Life Around Here

I've been busy doing I don't know what. But the day's have slipped by and I don't know where they have gone. So please forgive me for not blogging and working on "Did You Know". I will be working on it this week so I can get a segment done for next week.

So far I have stuck to my weight lose. I'm down 12 pounds and my clothes are fitting looser and that makes me feel good. Just a whole bunch more to go. I really haven't craved chocolate or anything sweet on that front but I miss Coke. Some guy opened a coke around me and I wanted to rip it out of his hand and just down it. I did refrain and bought a water and drank it instead. I really am trying to be good. Now I just have to start to do a little exercise and I know the weight will come off faster.

My knitting is coming along I do have to many things on my needles so that means that I have to knit a little faster to get them empty. Right now I have 4 pair of socks on needles and that is not like me.

1. I have my sock for Death by Socks that I want to get done fast. I started them Saturday night and am on the second one I want to get them done by Friday and I can get them into the mail. This pair has to go to Alberta and we know that will take some time.

2. I have a test knit that I'm working on. I have one sock done and have to do the second one. I let the person know and she was cool with that. The first one turned out good and I like the pattern and will finish it.

3. I have a pair of socks for Debbie, at work, the pattern is Rapanzel's Braid by Ruth Greenwald aka The Yarnarian. I am using Cherry Blossom Fiber yarn in Grape Poupon. I like how it is turning out the pattern is cables and lace.

4. In the bag and hasn't seen the light of day for awhile is the Calpernia Socks. They are made with Socks that Rock "Grawk". This is a toe up sock and I want to get back to it just to see how the pattern turns out. I don't have a picture of it so I want to see it.

So as you can see that's a lot of socks for me on the needles and I want to get them all don't so I can start a Lace Shawl. I have halfway picked out the pattern It by Evelyn Clark "Estonian Garden Scarf/Wrap" it s a very pretty shawl and I think I can do it, if not I will attempt it.

Not much else on the knitting front.

On the yarn front I will have a great February. I am in several sock yarn clubs, Woolgirl Sock Club, Hazel Knits Sock Club an Loopy Ewe Sock Club.I am looking forward to all three, but I think my I'm most exited about is Hazel Knits, this is her first sock club and is going to be sending out 2 different skeins with each shipment. One a variegated and one a semi-solid so its some thing to look forward too. The Loopy Ewe sock club I didn't really think I would get into. They do a lottery for spots and I got a spot so I was sorta happy there. I want to keep getting the Wizard of Oz series that Jen is doing over at Woolgirl but that will all depend on the funds.

Not much is happening around here. Tony still is looking for work, he has an opportunity to go into partnership with someone to purchase a Restaurant. Not saying any more don't want to jinks it.

Micheal is still unemployed we don't know for sure what is going on with Wilson Motors, so this is how he spends his day. I will kill me if he sees the picture but since he doesn't read my blog I figure whatever.

Chris is working and taking a class on painting, we don't see him much. He is still with It, he just can't get rid of her. She is a bad penny that just keeps showing up.

Me,well work is picking up a little, I've have to actually clean rooms more because of illness in the housekeepers but if it means work I'll do it. My body is sore and I wish I was 3" shorter just to make beds and clean bathtub. My back is killing from bending all day. I am knitting as fast as I can just to get projects done and too empty my needles or I'll have to buy more.

The snow from yesterday is starting to melt we had over an inch of the white fluffy stuff. I hope that is the last of it and maybe we'll see more sun. to keep your feet warm and those sticks aclickn'.

Happily knitting socks, Bye.

A NEW DAY

Today is a new day with a new President. We all have a new renown sense of hope and optimism for our glorious nation. I enjoyed his address he spoke of the work that was done by our forefathers to make our nation, now we just have to stand up and believe in our selves to make it happen. "Starting today, we must pick ourselves up, dust ourselves off and begin again the work of remaking America,” Obama said. We now have hope for the future and in that future you can be anything you want to be.

I loved the poem in the the benediction that was delivered by the Rev. Joseph Lowery, founder of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, an engine of the civil rights movement. Lowery pulling laughter from the crowd with a rhyme familiar in many of America’s black churches:

“We ask you to help us work for that day when black will not be asked to get in back, when brown can stick around, when yellow will be mellow, when the red man can get ahead, man, and when white will embrace what is right,” Lowery, 87, prayed. “That all those who do justice and love mercy say Amen.”
The crowd thundered back, “Amen!”

It put a smile on my face because its so true.

Now for the Knitting front:

Gena I love my new bag. It holds so much and I love the color but we all knew that I would.

I'm almost done with my Double Eyelet Rib sock I hope to have it done this week. I had trouble with doing the heel flap I just didn't understand all the way and just wanted to get them done. I did a short row heel. I like this pattern it is simple and easy to make, If you are in need of an easy pattern and a fun one to make give this pattern a chance.

If you have any of White Oak Studio yarn in your stash I'm sure you have enjoyed knitting with it as I have I will be knitting with more of it that is hidden in my many drawers.

I'm getting ready to start my next sock it is for "Death by Socks" group on yahoo. This is the 5th time I have been in the race I still haven't won maybe this time I will get into the right group of people that are slow knitters. The last group I was in I had people that lived faraway and shipping time can kill you in this group. The time before that the person I had never sent the socks that I was suppose to finish and so on and so on. Hopefully this time around will go better. I've picked out my yarn, all I have to do is make gauge with it. I have another yarn to back up with.

I've been pondering my Did You Know segments I'm going to pick a subject that I want to know more about and work on that for a whole month. For my first month I've chosen wool from the sheep to my foot. What do you think? How much to you know?

So keep your feet warm and those sticks aclickn'.

Happily knitting socks, Bye

Look What I Got

I don't know about you but I have been wanting one of these: A Namasta bag I got A Zuma in Hollywood Pink. I have know idea why I wanted one I just did and now I have one.

They have lots of room the other day I changed from my purse and loaded it in. Took my knitting bag I carry, which I pack with at least to kip bags, accessory bag and god knows what else, into the bag. I then added 2 large books and 2 books on CD and carried it all the knitting club. It was great.

You can see it has lots of room and I will fill it with all my work in progress I carry around. In the same order from Loopy Ewe I got: This yarn has been on my wish list for ages and I don't know why I just didn't buy it but I didn't. It is Hazel Knit artisan sock yarn in "Alki Reflection", the colorway reminds me of when I live in West Seattle just above Alki Beach and would go for walks in that area. I just love all the colors in this yarn.

I also got Penchance to Knit... ...handpainting a rainbow into every skein. The colorway is Sultry, superwash merino it has a lot of yardage 450 yds so I can do a pair of sock and maybe a pair of hand mitts. When I seen this yarn I thought of Micheal's girlfriend, Abby. The last pair of socks I knit for here she picked out Pretty Pirate from Yarn Pirate, maybe that why I thought of her. The yarn also came with a stitch marker which I will put to use.

The third yarn I got was another yarn that has been in my basket for ages is Noro Silk Garden Sock Yarn. This yarn is a composition is 40% Lamb's wool, 25% Silk, 25% Nylon and 10% Kid Merino. The colorway is S87, I love the mixture of the colors I can't wait to see how it knits up.

All the above cost me $5.50 I used my gift certificate that I have saved from the Ravelry Swap I won.

Onto my Knitting I finished one sock from my test knit. I turned out good and I do like the pattern. I'm almost done with the first sock from Double Eyelet Rib I want to use almost all the yarn so I'm almost to the ribbing on the top.

Death by Socks is starting soon so I need to get ready for that. My person to kill likes earth colors so I still have to go diving through my stash to find a yarn, knit a swatch to get gauge, yes I will knit one. I then get ready by the 25th to knit like a mad crazy person.

I want to sign up for Sock Madness 3 again that should be fun because that's totally crazy knitting just to get to the next round. I would like to get to the third round again or just a little further but I doubt if I can.

The family, Tony is still out of work but he is always on the look out but no one is hiring right now. Micheal looks like he has a new job Chris got him one at Wilson Motors so he will be starting soon. Chris is still keeping busy and for myself well that's another story.

So keep your feet warm and those sticks aclickn' unltill next time.

Happily knitting socks, Bye.

Did You Know Followup

Resolution followup
How are you doing on your New Years Resolutions?
Mine are going fairly good, I'm still sticking to my weight lose, I haven't stepped on the scale yet to see if I've lost but I will. I have not had any chocolate or sugar forms of sweets and no soda of any kind. I've been drinking more water, which leads to more bathroom visits, and more tea in the evenings, herbal of course. I am trying to watch my basic food intake and not eating after 7 pm. I am also trying to consume more fruits and vegetables, for dessert I have an apple or an orange.
I have not done as well on my acts of kindness, I have been helping out the maids more by making more beds, I'm getting pretty good at making a bed. I can't think of how else I've been nice.
I haven't finished anything else on the knitting front. I frogged out my two socks that I have been working on and have started them over and am half way on each sock.
Let me know how your New Year's Resolution are coming along. We need to encourage each other so we keep on track.
Keep warm and dry out there. See ya next time, in Did You Know.

Water, Water, Go Away

Here's the creek in Sumas it almost looks like a river.

Sumas had a lot of standing water. My Grandparents old house by the Elementary School, had water all the way around it and down both sides of the street. Several roads had lots of water on hem. On my way to work I had to go through 10 big puddles over the road. And it took me 40 minutes just to get to the other side of Everson. Too many roads had water over them and I didn't want to go across them and get stuck and mess up my car. Here is a picture of the water over the Badger just after the High School going into Sumas.

Our road is closed right now at the end closes to Morgan Rd. I hope that it will be down and I can take the old route too work. If not I'll just take the longer route.

I just want to let your know that I hadn't floated away and we are still grounded here at home.

Keep warm and dry where ever you are.

Happily knitting socks, Bye.

Around Here

Well the snow is gone. The rain is coming down and with the rain comes flooding. All the way around the house we have big puddles. The front yard is now a big puddle, this picture was taken yesterday and today we have more water standing. You don't want to see the back yard, its standing water in the normal places only larger. I had to go the the post office in town and wished I had brought my camera the water that was standing amazed me. the creek is almost over its banks and people are getting sandbags so I guess the creek could go over its banks. There is a lot of roads closed because of water. It will make my drive to work more interesting. I will have to plan out a route by what roads are open.

Bellingham is really getting hit hard. Wilson Toyota is moving their vehicles to higher ground. We learned all this great info on the news on Channel 5. The Guide Meridian is closed at I-5, the exit from the freeway at Iowa is closed, parts of Hannegan is closed on my route as well as 3 other roads. So it will be an interesting drive.

Enough of the weather lets get down to yarn news.

My knitting is coming along I have finished one pair for this year. I know that I cast on last year but I finished them this year and I'm counting the ones that I finish this year. They are Marcia's Monkey's is used Yarn Pirate, merino tencel blend, colorway "Apple". This pattern is by Cookie A but is adapted by Craft Pancakes, so there is no purls and it goes much faster. I like the look better.

I am also still working on my Double Eyelet Rib sock but am at a stand still because I just am having trouble wrapping my head around the heel so I think I will frog it out and just do a short row heel.

I have started a new test knit this one I like and is going very fast. I'm started last night and am almost to the heel flap. As you can see its an interesting pattern, the cable goes down the side of the leg and splits at the heel working in pattern for the flap and half the cable down the foot I can't wait to see it done. I hope to have the first one done tomorrow. I'm using STR lightweight yarn Oregon Red Clover Honey. I love this yarn.

Death by Sock starts the 25th so I want to get the Double Eyelet Rib one done if possible. I think this will be my last Death by Socks that I'm going to participate in, the person I'm knitting for has not put her name in the data base so I can't send them to her and she doesn't respond to e-mails. I just don't know what to do. I e-mailed the organizer of the group and she send out an announcement that if you don't have your info in the data base you are out of the game. So I'll see what happens there the worst part is if she's out she had small feet so I would have gotten them done fast. O well that's how it goes.

I won a contest on Ravelry called The Amazing Race. You are assigned a team and you cheer them on and if they are the last one standing you win and everyone else in your group they have to send you presents. So far I have gotten, 2 Loopy Ewe GC, Knit Picks GC, JoAnn Fabrics GC, and 2 skeins of yarn and here they are: On the left is Malabrigo "Abril" a kettle dyed pure superwash merino and its so soft OMG its so soft. I can't say that enough times. I also received from LoneSome Stone Yarn Mountain Feat in Shades of Plum I love these two yarns and how did they know I am into purples right now. I have 3 more gifts to come in and I can't wait. The Loopy Ewe GC I have been saving because I want a Namaste Zuma bag the problem is I don't know what color, do I want to wait for the Eggplant color, which comes out middle of the month or with Hollywood Pink that's out now. Oh the dilemma. Knit picks I want the book "Handpainted yarns for socks".

The Family is still about the same the same people are working and those not still don't have a job. But over all things are good.

So keep your feet warm in wool socks and keep those sticks aclickn'.

Happily knitting socks, Bye.

Did You Know

What do you really know about New Year's Resolutions:
Is a commitment that you make to change a habit - Often a Life style change that can be interpreted as advantageous. Recent research shows that while 52% of participants in a resolution study were confident of success their goals only 12% actually achieved their goals.
Men achieved their goals 22% often when they engaged in goal setting when they set small measurable goals, 2 pounds per week, 2 beers per night etc. Women succeeded 10% more when they made their goals public and will the support of their family and friends.
Here are some popular goals are any of they yours:

• Lose weight
• Gain weight
• Get out of debt
• Save money
• Get a better job
• Knit more Socks
• Get fit
• Eat Right
• Start a Fiber Diet
• Get a better education
• Learn something new when knitting
• Find more knitting time for me
• Quit smoking
• Reduce stress Knit more
• Learn to Spin
• Have fun each and every day

What goals have you set for yourself? Did I list any of yours? Leave a comment and we can work together to meet them.

Here are mine.

• Lose weight, I need to lose 40lb.
• Knit more socks, I knit 34 pair last year.
• Learn to spin
• Make something challenging A lace shawl
• Have fun every day and try to be nicer.
• Do one act of kindness daily

I didn't know if I can do it but I will give it a try. But if we all work together and encourage each other we can to anything we want.

Well till the next Did you know. Bye

Happy New Year

Happy New Year and Merry Christmas

It snowed today again we got about an inch more added to the mess. Here are some pictures taken on Christmas day on our drive home. Tony and I had a quite day we where going to go to a movie but what we wanted to see wasn't showing in our area, so we rented a movie and had a great evening at home.

The trees looked festive.

The boys were with girlfriends trapped at their homes, I didn't want them out driving if they didn't have to the roads where a mess.

As you can see.

I spotted these ducks beside the warehouse

Here's today's snow.

Looking at the pond, yesterday it was free of snow and now a new covering.

I'll be glad when its all gone.

I have been working on some knitting:

I started a pair of fingerless gloves for myself, I'm using Noro Taiyo, its a cotton, silk, wool and nylon blend. I thought it might be a bit warmer then one with more wool. I have found it doesn't have as much stretch, cast on less stitches and it works. I almost think that I can get the second one to look about the same. Where the yellow is I will have to break the yarn because it had a break there so the repeat isn't as long as it should have been.

I've been working on a pair of "No Purl Monkey" socks for Marcia at work and have the first one almost done. It's an easy pattern and I know it works almost every yarn.

I also have on the needles is a pair of sock by Wendy Johnson called "Double Eyelet Rib" toe up. This pair is going to be my challenge. I get to learn to work a gusset, heel turn and heel flap. something I haven't done on a toe up sock. Wish me good luck because I have frogged this to many times. But I will get it.

We that's about it for now I will try to get a "Did You Know" done this week. I just haven't came up with a subject. So keep your feet warm in wool socks and those sticks aclickn'.

Happily knitting socks, Bye