell lately..

Well, except for the part about having a test in the online math class I'm taking at the local junior college---mmmmm--love those polynomials...NOT!!!!

Saturday started with one of the best classes I have taken in a long time! It was the first class of the two week sock knitting class that I signed up for at Twist. I know the two girls (at what age do we become women?!) that teach the class from the Wichita Knit in Public group, but haven't taken classes from them before. Jackie's blog says it was her first time teaching, but they did a flawless job. Jackie and Lia were very good about watching for knitters in distress and knowing when to let everyone work it out....I screwed up by knitting with my tail (the YARNS tail, not mine... ) straight out of the shoot (otherwise known as the knit with your tail and falling on your arse technique..I perfected it). Hey it can only go uphill from there, right? I had enough of the tail to knit to the beginning of the round luckily and just faked it from there by switching over to the working yarn. For those of you purists who are having chest pains at the thought of that, hey--it worked....not that I intend to do that again, but it is a "learning experience"(which is usually followed by the phrase "Well, isn't that SPECIAL", or "Well, I don't think I've ever seen that....in all my YEARS of teaching"). And I TURNED THE HEEL TODAY. For those of you not familiar with " the legacy socks" aka. "Jeez Mom, are you ever going to finish them" socks, just take my word--this is a MAJOR deal! As I realized the heel cup was formed, I could have sworn I heard angels singing-then I realized it was one of the cats growling....good timing on the cat's part....

Later that evening I worked the state fair booth in Hutchinson that our company has every year. I enjoy it. Cute man and kids hung out from 4-9:30 and looked around the fair. I want to go back before the fair ends so I can actually see the exhibits and the livestock. I got there too late last year and didn't get to see all the animals. I did run into the llama breeders last year, who had not packed up yet. They were a really great group of people--and I still really want one! But there is this little thing about being able to convince the neighbors that it is a sheepdog....a really BIG long necked sheepdog...that spits....I'm still working the details out on that one, stay tuned.

And to top off a weekend that couldn't get any better: My friend Marita flew in to Wichita for the weekend. It was so good to see her! I am flying to Atlanta at the end of the month to visit her on her home turf. I am dragging her to every yarn and fabric store in a hundred mile radius...suggestions welcome.

Good things:
The Yarn Harlot is coming to Wichita next Sunday. Tickets are free from Watermark Books here in Wichita. I got mine!

Knit picks has the coolest multicolored wood double point and circular needles! They are called "Harmony"...I heard about them at the sock knitting class this weekend, so you KNOW I had to look...and order... a couple... OK, maybe more than a couple. Last I checked, the only thing that was bad to have "too many of" was husbands and parking tickets. Yep, I use the same argument when eating Oreos...