I Always Feel Like Somebody's Watching Me

I know you're there, I can see you. You're sitting there peeking into my world. Trying to see if the grass is greener on the other side or possibly just trying to get to know me by hanging around in the distance, trying to keep your identity hidden. Well it's time to come out and tell me who you are. I'm curious.....

1. Who are you?
2. Where are you from?
3. Do you have a blog too?
4. What are your thoughts?
5. What do we have in common?

So go ahead, leave me a comment. Inquiring minds want to know. It's okay, I don't bite. And besides that, you don't want my cat to go hungry do you?

UTI's Suck

I have been feeling under the weather for about a week so, I decided to go to the doctor yesterday morning. I explained my symptoms to my doctor and he did a urinalysis and it was positive for a UTI (urinary track infection). I went ahead and went to work afterwards, but I was miserable all day and by the time I got home it was all I could do to eat dinner. After dinner I went straight to bed and turned a movie on and I think I remember watching about the first 15 minutes of it before I fell asleep. Thank goodness I am feeling better today.

Now I Can Relax

I left the first weekend of January for a week long class on Life & Health Insurance and I spent all of last week studying for the exam. I took the exam today and I passed! Now I can relax and have some fun.

Speaking of fun, I have been working on the Irish Hiking Scarf with the purple alpaca yarn India sent me. I didn't realize how easy cabling was. Take a look at my progress.

Here is a picture of the crocheted afghan I have been working on. This is going to be one of those projects that I work on a little here and a little there. My attention span won't allow me to just sit and work on it until its done.
Now maybe I can get back to some knitting adventures now that I have completed all my studies.

I almost forgot! I joined the local gym and I have been working out 6 days a week using the "Body For Life" plan. So far it is working and I have lost 2 inches from my waistline. Goodbye size 16, here I come size 8!

Welcome To My Wonderland

It's Christmas all over again! This is what I woke up to... and then it gets better. I got a parcel from my SP9! Look at what she sent me. The yarn is just fab and super soft and I love the color. I am definately going to try the Irish Hiking Scarf pattern using this yarn. She also sent some note cards, cable needles, a comic book, lotion, some salt scrub, some beads and some yummy butter tablet. I have to say the butter tablet she made is ten times better than the store bought tablet she sent to me last time. I might have to get the recipe for this...its soooo good. Thank You India!

This is What We Got for Christmas

This is how much it has rained so far...........

3 miles NW of Roseburg, Douglas County. Heavy rain 1.84 inches, reported by co-op observer. 24 hour rain fall ending at 1200 PM PST.

And this is what we got for Christmas due to this weather....
Our neighbor knocked on our door at about 3 p.m. to let us know that our/their retaining wall was giving away. Our neighbor did some excavation this past summer to create more parking. As you can see from the pictures below, he removed a ton of earth (3 feet high and from his shed to the cement pad). He then put some railroad ties in as a retaining wall. (don't ask me why he thought a wall of railroad ties would support a cement retaining wall.) Then to make matters worse it rained about 2.20 inches in the past 24 hours. Too much rain and no support created this nightmare. We are just hoping that it doesn't give out totally. Our neighbors are going to get some boulders in the morning to put in underneath the retaining wall to support it until things dry out and it can be fixed properly. They are also going to try to file a liability claim with their insurance company. I am greatful that they realize that this is due to the excavation they did this last summer. Click on the pictures to get a closer look at the damage. Our boat was falling into the fissure and when John pulled it out the tire came off the rim.

Merry Christmas

I hope everyone has a safe and very Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas Comment Graphics

I Passed!

I took my state Property, Casualty, Law & Ethics licensing exam on Saturday and I passed! The test was worse than I thought it was going to be. When I started the exam, the first question was one that was worded in such a way that when I read it I thought to myself "I don't remember reading anything about this in my books! Boy am I in trouble! Am I taking the right test?" I answered the question and moved on to the next one and was relieved to see something I knew. I am so glad I passed and never have to take that test again!

I have one more class the beginning of January and then I take the Life & Health licensing exam. I will be so relieved when I am finished!

New Blogger vs. Beta

Well I switched to the new beta version of Blogger and I don't know if I like it. When I go to view my blog I can't see any of my previous posts. Although there is a list of the previous posts, when I click on them they don't appear. This sucks!!!

Ta Dah!

This is the triangle shawl I mentioned before that I was working on. I finished it last night. This pattern was super easy and I probably would have had it finished within a couple of days if I hadn't had so many distractions. Speaking of distractions....here is one of the distractions that kept me from finishing the shawl.


I was shopping with one of my co-workers and we came across these adorable felted purses. Well they were adorable until I saw the price tag. They wanted $80 for one of the purses. I was like "holy cow, I can whip one of these puppies out in no time flat and it will only cost me about $8". My co-worker really liked the purses and she said that her daughter would love one. So I offered to make one for her. Off to my stash I went in search of the perfect yarn. Yarn found and I was off to knit one of these babies. Everything was going great the purse was looking very much like the ones we saw in the store. Now to felt it. I dropped it into the washer and sent it through one cycle and checked it. It hadn't felted enough so I put it through cycle #2. I pulled it out to check it and "Holy crap!" It had shrunk about 3 sizes. I started laughing which caught my husband's attention. He wanted to know what the comotion was about. I showed him the purse and he just cracked up laughing because he saw what it looked like pre-felted. It is so small you might be able to get your wallet into it but that is about all. Now when my hubby sees me knitting something, the big joke is "what are you knitting now....a towel to shrink into a washcloth?" "Very funny Hun," I told him. This is the first time I have had a felted project go haywire.

I am leaving later today and will be gone until next Saturday evening. I am taking the state insurance property, casualty and law licensing classes this week and then a week from Saturday I will take the state licensing exam. So I don't fry my brain, I am taking a crochet project with me to work on in the evenings. I will post my progress when I get back. Hope everyone has a great week!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Yes, I call turkeys into the yard and feed them. I haven't been able to get them to eat out of my hand yet, but I am working on that. My family is quite amazed that I am able to call them in without a turkey call. I guess I just know how to talk turkey. Have you ever seen a turkey look over the fence? Well now you have!

May your stuffing be tasty,
May your turkey be plump,
May your potatoes 'n gravy have nary a lump,
May your yams be delicious,
May your pies take the prize,
May your Thanksgiving dinner stay off your thighs.

Happy Thanksgiving!

1st SP9 Parcel

I went to my mailbox yesterday and was pleasantly surprised to find a parcel inside. It was sent airmail and the return address is in Scottland. I ran inside and put the bills and junk mail aside and immediately opened the package to see what was inside. It was full of "jewels". I love jewel tone colors and wool yarn. My SP9 pal sent me 7 skeins of wool yarn. There was also a pair of Addi Turbo circulars, which I have on my wish list. She also sent a package of Butter Tablet. I have never heard of or tried butter tablet. I was very curious about it so I opened it right away and tasted it. It kind of reminds me of short bread but much much more sweet. It is very rich and I am thinking it would be great with tea. My family had to try it too. I don't think they liked it as much as I did...must be my Scandinavian heritage. The card she sent with my parcel was very cute too, it has a picture of sheep hanging from a clothesline and it says "Hand wash only".

Thank you SP9 :-)

Supermarket

The new supermarket near our house has an automatic water mister to keep the produce fresh. Just before it goes on, you hear the sound of distant thunder and the smell of fresh rain.

When you approach the milk cases, you hear cows mooing and witness the scent of fresh hay.

When you approach the egg case, you hear hens cluck and cackle and the air is filled with the pleasing aroma of bacon and eggs frying.

The veggie department features the smell of fresh buttered corn.

I don't buy toilet paper there any more.

Just thought you all could use a good laugh!

I'm Back.....

I am such a bad blogger. It seems like I have been constantly on the go for the past couple of weeks. I really don't have any really good excuses for not blogging other than I have been busy with work, running kids to sporting events and getting my husband ready for Elk hunting season. I did my own hunting trip last weekend. Every year when my husband and his boys go hunting, I plan my own hunting trip with my girls. This is becoming an annual event for us. We pick a new place in Oregon to explore and we go bargain hunting. This year we headed up to Woodburn and went to the outlet mall.

I spent this last Tuesday and Wednesday in Florence, which is on the Oregon coast, for a sales training retreat for work.

I have been working on a lacy knitted shawl and I am getting very close to being finished with it. I would post a picture of my progress, but my hubby has our camera. He will back home late tonight, so maybe I will be able to post a picture tomorrow.

Note to SP9: Yes, jewel tones are perfect!

SP9--My List of Favorite Things

Here's my list of Favorites..........

Actor - Tom Cruise
Actress - Sandra Bullock
Animal - Cats
Band - Nickelback
Book - The Chronicles of Narnia
Bubble Bath - Bath & Body Works Raspberry
Candy - Dove milk chocolate
Color - Purple
Drink- Diet Coke
Flower - Yellow Roses
Food - Anything Mexican
Lip Balm - Avon Moisture Therapy
Lotion - Bath & Body Works Plumeria
Movie - Top Gun
Place - The beach
Song - Nickelback-Far Away
TV Show - Gray's Anatomy
Yarn - Cascade Wool--for felting
Vacation Spot - The beach

Funky Scarf is Complete

The Funky Scarf is complete. I found the perfect shell beads for it too. Thanks everyone for your thoughts, advice and compliments! I sure hope my pal likes this scarf. The beads really finished this off.

SP9 Questionnaire

1. What is/are your favorite yarn/s to knit with? What fibers do you absolutely *not* like? I like just about any type of yarn, although I detest Red Heart Acrylic. I love using wool for felting. Caron Simply Soft is the only acrylic yarn I will use. Besides that, anything goes!

2. What do you use to store your needles/hooks in? Here, take a peek…..

3. How long have you been knitting & how did you learn? Would you consider your skill level to be beginner, intermediate or advanced? I have been knitting for a couple of years. I would say that I am beginning intermediate. I taught myself to knit using books and watching online knitting videos.

4. Do you have an Amazon or other online wish list? Yes I have an Amazon wish list.

5. What's your favorite scent? (for candles, bath products, etc.) I like vanilla, plumeria, peach. I love Bath and Body Works products.

6. Do you have a sweet tooth? Favorite candy? Yes I have a sweet tooth. I love anything chocolate! I especially like Dove milk chocolate.

7. What other crafts or Do-It-Yourself things do you like to do? Do you spin? I sew and crochet and have done some jewelry making.

8. What kind of music do you like? Can your computer/stereo play MP3s? (if your buddy wants to make you a CD) Yes my computer plays MP3’s. I like just about any type of music (yes including rap....this is a must when you have 6 teenagers) but not opera.

9. What's your favorite color(s)? Any colors you just can't stand? My favorite color is purple. I love all jewel tone colors. I wear a lot of red and black and of coarse my favorite color purple. I don’t like yellow or orange.

10. What is your family situation? Do you have any pets? I work full-time in a State Farm Insurance office. I am married to a wonderful guy. We each have 3 children from previous marriages. I have one cat who thinks she is part human and part dog.

11. Do you wear scarves, hats, mittens or ponchos? I wear scarves a lot all year round. In the summer I wear long skinny scarves as accessories. I wear hats and mittens in the winter and while downhill skiing. I have never worn a poncho, but I do use shawls.

12. What is/are your favorite item/s to knit? My favorite item to knit is a completed project! But I would have to say that I love knitting purses and scarves come second. I also love felting.

13. What are you knitting right now? Right now I am finishing up a scarf for the Funky Scarf Swap. My next project is going to be a purse. I am trying to stick with one project at a time right now.

14. Do you like to receive handmade gifts? I love to receive handmade gifts!

15. Do you prefer straight or circular needles? Bamboo, aluminum, plastic? I prefer circulars over straights. As far as bamboo, aluminum or plastic…I would have to say I don’t care for the plastic needles. I really don’t have a preference over bamboo or aluminum needles.

16. Do you own a yarn winder and/or swift? I have a yarn winder but I don’t have a swift, although I would love to have a swift.

17. How old is your oldest UFO? I have an afghan I started crocheting a couple of years ago that I need to finish.

18. What is your favorite holiday? My favorite holiday is Christmas. I love decorating. I have started collecting ornaments and other Christmas items that have to do with the Nativity.

19. Is there anything that you collect? I love cats including Garfield, tropical items (bamboo, palm trees, sea turtles). My kitchen is decorated in a coffee theme (blacks, browns, and reds).

20. Any books, yarns, needles or patterns out there you are dying to get your hands on? What knitting magazine subscriptions do you have? I would love to try Addi Turbos. I would also love to have a copy of the Teach Yourself VISUALLY Knitting book. I don’t subscribe to any magazines but I often purchase the Interweave Crochet, Interweave Knitting, Creative Knitting and Crochet magazines. I would love to have a subscription to any of those magazines.

21. Are there any new techniques you'd like to learn? I view myself as a beginner when it comes to knitting, so I am learning lots of new techniques. I would love to learn to do cables.

22. Are you a sock knitter? What are your foot measurements? I have tried several times to knit socks but have not succeeded yet. My foot is 10” long.

23. When is your birthday? April 18^th. (I will be turning 40 this next year)

The Last Knit

When knitting becomes an obsession.......

You gotta go watch this video, I think most of us can relate.

Click Here

Just one more row, just one more row, just one more row............

Surprise From KKex SP

I got home from work on Friday and there was a package waiting for me to open. It was from my KKEXnMore Secret Pal. This was the revealing package from my SP Lisa. Look at all the goodies she sent me.

I love the knitting bag. I needed a new one and had planned to buy one this weekend, but Lisa beat me to it. And of coarse his Majesty is really cute too. (if you haven't figured it out, I love Garfield)
Thanks Lisa for everything! You Rock!!

Funky Scarf Update

I posted earlier in the week that I would post some pictures of the progress of the funky scarf I am working on. So here they are! I am using Patons' Nuance in Cedar Rose. I haven't decided if I am going to use fringe or string some beads on the ends. I think the person I am making this for will really like it or at least I hope she does. I created it based on her questionnaire.

Tuesday's Question #4

Well this may be the last Tuesday question since I haven't really had much response to my previous questions. So here's this weeks question:

Should I continue posting a question each Tuesday for my blog readers to answer?

No answer from me this time....I will give you my answer after the results are in.