No wonder I am so tired at the end of the day! I'll bet you will feel the same after watching this video.
Did you miss me?
Click the picture to read my first post about it
Well now it looks like this......
With the help of our neighbors and a couple of friends with the trade skills needed to build a wall like that, we built that wall ourselves. There was a lot of blood, sweat and tears put into that wall.
We have also been busy working on the house and doing some landscaping to prepare to refinance our home.
Thank goodness that is finished and I can finally get back to my knitting!
My hubby and I also went on a hike last weekend to scout out his hunting location for this year. This is the view from the top of the bluff we hiked to. We were on the Oregon and California border. Isn't it just breathtaking?
That is Mt. Shasta in the background to the left. Click on the picture to make it bigger.
Back and better than ever
Last week was my first full week back at work. It was good to be back but also exhausting at the same time. I played a little golf this week too just to get my game back. I would say that it is coming along quite nicely as I shot a 51 yesterday for 9 holes. Not quite Tiger Woods or Anika Sorenstam but pretty good for me since I just started playing in May.
I really haven't been doing much in the way of knitting lately. I think it's because it has been so hot. I do have one sock finished and I started the second one. I will post pics later in the week. I am going to hurry up and get the Indigo Ripples Skirt finished. I have totally neglected it. I also have something really cool to share with all of you. My daughter took wood shop class last spring and made me a really cool chest for me to store my yarn in. Take a look!
Isn't it cool?! This thing is huge! She even made a tray that slides back and forth so I can see all my yarn.
Recovering
They did take my appendix and they found the culprit of my pain and agony for the past couple of weeks. It was a HUGE cyst on my right ovary. You can see a picture of the cyst by clicking the word cyst in this post. Yes, they took a picture of it for my scrapbook.
Updated on Monday, July 23, 2007.
I scanned the photo of the cyst today and you can see it by clicking here--------> CYST
Appendectomy
It's not a boy....
Just wanted to give everyone an update.
I'm a Mystery
I have been spending the past couple of days in the urgent care to figure out what is going on. My white blood cell count jumped from 7000 to 10000 and back down to 7000 today. I had a limited Appy CT Scan on Tuesday that said that everything looked okay, I still have pain in my LRQ (lower right quadrant). I am going in for a complete abdominal/pelvic CT study with contrast this afternoon. Hopefully this will tell us what is going on.
I just wanted to let everyone know what was going on so you all knew why I haven't been posting on here for a while.
SP10 Reveal
I had asked my pal if she could possibly send me another skein of the Romni Wools Angora Silk that she had sent me previously. She not only sent me one more skein, but two skeins of it and the Interweave Knits Summer issue that I haven't been able to get my hands on. I am overjoyed beyond words. She also sent me some really nice sock yarn and size 1 dpn's, a lens cloth for my specs, gardening gloves and some cute decorations for my kitchen window.
Thank you Sandi for being such a generous pal!
The Best Way To Contact Me
If you are wanting to sign up for the Indigo Ripples Skirt KAL, I need your email address and I also need your blog URL if you have one. Again, to sign up just send me an email.
My email address is: reno_rainy at yahoo dot com
You can also Skype me. My Skype handle is: renorainy
Skype for those who don't know what it is, is a voice chat/IM chat program that is free to download. There is a huge knitting/crochet community on there now and we are having a blast! Come join us!
That's all for now, hope everyone is having a great week!
(Betty, you left me a comment and wanted to join the KAL, but I have no way to contact you. Please send me an email.)
A FO and Ravelry!
I started going through my stuff and my stash and organizing it so I can post it all on Ravelry and I realized that I never posted about this FO.
This is the free pattern from Patons called City Wrap. I used Patons Decor yarn in the Secret Garden Variegated colorway on size 11US needles. This was extremely easy to make and knit up really quick. The hardest part was finding the buckle. I searched everywhere, including on the internet and when I say everywhere, I mean everywhere! My daughter finally suggested that I look for a belt in the accessories department at Walmart and this is what I found.
With a pair of pliers it went from this to this......
I think it looks much better on the wrap don't you?
Black Sheep Gathering and Nenah
A spinning kit complete with 3 balls of roving, a spindle and instruction book, 2 mill end skeins of Socks That Rock and a free pattern. And that's not all! Here is the best part of going to Black Sheep Gathering.
I have been trying to knit socks unsuccessfully for the past year. Just about everyone that I have talked to said that since I don't have a LYS that I should get the DVD's by Nenah. Well guess who just happened to be at BSG!! Nenah of Knitting Korner herself! I was so excited to be able get the DVD's and meet Nenah too. She is the nicest lady and I was flabbergasted to find out that she only lives about an hour away from me. She invited me to come down to Grants Pass and visit her anytime and told me to call her anytime if I had any questions.


Socks
Okay, I know its not an actual sock that I can wear, but my soda sure is enjoying it.
I have tried several times to knit a pair of socks without success. I am extremely determined to complete a pair of socks. I have met Erin of Damn Knit, Ariel of Stariel Knits, Shannon & Stephanie of SSK, Charles of Stitch Stud and His Bride, and Patricia on Skype and they are going to get me through this pair socks. Stephanie and Shannon of SSK podcast started a Skypecast virtual SnB a couple of weeks ago on Skype and it is a total blast! You should come join us on Skype. My handle on Skype is renorainy so give me a buzz sometime and I will introduce you to everyone!
Here's a couple of pictures of my first sock in progress.
On another knitting topic, I have joined the Summer KAL-CAL Purse Round-Up. Marly of Yarn Thing and Jill of Woolcrafting started this KAL-CAL. They are going to be giving away some great prizes. Go check it out and join us!
Cha-Ching...Whoo We're Havin' Fun
So I sat down at my desk today after work and pulled out the bills and the checkbook and then pulled up my budget spreadsheet (yeah, I'm kinda anal, I mean analytical like that) on the computer. The next thing I know, Willow has just jumped up on the desk in all the excitement and climbs into my lap as she meows, "Wait up for me, if money is going to be spent, I want to help! Whoot!!"
At least I didn't let her balance the checkbook!
7 Random Things
The rules: Each person tagged gives 7 random facts about themselves. Those who are tagged need to write on their own blog those 7 facts as well as the rules of the game. You need to tag seven other people and list their names on your blog. Then you leave those you plan on tagging a note in their comments so they know that they have been tagged and to read your blog.
1. I was born in
2. I am employed doing the same type of work (Medical/Hospital Administration/Medical Assistant) my sister received her bachelors degree in and I never attended college.
3. I met my husband on the internet. We were both trying out ICQ at the time and he accidentally messaged me. We messaged each other a few more times and its all history from there.
4. I love the ocean but I have a fear of water that I cannot see to the bottom. Something might grab me and drag me to the bottom or touch my legs as it swims by. Yikes!
5. I love to go rockhounding. Someday I hope to find huge diamond.
6. I just learned to drive a stick shift a year ago this last January. Now I just need to learn to fly a plane!
7. I have owned a guitar for over 10 years and I have never learned to play it. I used to be a sound tech for a band and thought that I would try to learn to play the guitar....lets just say that my ears are better than my fingers!
I am not going to tag anyone in particular. If you want to do this and post it on your blog, go right ahead!
Indigo Ripples Skirt in Progress
SP10 Struck Again!
I received package #2 from my SP10 earlier this week. She had sent me an email to let me know that she was going to just send two packages and that the second package would be larger than the first one and would arrive in June. Well, she changed her mind and sent me all of this!
The hank of yarn that is hiding in the middle is an Angora and Silk blend by Romni Wools. It is sooooo soft and Willow has taken kindly to it too.
The pin is from the "No Sheep For You" launch party which was held at Lettuce Knit. She also picked up the "love to knit" magnet from there too. She also sent me this cute coin purse.
Thanks SP10....You're The Greatest!
Okay, Who Left Their Breast Implant on the Beach?
I have been a bad blogger lately, but I promise there is some good things coming tomorrow!
SP10 Package arrived!
So, I carefully unwrapped it (tore into it) and this is what I saw.
I opened the card and this was the message from my SP10......"Hi there Teri!
Hope this secret pal package finds you well and that you dig all of the groovy goodness!! Happy knitting, etc......Your SP10"
She sent me some awesome yarn, two patterns, some toys for Willow, some chocolate (which is already gone), a sugar cookie scented candle, a cute cat magnet, a pen with my name (spelled Terri) on it with a note from her saying--you never know when you might need an extra 'R' (I can never find things with the correct spelling of my name), and the coolest stitch markers that she made!
Thank you SP10! This package was awesome! I already wound the hank of yarn into a cake, Willow has been playing with her toys, the magnet is on my fridge, the chocolate was delicious and the stitch markers are being used in my Indigo Ripples Skirt!
Look What I Got!
I Have A FO!
I also wanted to show off a FO! I finished this scarf about a month ago but just haven't gotten around to posting about it. I used size 13 needles and CO 18 stitches and worked it in garter stitch (very simple I know). I used 2 skeins of Noro Tidiori yarn. The fiber content of this yarn is 60% Rayon, 35% Nylon, 5% Cashmere, so this scarf is pretty soft. This was fun to knit up just to see the color changes.
My Cat is a Dork
Sometimes I just don't know what to think about my cat, she is such a dork.
Indigo Ripples Skirt KAL is Here!
Indigo Ripples Skirt Knit-Along
Click here to see an up close picture of the skirt.
I am going to start a knit-along! Please leave me a comment or click the marquee at the top of the page to send me an email if you would like to join the KAL. I will start up a blog for the knit-along for everyone to post their progress and their finished Indigo Ripples Skirt.
I am going to be using Lion Brand Cotton Ease in the Violet colorway.
Crazy Aunt Purl wrote a book!
I just can't say it!
I have to say that I have had an absolutely great birthday and I definitely won't forget it. I got an adapter for my I-pod so I can play it in my car.
40 isn't old if your a tree!

I have had a great birthday so far. Both of my girls woke me up to wish me a "Happy Birthday." My oldest daughter is taking a wood shop class and made me a photo frame. I got up and indulged for breakfast. I had bananas with Nutella on them (this is very very good, you really should try it sometime). I got myself ready for work and I have to say, I am having a very good hair day (this is very important on your 40th birthday). I am wearing all black today because it is very slimming, not because of the death of my youth. When I got to work there were balloons waiting for me on my desk from the girls in the office. They even bought "Birthday" donuts! The doctor I work for even bought us all lunch (Mexican-my favorite) in honor of my birthday. I only had to work for a few hours today and now I am home relaxing. Hubby just asked me what I wanted to order in for dinner (I am thinking Chinese sounds really good).
There has been a lot of secret meetings in my house the past couple days and I have been told that there is something being planned for Saturday. Life just doesn't get any better than today!
Mammogram results are in!
I was very nervous about getting the results of this mammogram, in fact I would say that I was actually dreading hearing the results.
This mammogram was much more painful than the first one. They use a special plate that really squishes the area of the breast that they need to look at. I thought I was going to pass out from the pain. After it was over the tech asked me to have a seat while she went to talk to the radiologist to make sure she got a good picture. While I was waiting I thought about what would have happened if I had passed out. Let me tell you, the picture in my head was not pretty. Imagine my limp body hanging by my left breast that was being held by the mammography machine like a vice. Anyway, the tech came back and told me that she got a good picture and proceeded to tell me what the radiologist said, and I quote "he said that he thinks the spot they were looking at was just normal breast tissue." Excuse me?!!! "He thinks?!!" I asked her to go back to the radiologist and get clarification. She came back and told me that he said "the spot is just normal breast tissue and we will be sending a report to your doctor within 3 days."
I was very relieved after hearing this news. I urge everyone to do regular self breast exams and even though the mammograms are uncomfortable(painful) to get theirs done. For more on breast cancer awareness visit the Susan G. Komen website at http://www.komen.org/index.htm

FO's as promissed!
Here is the finished Kitty Pi, pre and post felted. I had to have a stern talk with
I have been working on some preemie beanies for Julie. She is sending them to the St. Charles Hospital NICU. Here are the ones I made and sent her.
Knit, Knit, Knit
Here is just one of the things I have been working on. There will be more photos later today of the finished Kitty Pi and other finished objects.
Click on the picture to make it bigger.