Seattle Knit Chick

moving over...

2008-05-16T21:01:00.000-07:00

To wordpress I think.

At least that's the plan for now. Take a look over there - More to come soon.

www.Seattleknitchick.wordpress.com

Sunshiny goodness!

2008-05-16T00:50:00.000-07:00

Today was a beautiful day in Seattle! The sun came out and it warmed up to about 80 degrees. I found myself smiling just from feeling the sun shine down on my face. I was able to drive through the arboretum and over the floating bridge with my sunroof open and it was just spectacular! As one of my office mates said - it was a day that makes us all want to live here! I noticed the beauty in even small things - the bush as you walk to my office was filled with white flowers - they reminded me of when I was a kid and would pick the flowers in our back yard and pull out the pollen covered part on the inside and make them into little boats to float down the creek behind our house. That's a memory I haven't had in a long time.

There are other memories and thoughts I really want to share here - but blogger doesn't allow users to password protect just particular posts - It's all or nothing. This frustrates me and makes me think I may have to move to password protecting the whole thing. Blah!

Calliope is working on a new header for my blog and I am SO.EXCITED! Stay tuned!!!

Mmmm Breakfast!

2008-05-10T17:22:00.001-07:00

Today we stopped on by the Blue Onion Bistro for some breakfast. It's a great place with yummy food and so cute. The coffee is strong (Studly boyfriend really likes this but I could go either way). We both had chicken fried steak with scrambled eggs, hash browns and toast. Umm and we started with a yummy cinnamon roll to split! :O

It was super good... and I still have half mine in the fridge for some later time!!!

Seattle Snow In April

2008-04-18T23:22:00.000-07:00

Can you believe it? This wasn't even when it was at the worst!!!

A cool website

2008-04-06T12:24:00.000-07:00

Free Grocery List Maker has me hooked! I was searching for somewhere that would let me check off the groceries I wanted to buy and print a list and happened to find them. The coolest thing is that you can have your partner/roommate/kid/etc set up to create a list that automatically syncs with yours. Then if you are the one going to shop you know what everyone needs/wants. Even if you double up (say both people check they want eggs) it is smart- it knows this and only enters them once! Pretty cool!

One good thing about Starbucks

2008-03-31T17:09:00.001-07:00

I like that the Starbucks near my work really represents the neighborhood. Ok, they do have the same menu and stuff - but the artwork is pretty unique and the employees and customers really are part of the neighborhood. It's not often that I walk into a coffee shop in Seattle and I am in the minority ethnicity wise - and having such a diverse coffee place that I know employs the people around here is important to me. Plus that honey latte was good! Rock on Starbucks!

Blah

2008-02-28T23:22:00.001-08:00

It really sucks when you are trying to do your best - especially for someone else - and they get upset or disappointed by your attempts. Sometimes when this happens it chips away at my faith in humanity.

Lately I have been working hard to try to regain a positive attitude about things - work especially but things in general. Today's little bump in the road didn't help much...

Sometimes my Profession has it's Disadvantages...

2008-01-14T23:30:00.000-08:00

Overall I really like my job- sure there are things like annoying paperwork, difficult things you hear from clients and huge student loans to pay off, but overall I have a good gig. However, one of the down sides is that I have to be somewhat careful at times about personal things - if I bump into a client at the store I can't just say hello and introduce them to my boyfriend, mom etc. as some professions could do (would you really feel odd if your real estate agent or hair stylist did that- I think not!).

The other thing that has been on my mind for some time is blogging. I know the internet is big. I don't put tons of pictures of myself or my family up here. I don't say where I work or what part of the city I live in. I am pretty careful to keep some details out of my blogging. BUT I really feel like this limits what I can say. I want to be able to share lots of details when my mind tells me to. I want to talk about my thoughts on issues that come up on some of the blogs I read - to say that I am having a cruddy day and maybe share more details why or to talk about some major life events in general. I feel like I can't do that though. It isn't appropriate for a client to be able to find these things out about my life. Yeah I could write another totally anonymous blog or I suppose I could put the blog on some type of feature where only certain people could read it but I hate that idea too. I just want to be able to write whatever I want and have no fear that the "wrong" people will read it. But the adult in me knows sometimes we can't have it that way. Blah!

It's Not Everyday

2008-01-10T13:21:00.000-08:00

That you walk outside and notice something large flying through the air above you only to look closer and see that it is a quite large Thomas the Tank Engine balloon. Hmm.

50(?) Places for Breakfast

2008-01-06T00:02:00.000-08:00

So Seattle Metropolitan Magazine had a cover that we couldn't resist - a yummy pile of Blueberry pancakes and the claim that they were listing the 50 best breakfast spots in Seattle (However for some very bizarre reason they only list 48 not 50). The Studly Boyfriend realized that we had been to quite a few... so I thought I would list those out that we have visited and where we still want to go. We tend to get stuck in a rut with places and go back to the same ones over and over. This should give us easy inspiration to try something new! Maybe I will add some of our other faves too!

Been There Done That:
Atlas Foods
Chace's Pancake Corral
Coastal Kitchen
Crave
Endolyne Joe's
5-Spot
Glo's
The Hi-Life
Hi Spot Cafe
The Hurricane Cafe
Jade Garden
Mae's Phinney Ridge Cafe
Maltby Cafe
Original Pancake House
Portage Bay Cafe
Salish Lodge
Salty's Seafood Grill (Seattle)

Hmmm that only adds up to 17... It seemed like we had been to more than that.

Still to Visit:
Boat Street Kitchen
Cafe Besalu
Cafe Champagne
Cafe Flora
Cafe Presse
Calcutta Grill
Cyclops
Cyndy's House of Pancakes
The Dish Cafe
Eats Market Cafe
El Greco*
The Georgian Fairmont Olympic Hotel*
Geraldine's Counter*
Library Bistro and Bar
Linda's Tavern*
Lola
Luna Park Cafe
Macrina Bakery
Madison Park Cafe
Mioposta
Monsoon
0/8 Seafood Grill
Peso's Kitchen and Lounge
Senor Moose Cafe
Serafina
Skillet Street Food
Sweet and Savory
35th Street Bistro
Tilth
Veil
Volunteer Park Cafe and Marketplace
*Been to these - but not for Breakfast

Our Other Seattle Area Breakfast Favorites:
Patty's Eggnest (Lynnwood and Seattle)
St. Cloud's
Blue Onion Bistro
Sunflower Bakery Cafe
Easy Street Records and Cafe
The Bay Cafe
Salmon Bay Cafe
Egg Cetera Blue Star Cafe and Pub

The plan is to try one of the "new to us" ones tomorrow... I wonder how long it would take us to get through them all! Any of them that you have been to that you think we should move to the top of the Must Eat At list???

PS - I found the knitting :)

New Style...

2008-01-04T01:41:00.001-08:00

Hmmmm I am digging this format in comparison to the old one... but I am not sure if I got it totally right. The colors are interesting. Anyone have other ideas?

Where the heck is my knitting???

2008-01-03T23:58:00.000-08:00

It's totally lost... somewhere I have a finished pair of striped socks (a valentine's day color scheme that I didn't knit in time to wear for V-Day last year), an almost finished pair of striped socks in Mariners colors, the yarn for a red scarf, and the knitting needles that go along with these projects. I am so irritated that I let myself not keep better track of this stuff... I know it is in a box as we have been trying to organize things around here and somewhere there is a box of random knitting things we found around the house... but do I know where that box is????? NOOOOO!!!! Blah! I have been thinking for days now that this is the perfect excuse to order me some of those knitpicks interchangeable needles... Should I do it?

The Bliss of Green Water

2008-01-02T22:08:00.000-08:00

That is if it is a bubble bath filled with lovely smells and more bubbles than you could imagine from Lush! I just spent the last 90 min or so soaking in the bath! It was bliss! I was going to read but I was just enjoying the experience of being in there too much - and that is a very nice thing for me who tends to have issues enjoying the here and now!

I realized today how much more energy/time I would likely have if I wasn't working more than a full time job. Don't get me wrong - there are perks to the current work situation I have set up.... but I got off a little early, had dinner before it was late into the evening and then even had time to get a few household chores done before my lovely bath! I have to figure out how to accomplish this one more often!

PS - I am trying to decide if I should get another tattoo when I return to NOLA later this month... I so want one but haven't yet thought of the perfect thing or place to have it done!

Two Lovely Days....

2007-12-27T01:15:00.000-08:00

Well it's been a long time since I have written anything - a VERY long time. I think that the pressure of having to write the "right" thing and busy life has kept me away - but I decided today - to hell with it. I can just write whatever I want here knitting or not knitting related, personal or not so personal. Anyway...

It has been a lovely two days. Christmas was wonderful - one of the best ones I have had in my adult life! I spent the morning opening gifts, having yummy homemade waffles, hanging out in front of the Christmas tree and the fireplace chatting, laughing and napping with the Studly Boyfriend and his sister. The off to mom's for a yummy dinner, some more gifts and time hanging out. Overall the day was just so nice because it was so laid back. People were in a good mood, enjoying one another, having good food and the nice gifts didn't help. :) It was just a great day!

Then today - another lovely day! I slept in, did some day after Christmas shopping (just a little gift wrap for next year), relaxed a bit more and then went for a lovely evening at the Spa. It was so nice! I had a fabulous hour long massage and then soaked for over two hours! I went all by myself and really enjoyed my company! (something that I would not always have been so keen on doing). I was there till almost midnight and then headed home. So relaxed.

Tomorrow is easing back into the grind of things... easing being the key word!

That's my Cousin!!!

2007-03-15T00:38:00.001-07:00

Take a look at THIS! It's my cousin! She rocks!

You Go Girl!

Secret Pal Angel

2007-03-15T00:36:00.000-07:00

My Secret Pal Angel is the nicest pal ever!

Last night I got home from work SUPER LATE (as is the trend lately) to find a box for me sitting outside....

When I opened it after dinner I found all sorts of goodies inside- patterns, needles, candy, a handknit bag, a cute soap shaped like a moose, hot chocolate, magnets, and LOTS OF YARN! (and other stuff too!!!)

I PROMISE I will share more about it later.... and that I WILL share a picture. But I am getting sleepy.... very sleepy....

Bad Blogger....

2007-03-15T00:33:00.000-07:00

Ok, I admit it (maybe again) I am a bad blogger.

I need to post about so many things - my vacation to New Orleans, my latest knitting, my haircut/donation and

The WONDERFUL things my secret pal angel sent me in the mail.

But I keep putting it off because I feel like I need to have pictures. And they are in the camera... on the memory card... that I am always too tired/lazy to get when I am finally home and finally have a moment to myself.

Maybe I should resign myself to becoming a picture-less blogger.....

more to share in a bit....

I HEART The House on Bayou Road!!!

2007-02-15T12:37:00.000-08:00

We made it! After a LONG day of traveling we've arrived in New Orleans. We actually got to our B&B around 3 AM last night. There were good and bad parts to the travel - good part: we voluntarily gave up our seats on the plane and got travel vouchers we can put toward another trip; Bad part: the new plane we were on broke - literally - the electric system went haywire and of course they left us all sitting there for awhile and then we all had to get off the plane and go to a different gate where we got a new plane and eventually took off. That ordeal made us get in a couple hours later than we had hoped - but when we got to the airport it turned out all of the itsy bitsy cars like the one I had reserved were out so we got a free upgrade! :)

We used the Studly Boyfriend's laptop GPS system to safely (and enjoyably) guide us to the drugstore and then to our residence for the week. I was a bit unsure when we started to drive through the mid city neighborhood as it is still pretty messed up from Katrina- but we pulled up in front of an oh-so-cute house and got directions to our room.

I think I squealed as I walked in - it was SO CUTE!!! I'm not sure that I've ever stayed on vacation in a room with 15 foot ceilings. The room is lovely with a hallway as you walk in complete with an antique hall tree for hanging your coat (I should have brought a warmer one - it's FREEZING here) and assorted other antique furniture. The four poster bed is comfy with a feather bed and oh-so-soft cotton sheets. The artwork is beautiful, the gold paint on the walls is beautiful and I LOVE the fireplace!!!!

Oh yah - then there's the bathroom! You open the cute little double doors to a pedestal sink and a vanity table complete with bench and place to apply your lotions and potions. There was a rubber ducky sitting on the bathtub cheerfully greeting us, the towels are fluffy and large and even smell good! Plus - how often do you get to take a shower in a room with 15 foot ceilings and where you can look up at the chandelier! I LOVE IT!!!! We aren't even in the fanciest room (I asked to see a couple others this morning just cause I was curious). Some of the others are even bigger with huge sitting rooms or soaking tubs.

But wait! There's more! This isn't just a regular hotel - it's a Bed & BREAKFAST right?! Um OK I was thinking maybe we would get a little continental buffet breakfast thing... but nope! Wrong! Not at The House on Bayou Road! This morning we wandered over to the main house - past the pool and hot tub and pond to a lavish and delicious cooked just for us breakfast! We sipped coffee and OJ while eating grapefruit garnished with a decoratively cut strawberry as we listened to jazz and I could hear sounds of the lovely chef - MAKING OUR OMELETTE'S! She then brought out the main course consisting of ham, English muffin and pepper and cheese omelette's. SO GOOD! We enjoyed every bite and had the pleasure of meeting the Manager who filled us in on the in's and outs of HOBR and offered us general tourist info.

Then we went back and took a nap!

So far I LOVE The House on Bayou Road and WILL stay here again!

Bye y'all! We gotta get ready for some parades!!!

Magic Loop and Duet Sock Yarn!

2007-02-12T00:12:00.000-08:00

I am LOVING my latest purchase! My duet sock yarn arrived a bit ago from a swell yarn shop and I wanted to save it to knit on my trip but I figured I HAD to cast on and try to figure out the pattern so I wouldn't run into problems on the plane.....

So anyway.... I picked up a copy of The Magic Loop at my LYS and knit a little to get the hang of the technique (It was a snap! Why didn't I try this earlier!?!) Then after a few tries I figured Knitty's Magic Cast On for toe up socks (I hated it at first but when I realized it really is.that.simple I liked it a lot). The socks are going great (ok yah somewhere I dropped a stitch and kind of made up the fix) and are a blast to knit so far!

I'll update you on my progress as I continue - and if you haven't tried the Magic Loop - JUST DO IT!

Note To Self -

2007-02-06T10:56:00.000-08:00

Get a flu shot next year.

At least I seem to get getting back to the land of the living a little bit.....

It's coming soon.....

2007-02-04T01:29:00.000-08:00

Yippee! I am so excited! We have all the reservations and I can't wait to go!

What the Book Says....

2007-02-04T00:46:00.000-08:00

So I was checking out Tasha's blog and she inspired me to play this little game:

The Instructions:
1. Grab the nearest book.
2. Open the book to page 123.
3. Find the fifth sentence.
4. Post the text of the next four sentences on your blog, along with these instructions.
5. No cheating by going for a "cool" book...it has to be the nearest one.

My Results:
1. It is validating for someone to have thoughts and feelings identical to our own.
2. It feels wonderful.
3. Eventually, though, perceptions will differ.
4. How this is handled is critical for the relationship.

~Stop Walking on Eggshells, Paul Mason and Randi Kreger

I find this somewhat ironic given who I got the idea for this post from... ;)

Finished and Bought!

2007-01-29T21:08:00.000-08:00

Finished: Baby Hat from One Skein - hoping the pictures aren't lost as the hat has already been given to my friend's sweet new baby boy! The pattern was pretty easy and fun to do!

Bought: Duet Sock Yarn in Candy Hearts - This yarn was SO cute I couldn't resist ---- I don't really like to make socks but now I MUST. I wanted to try to make two socks at once but I tried it last summer and it just ended in a tangled mess!

I am off to google how to knit these socks - the whole pair at once... and maybe to look for deals on a yarn swift! I REALLY need one!

Found!!!

2007-01-23T01:10:00.000-08:00

Photos of the Jumping dress!

Happy New Year's Eve!

2006-12-31T18:47:00.000-08:00

Happy almost 2007!

For 2007 I hope to get more knitting done than I did in 2006. Over at the Big Girl Knits list they are starting a new KAL - Cherry Bomb! I am very tempted to join in but haven't gotten around to getting any yarn yet for this project. I may surf the net tomorrow in attempt to get some - or one of my favorite LYS is having a BIG sale next week and I may just have to go! Or maybe to the big sale tomorrow at another of my favorites. Or maybe I will just relax in front of the football game with you know who and work on my cabled hat... :)

Christmas Goodness!

2006-12-27T12:24:00.000-08:00

Hi Everyone!

I have been suffering somewhat from the holiday blahs - long story that is - but I did want to write and tell you some about the holiday goodness I received. :)

I am excited to be in the market for a new TV! Yippee! Courtesy of the parents I am planning to buy a lovely flat screen 37 inch tv! I've never had one that big and am excited to watch some netflix movies on it!

I also received the cutest Italian Charm bracelet from the Studly Boyfriend. It has removable charms including two that look like my kitties and one that says "I'd rather be knitting" - Too cute! Also a cool fleur de lis which is very sparkly! Now we can get charms for it on our different travels and adventures.

I also was given a subscription to Interweave knits that I am VERY excited about! And the giver included a copy of this month's magazine so I am happy to be enjoying it already!

Ok that's all for now.... the knitting has come to a virtual halt for the moment... I think I need to just do another scarf or something to get me in the mood!

Ten Things

2006-12-16T16:31:00.000-08:00

That I've been doing lately-
*Working too much as I have four different locations and two businesses I am trying to manage!
*Staring at my naked Christmas tree - we haven't had time to decorate it even though it has been in the house for a week!
*Preparing for The Studly Boyfriend to move into my condo completely!
*Trying to keep my cat medicated/on hypoallergenic food enough that he doesn't pull all of his fur out.
*Shopping for my secret pal (This was REALLY fun!!!)
*Celebrating the Studly Boyfriend's birthday with a trip to Downtown Seattle and a night at the Westin (we saw AWESOME gingerbread houses displayed there and went on the carousel! It was a great time!)
*Finishing my Christmas shopping (I am trying to do more gifts that people can REALLY use - things to do or practical presents so that they will get used and not just hidden in a closet somewhere)
*LAUNDRY, LAUNDRY, LAUNDRY!
*Working bit by bit on a cabled hat out of the oh-so-soft yarn that my secret pal gave me. (I want to find more time to knit but it has been REALLY hard lately)
*Trying to stay warm, dry and patient! Our power was out for at least 24 hours and I am VERY thankful and lucky that it came back on as soon as it did! The area is a bit of a disaster zone and I have realized how difficult it really would be if we had a huge natural disaster - kinda scary!

Pictures at LAST!

2006-12-04T23:42:00.000-08:00

What I did Saturday:
Sunday's Events:
The Cutest Craft Project my Aunt made me!

My Knit Unto Others Hat:

Other finished Hats that will go to others:

Pictures, Pictures, I need pictures!

2006-11-27T22:12:00.000-08:00

But I don't have them! :(

Over the weekend I started and finished a hat for the Knit Unto Others knit along. I also realize that I have two other hats that are finished that I need to get around to donating. There is something just so rewarding about knitting up a hat with chunky yarn that you can complete super quickly.

I don't remember if I posted about this but I also recently finished a 2x2 rib scarf. So far it is for me but it may go to someone else....

The Jumping Dress is now COMPLETELY finished...

And on the needles - a cabled hat... with some lovely soft yarn from my secret pal!

(I will post pictures soon of my FO's as well as the lovely package my SP sent!)

Hope everyone had a good Thanksgiving!

PS! It's been SNOWING in Seattle! :) :) :)

What I've been up to....

2006-11-12T10:51:00.000-08:00

Two great concerts! What more could you ask for from the weekend!?! Ok I am counting my weekend to have kind of started on Thursday - but that works!

Thursday was Girlyman at the Tractor Tavern. They were GREAT! They are always great! I love their music and they also put on a very entertaining performance. It's so fun to hear them tell stories and talk with one another while they play. If you don't know who they are CHECK THEM OUT!!!

Then Saturday.... the Dixie Chicks! I'd been so looking forward to this show since the whole president bush debacle.... and it was great! These girls are high energy performers! Lots of fun to see a group I have been liking for years!

On the knitting front... the purple yarn - well one skein of the purple woolpak nightmare - is wound and waiting to get on the needles....

The condo is also waiting to be cleaned....

not sure who will win....

PS the size of the photos do NOT reflect the size of my love for these bands!

I NEED A SWIFT!

2006-11-10T15:54:00.000-08:00

Although I still have that one end to sew in on the jumping dress and I have maybe three more WIP's I have decided that I need to start the holiday gift I am planning to make for my friend. The problem - the YARN. The woolpak yarn. I found it - it was hiding in a plastic bin somewhere. Now I am trying to get it into usable form. The HUGE 525 yard skein is quite a challenge. I do have a ball winder - but no swift. I have been too cheap to buy one for myself. And now this is the fifth - maybe sixth- time that I have tried to wind yarn at home without a swift. I HATE DOING IT! Right now I have it hung on a lamp and the ball winder attached to my desk.... it isn't working well...

ok back to the yarn....

wish me luck.

My weekend...

2006-10-22T23:48:00.000-07:00

I ALMOST have the Jumping dress finished- Just need to sew in one more end!

I worked a bit on the ribbed scarf made out of the neat super chunky variegated yarn my last intern got me. I am using lantern moon straight needles. They are so pretty to knit with but I still love my circulars!

Speaking of circulars- I organized all of mine in a neat-o needle organizer I got months ago from my LYS! I even used my labeler to mark the needle sizes and lengths! I now know what I have - and don't! ;)

I made a teeny bit more progress at organizing my house. I am trying to get rid of lots of magazines, books and other random stuff that is just hanging around. I did organize all of my makeup! Yippee!

Saw an interesting film - Jesus Camp

Ate yummy healthy Indian food with my cooking club!

Did TONS of laundry- Oh why won't it just fold itself!!!

Overall a good weekend!

I promise pictures soon of said knitting content!

Help Still Needed

2006-10-14T11:42:00.000-07:00

Although it's not in the news as much New Orleans is still struggling greatly from hurricane Katrina.

This article was interesting to me and made me wish I could take some more time off work to go help again. Unfortunately I can't but I thought maybe someone else out there would be looking for a volunteer opportunity and I might as well pass the info along. The holidays are coming up and you just might have some vacation time you are itching to use for a good cause!

There is no way you can comprehend this disaster unless you have seen it for yourself. It would mean so much to the people of New Orleans if you can take any time to help... a month, a week or a few days...

Check out some of the ways you can get involved:
New Orleans Home for the Holidays
Acorn.org

How Could I?

2006-10-13T12:50:00.000-07:00

Lose an ENTIRE SKEIN of DARK PURPLE Wool Pak yarn? The thing is HUGE!!!!

Where I have put it is beyond me!

Grrrrr!!!!

What to knit???

2006-10-12T23:48:00.000-07:00

I am basically finished with my Jumping dress (need to attach the button and the loop) and have been lamenting for quite some time over what to knit next. Awhile ago I had this great idea that I would knit things for people for Christmas... Now I'm not so sure if that is a good one! I have a friend who wants socks - but really I think that would take me UNTIL Christmas to finish... hmmm what to make next????

Planning begins....

2006-10-05T00:07:00.000-07:00

So this post won't be so knitting related - I realized that I am wanting to ramble about something else for a bit and have a space where I can keep track of my --- Trip Planning!!!! I am really really hoping to go to Mardi Gras this year and thought that I would keep you all up to date with those plans - and who knows maybe someone will even give me some good lodging suggestions or Mardi Gras hints!

I've never done Mardi Gras before - and I have great excitement but also some fears about it I guess. I am not sure that I can even imagine what the crowds are like.... but I've been to many crowded events in DC and NYC before so I suppose if I could survive them I will be fine!

On the other hand - I am just SO excited to experience the whole thing! The people, the parades and floats, yummy drinks, beads beads and more beads and just to be back to the New Orleans culture in general. I really miss Nola and hope that some day I actually have the chance to live there or at least stay for an extended time.

The first task at the moment for this trip is finding a place to stay.... It is INSANE to me how much rooms are costing! Looking on Orbitz right now even staying at the Holiday Inn (not my favorite) is $204 a night.... the Ramada is $299 - based on those quotes - and the fact that it would be more fun - I'll be looking into B&B's! Anyone have any suggestions? :)

SP 9 Questions and Answers!

2006-10-01T23:43:00.000-07:00

1. What is/are your favorite yarn/s to knit with? What fibers do you absolutely *not* like?

Colorful and soft! I really really am a natural fiber girl! I enjoy wool (mmm alpaca especially) and cotton - I have some bamboo in my stash but I haven't tried it yet. I like blends with natural fibers (ie silk garden) and am interested in trying more natural fibers (soy, corn, hemp...) that I haven't yet experimented with. I REALLY REALLY DON'T like synthetic fibers and even hesitate if a fiber such as wool is blended with it. I am not big on novelty yarns lately and also seem to be preferring dk weight to things that are more chunky. I would love to try something that has cashmere in it.

2. What do you use to store your needles/hooks in?

I am still developing a system. Now I have a variety of things including some tins, a plastic bin and a soft binder with plastic pouches to store the circulars.

3. How long have you been knitting & how did you learn? Would you consider your skill level to be beginner, intermediate or advanced?

I think that I have been knitting for about five years although somehow I have kind of lost track. My paternal grandmother taught me long ago but I really picked up the skill when I took a class at my LYS. I would consider myself an intermediate knitter but working toward advanced.

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

I had both but have not updated forever.... I will try to do that soon and let you know when/if I do!

5. What's your favorite scent? (for candles, bath products, etc.)

This might sound silly but I have to say I have been not big on scents lately. Lots of things seem to give me headaches so I really prefer things that are mild and made with natural products. That said - I prefer vanilla and citrus scents.

6. Do you have a sweet tooth? Favorite candy?

hehe - I wish I didn't but I do! I love marzipan and tend to be a person who likes gummy and fruity things (jelly belly's) but not big on chocolate.

7. What other crafts or Do-It-Yourself things do you like to do? Do you spin?

I want to spin! Just took up scrap-booking!

8. What kind of music do you like? Can your computer/stereo play MP3s? (if your buddy wants to make you a CD)

Folk, bluegrass, jazz, world music, country.... I like quite a variety... I can play MP3's

9. What's your favorite color(s)? Any colors you just can't stand?

I like purples the most- also blues and pink! Not a big orange fan!

10. What is your family situation? Do you have any pets?

Two cats - Cider and Dickens. Single but in a relationship.

11. Do you wear scarves, hats, mittens or ponchos?

Yes to scarves, hats and mittens. NO to ponchos!

12. What is/are your favorite item/s to knit?

hmmm this is a hard one... I think I am still searching. I have to say I loved clapotis and have been enjoying some of the little kid clothes I made recently. I also like felted items.

13. What are you knitting right now?

Sort of in between projects- I am working on a dishcolth from Mason Dixon knitting - I have at least one pair of socks that the first sock needs it's mate. Just finished a project and looking for a new one to start - likely it will be a Christmas gift of some sort.

14. Do you like to receive handmade gifts?

Yes!

15. Do you prefer straight or circular needles? Bamboo, aluminum, plastic?

Circular. Addi turbos or bamboo. Not so into plastic but curious about these new ones with the light up tips!

16. Do you own a yarn winder and/or swift?

I have a yarn winder - but can you please influence someone close to me to buy me that nice wooden swift! ;)

17. How old is your oldest UFO?
Mmmmm maybe three or four years!

18. What is your favorite holiday?

I like Christmas. I am also now looking VERY forward to Mardi Gras as I am planning a trip to Nola for it this year!

19. Is there anything that you collect?

This is a funny question as I am trying to NOT collect so much stuff. I am trying to declutter and purge!

20. Any books, yarns, needles or patterns out there you are dying to get your hands on? What knitting magazine subscriptions do you have?

Hmm now I can use this as a place for friends and family to know what I am dying for too! My high price item would be those new needles that knitpicks is selling (I think they are called Options). I also really want to try something with Cashmere - maybe "Pure Cashmere" by Debbie Bliss. I like Rowan yarns but haven't tried many of them. Cash Iroha, Cashmere Island and Iro (all new from Noro I think) look very interesting. I'd also love to try something from Briar Rose Fibers. I'd also like to have the books Knit Fix and Knitting Without Tears. I don't have any knitting magazine subscriptions.

21. Are there any new techniques you'd like to learn?

I wish I could refresh my brain on the crochet... it seems hard for me to remember most of it. I am interested in learning to spin.. but a bit hesitant that it is super complicated!

22. Are you a sock knitter? What are your foot measurements?

I wear a size 10 or 11 shoe and can't seem to knit a sock to save my life that fits me! I also don't seem to have the patience to finish a whole pair!

23. When is your birthday? (mm/dd)

4/28

Why is it...

2006-09-13T22:29:00.000-07:00

That when things aren't going the best in your romantic life you go into a restaurant for dinner with your special someone and EVERY song that plays is a love song?

Can anyone tell me?

One down... the other to go.

2006-08-30T00:28:00.000-07:00

Sorry that these pics aren't great but I thought I would show you my latest progress....

A finished dishcloth with a dishtowel embroidered by my grandmother in the background

The back of the Jumping Dress (do you feel for me that I had to sew in all of those ends?!?)

The not so finished front.... lots of ends but less as I figured out a few tricks.....

Hopefully this will be finished SOON!

Note to self - put the dishcloth yarn DOWN! Work on Jumping Dress!

Hurricane Katrina - One Year Later

2006-08-29T01:13:00.000-07:00

How is it that already one year has gone by but so little is different?

Have we all forgotten? I hope not. Take some time today to remember and keep remembering.

Look here for a wealth of information - photos, stories....

Being a Blogger is Hard Work...

2006-08-27T23:44:00.000-07:00

You have to be creative, you have to be somewhat organized, stay on top of things, say stuff that is funny and witty....

Lately I've kinda sucked at that stuff.

I signed up for the Amazing Lace - but when I had to rip my project out for the third (I think) time I kind of gave up.... at the moment I am not even positive where that yarn is! :(

Then I started working on a dress for my friend's daughter's second birthday. The birthday has now came and went - I have only ripped back five or six times on the dress - but it still isn't done. Half is - but when I had to go through the anguish of weaving in maybe sixty ends on that side it greatly decreased my motivation.

When I was out of town I bought some lovely yarn to make socks - I tried to do two socks on two circular needles - tried it two or three times... ended up with a tangled mess... Still haven't Goggled about how to do that one....

And then I tried to make myself a lovely pair of socks out of my mom's opal yarn. I have one finished... it is a lovely shade of purple... but it is HUGE. It fits my boyfriend's foot - but it is so - purple - and I so wanted it to be for me.... not quite sure what to do about that yet.

On a positive note last night I started a ballband dishcloth from Mason Dixon Knitting. I love it! It is quick and fun and cute! I WILL finish it!

And I am trying to decide if I should do Secret Pal 9 - I really want to but I am fearful after my last two experiences - maybe the third time would be a charm????

I'm Famous!

2006-06-14T21:08:00.000-07:00

I was so honored when I found out that Sage at Quirky Nomads wanted to read my essay about a drive I took near New Orleans. I love her podcast! Go listen!

ARGHHHH!!!

2006-06-10T17:36:00.000-07:00

I was just getting ready to introduce you all to Branching Out. We had gone to a softball game today where we knit - fitting on Knit in Public Day- eh? And she was looking so fluffy and beautiful. I was getting a bit tired but decided - just one more row. Finished the row and then counted - off by one stitch! Uh oh! Well, I thought I could be smart and just knit back a few rows- I tried this and the number of stitches on the needle kept getting smaller, and smaller and smaller - till I had nothing similar to what the pattern said I should have. F*#K! I thought- and FROGGED THE WHOLE THING. Of course the yarn got stuck and I had to throw a part of the dang scarf away. Hopefully I will have enough to finish - if I ever do finish.

What are you supposed to do when knitting lace and you notice a mistake like this? I have no idea how I ended up one stitch short but I could have easily just made a stitch on the next row. I know this would have thrown the pattern off a bit - but that would have had to be better right? I am having panic attacks now of being on the 34th repeat out of 36 and making a mistake - no way would I want to frog at that point. Or even if I was somewhere in the middle. Come on all you experienced lace knitters - how do you deal with a problem like this?

Update: OK just now I went and read the Amazing lace blog- WHY DIDN'T I DO THIS BEFORE??? I found out that one answer to my problem would have been putting in a LIFELINE! Ok yes I am glad to know - for next time- but right now I could just light a fire to that mohair!!!!!!

Hurricane Season Begins.

2006-06-01T18:15:00.000-07:00

It's nine months after Katrina and it's here.

Hurricane season.

Please take some time to send your thoughts, prayers etc to the people in New Orleans and the area that was effected by Katrina. They still need our help. It still looks like a disaster zone there. Nine months is a long time but not long enough. Take a look at this to get another view of how things still are.

I am back from NOLA but still there in my heart.

May this Hurricane Season be uneventful...

Most People Just Don't Get It.

2006-05-20T19:09:00.000-07:00

Well, here I am back in New Orleans (aka NOLA). I've been here about a week thus far - doing more counseling services for Katrina survivors. Today I slept in after a VERY late night with friends (the most fun I have had on my trip thus far!) I had a chance to see the wonderful Treme Brass Band at Preservation Hall (I thought this was a HUGE venue and was shocked at it's tiny size). The concert was wonderful and we sat/dance right next to the band. I have pics that I will try to share later.

Anyway - I woke up late today and decided to take a drive. I had been wanting to see what the areas around Waveland and Bay St. Louis Mississippi looked like. I knew it wouldn't be a pleasant view but I felt it was something I needed to see to understand. On the drive over I stopped in at Cracker Barrel (I have to admit a fondness for their Chicken and Dumplings ) due to the storm they are only open from 6AM to 6PM so I had an early dinner. After satisfying my Cracker Barrel craving I continued on to Waveland. Words can't began to really describe the devastation there. It was amazing to drive down the street looking at storm damaged homes and then suddenly there are NO homes. The houses are just totally missing from the foundations. I looked around online for an example of what I mean and this one from The Decatur Daily was the best I could find. On the Saturday before Hurricane Katrina hit Waveland, Miss., on, Aug. 29, Assistant Fire Chief Mike Smith photographed Waveland's beachfront homes. After the storm, he took pictures from the same vantage points.
All of Waveland is like that as is much of Bay St. Louis.

I had seen pictures online and on TV - but today I realized nothing, I mean nothing can really make you understand the enormity of this disaster unless you see it with your own eyes.

I realized this even more clearly as I was driving back "home" to my hotel in NOLA. I was talking to The Studly Boyfriend on the phone and explaining how one of my front tires was getting flat. I had filled it up with air but there was no gauge to check the pressure available. I explained this to him and he proceeded to tell me that I should pull into the next gas station and have them check it. Trouble is there are no gas stations to pull into that have attendants who can check things at 7PM. In this area you are lucky to find any store gas pump open. Gas station with someone to do something - hah! I again called him when I was driving home to say I was tired. He suggested I pull over and get a coffee. Hah again! I was driving down the highway with complete devistaion on each side of me. The malls that used to have Sam's Club, Toys R Us, Office Depot, Sears, etc are all completely closed. There are no people living or working in these areas. No electricity is on in most places. It was completely understandable to me that he suggested these options - they would make sense in most situations - but right now- right here things are different. Normal just isn't normal. And I think most people outside of the area just plain don't get that. How can you?

I HEART Cast-On

2006-05-13T00:00:00.000-07:00

Go! Listen Now! If you haven't heard it before you MUST take a listen to Cast-On. I am loving it! I found Brenda a few weeks ago and am now totally, completely addicted. I love driving to work listening to her - or listening to her anywhere for that matter. I could listen to this woman all day! Even if you don't knit I recommend you take a listen!

2006-05-10T13:12:00.000-07:00

I haven't had much motivation to blog lately. Seems like life is just flying by...

Lately I have been thinking about blogish things I want to do. I keep thinking - I need to modify the format of the blog, add some more stuff to the sidebar, share some more pics of my recent travels with all of you, and then yesterday when I had to call the Boyfriend at home to ask him to look through my knitting needles to see if I had a size 8 I realized I could even make a page where I can keep track of that kind of stuff. How handy it would have been if I could have just looked online at work and then gone over to the yarn store to pick up those size eights!

In other news I am preparing for another trip to NOLA. I am interested to see what (if anything) has changed there since Jan. Let's just say I am not feeling hopeful. I am excited that I will be there over the Memorial Day weekend - I will be working during most of my trip but then I will get to have some F U N!!! Yippee!

I have a number of finished projects I should show y'all - maybe later tonight.... and then there is the new project I have begun. Details to follow!

The Goods Have Arrived!

2006-04-17T21:51:00.000-07:00

When I got home tonight I didn't check my mail - figured it was unlikely anything good had come. However when I went to Amazon.com and checked the status of my package that was shipped on the 15th I found that - It had been DELIVERED!!!!! I almost - almost ran down the three flights of stairs in my pajamas and flip flops to get it - but I thought better of it and asked the Studly Boyfriend to check my mail for me. The anticipation was killing me as he was walking up the stairs (at what felt like a very slow pace!)!

Inside the box were the three books I have been wanting for the last month! Yippee! I had already looked at One Skein in the store - so I have some ideas of what I am going to knit out of there and I am saving the The Yarn Harlot's new book for in bed reading tonight but I immediately cracked the spine of Big Girl Knits!

I had been wanting this book since I heard about it's conception. And I am so excited to have it - from the twenty minutes or so I have spent looking through it it looks like a great resource for beautiful patterns as well as wonderful guidelines on measuring, fit, etc.

But alas it also made me sad.... The book is divided into three guidelines for fit - Boobs, Belly and Butt - now I see the value in this totally and I was so excited to have patterns that would flatter me, A Belly Girl - but I have to say - I love the Boob patterns!!! Some of the patterns are supposed to work for big girls of all shapes, but many are specified. To me all of the belly ones look rather - big - they seem like a ton of fabric. I pictured myself knitting for days with the yarn that would cost me almost a week's salary to buy.

As I said, I am much more drawn to the Boob patterns but Boobs, for sure, aren't my biggest assert. There is a tank top I LOVE called Cherry Bomb - recommended for Boobs and Butts, not Bellies. A great coat - the Natalie Coat - but again for Boob and Butt girls. And then the oh so cute Curvalicious Cardigan - yeah it will look great on ya - oh - as long as you aren't a Belly girl! GRRRR.

So I like the book but am now feeling a tad frustrated - with it and my belly body...

I know I sound like a whiner... :( I still recommend the book for the reasons above but why oh why can't I love the Belly pattern?!?

OK now I am off to dry my tears ;) and to figure out some good yarn substitutions for some of the patterns in the book (I am considering Bombshell and Lift and Separate).

PS Note the Marshmallow bunny in the pic? Studly Boyfriend knew I was lamenting not getting a one for Easter (they are my fav Easter candy) so he went out and picked me up a WHOLE BOX today! (Can you freeze marshmallow?!?)

PPS the afghan in the back was knit (?) by my maternal grandmother - anyone know how she managed to do that? It has all of these cool little strips with pieces reaching up into other strips - hard to explain, maybe I will take a closer photo someday!

Time Flies...

2006-04-16T00:56:00.000-07:00

Holy Cow! How is it that almost two months have gone since I last posted!?! I do have to admit that I am having a bit of a lack of inspiration lately. I finished clapotis, made a booga bag that I don't like, whipped up a hat for my friend Denise and continued to work on a sock in Opal yarn that I am thinking may bore me to death. For some reason there just isn't anything that I have been passionately knitting or dying to knit. I wish there was. For weeks now I have been searching - looking through my stash trying to figure out what to make, surfing the net, even feeling willing to invest some hard earned moolah in yarn for a new project - BUT - I can't find one!!!

I had high hopes for the new Knitty that came out recently, but there isn't really a thing in it that I would want to knit for myself - or that I think will look good on me. I like UnGranny Smith but fear that all of those beads would feel annoying while wearing. At first I was SURE I was going to knit T-twist tee but then I looked at the back of it and realized I couldn't wear a comfortable bra with it - so that eliminated it right away!

Now I am holding out for Big Girl Knits - Amazon informed me that my order shipped today (which also includes Knitting Rules by the Yarn Harlot and One Skein). Now I all I need is Mason-Dixon Knitting and I will be set! Anyway - I have big hopes for Big Girl Knits - I am ready to make something knit that I love that I can wear - ALL FOR ME!!!!

Well that's all for now! Time to hit the sack - I have to remember to blog again soon and tell you about all of the podcasts I have been enjoying lately! Knitting Podcasts Rock!!!

Please make the call...

2006-02-22T13:13:00.000-08:00

I haven't been posting much lately - mostly because life has been hectic, I a terrible cold and I have been knitting the same thing forever. I also am trying to decide what to do about this blog - I know it isn't exactly fitting my needs at the moment - so I am considering starting a new one - but we will see what happens there....

My main concern for the day can be found here. Yesterday as I was home convalescing I watched Oprah - lately she has been irritating to me, but her show was on "Katrina Stories No One is Telling." I was so glad to see her do this and to see how accurate of a portrayal it was. One story that she told was that of St. Bernard parish - one of the areas I worked in last month while in LA. St. Bernard was completely devastated by Katrina. Many of the residents that are still there basically have no where to stay and no way to cook food - but for now are living on a cruise ship, the Scotia Prince, that is set to leave at the end of this month - which is NEXT WEEK! The ship needs to stay - FEMA isn't getting trailers there quickly enough and the residents of the parish need this resource. Please please take a look at the St. Bernard Parish website and make the call to the White House asking for the ship to stay.

Knitting and Levees...

2006-01-28T01:40:00.000-08:00

I have been one of the world's laziest bloggers lately. I keep meaning to write but then have these great ideas of what I should write but get overwhelmed by the effort it will take to write them! So tonight I was inspired and decided to just type already!

You will notice my blog has somewhat morphed into writing about New Orleans... Well today's post will be both knitting and New Orleans related.

For those of you who are interested in hearing more about the current situation in NOLA head on over to Tim's blog. He speaks from a personal and political (how can the two not be mixed on the issue of NOLA these days) view on things there. He has moved back to New Orleans with his wife and child after having had their home ruined by the flood. To me his posts really reflect the reality of the situation in the city. He makes many good points including that to rebuild the city New Orleans needs IMPROVED hurricane protection. They don't just need the levees to be rebuilt - things need to be improved. Our government needs to hear this loud and clear from all of us... A band aid just won't do the job!

Now on a knitting note Ray has help to organize a wonderful project called Bundle Up New Orleans. Head on over to the site to find out how you can help just by knitting warm items such as hats, scarves and mittens for the people in NOLA who so desperately need something warm at this time of the year. When I was there two weeks ago I was surprised by just how cold it really is. It was cold and windy and I didn't have a hat or scarf but so wanted one. I now have one hat ready to go and need to look through my stash to see what else I want to make. Please please join me!

New Orleans is Alive (well some of it anyway)!

2006-01-11T21:58:00.000-08:00

So I meant to blog everyday while I was here - but obviously that hasn't happened! Today I actually shouldn't be blogging as it has been a kind of crappy day - but I had one happy thing to share with y'all - I picked up some yarn at the LYS so that I could make another clapotis (yeah yeah so I am not finished with my first one yet) - The yarn is a lovely hand dyed wool and I got a colorway that is grayish/bluish - I don't have the ability to take a good pic at the moment but when I do I will post it for y'all! (Notice the southern twang!) :)

I am super tired as the work has been very draining today - and note to self - if coming to New Orleans in January bring more pants - what were you thinking packing so many pairs of shorts!

Hey everyone - by the way - COME VISIT! They need you down here!

Back to New Orleans

2006-01-03T19:33:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year to my few readers!

I have been having a difficult time keeping things updated on here - I went on my Caribbean Cruise vacation, got back and attempted to get ready for the holidays and then actually survived the holidays, and finally had to get ready for another deployment to New Orleans.

This time I am staying in the city itself and working on the cruise ships housing first responders (police, fire and city workers and their families who are from New Orleans and have had their homes destroyed). This experience is only beginning but is VERY different thus far from my first time here. In some ways it is similar - things are sort of confusing and plans change by the minute - for example I thought I would be working with children but now it looks like I will be working more with adults. I also thought I would be on the ships in New Orleans the most but now it looks like I will be in St. Bernard Parish which is just outside of NO and was also hit VERY badly.

I had many feelings coming back into the city yesterday - I hadn't been here since my vacation in November 2004 and things are different - but the odd thing is that the touristy area of the city isn't that changed. If you walked out of my hotel right now things would look pretty regular. The streets are filled with cars and people are out walking around - it might look less busy than usual and some of the businesses aren't open, but it all looks pretty functional. The same can be said for MUCH of the city. There are many houses, businesses, schools and public places that are still here and open. The New Orleans Tourism website is great! It lists many restaurants, hotels etc and tells you who is open - I would highly recommend it!

Today was a day of running around - trying to get a rental car (but of course the "system went down" and they had my reservation wrong in the first place), getting a badge (wait in line...). We also went on a driving tour of the city and saw the incredible devastation that has happened. Now remember there are MANY areas of the city that are doing well. Despite what the media has shown us New Orleans is doing a great job functioning. I haven't been down to the French Quarter yet, but I hear that area is mostly open. However there are areas that have been destroyed for sure. A wonderful resident of the city who is also a psychologist working to help the first responders showed us all around. We took many pictures - though I have to admit that after awhile seeing so much devastation - everything starts to blurr together. Home after home destroyed. Someone told me that it looked like a bomb went off. They were correct. Entire neighborhoods - communities - gone.

I am looking forward to getting on the ship more tomorrow. And to sleeping tonight!

I leave you with some pictures of what we saw today... the bad parts - I will have to take some pics of the good parts while I am here too... (I seem to be having problems uploading to blogger- but if you go here you can see my photos).

I feel so advanced!

2005-12-28T00:03:00.000-08:00

Had a wonderful holiday - better than I had expected! Enjoyed the company and got many lovely gifts - including some moolah to buy some goodies! I used the first bit of it at Bath & Body Works yesterday to get the antibacterial foaming soap I am addicted to (even though I worry that antibacterial is evil) and then today I bought my first knitting related bit... A ball winder! :) Somehow this purchase made me feel like a grown up knitter! Like I somehow actually know what I am doing if I need to possess such an object. I mean what novice knitter would need a ball winder. I don't have a swift yet - so maybe I am not a knitting adult - maybe I am a knitting teenager! Am I insane to think that I could wind a ball without a swift? We will see!

It's been so long...

2005-12-20T19:47:00.000-08:00

Since I've posted.

Lately I have been feeling kind of down in the dumps. My Caribbean vacation was lovely - blue sky, warm blue water, sunshine - but it was a challenge to come back to "real life." I am realizing that I feel stressed out at work, am not thrilled about the upcoming holidays, and really miss my friends that seem to be scattered around the US. Granted I loved going to college and grad school far from home. But when you want to hang out with your buddies it sucks. I can't instantly be in Atlanta, DC, Boston or Albany.... Unfortunately. It is hard having your favorite people live far away.

I have still been knitting a bit - finished a purple scarf for a little friend of mine in Louisiana last weekend. Still plodding along on Clapotis every so often. I think my knitting is in a little slump. Also I have been feeling bitter due to the fact that I participated in both SP5 and SP6 and was basically forgotten about by my pals. SP5 sent me a first package that was cool - and told me a second was coming... But it never did. Now SP6 - I was skeptical but hopeful - I have received a card, but nothing else. I emailed the coordinators and they say something is on the way. That is cool but I am bummed. I had hoped that I would have some lovely SP I could keep in touch with and enjoy - no such luck. I think I am giving up on SP exchanges for the time being. It sucks to put in the effort and not get it in return.

Bah Humbug!

Check this out!

2005-11-22T20:39:00.000-08:00

I was hunting for Christmas cards tonight and stumbled upon this at the Red Cross store.
I think it is pretty cool! In fact I want it - but I am trying not to spend too much money at the moment so I am not going to get it right now... isn't it neat?!?

An odd email....

2005-11-22T19:24:00.000-08:00

Last night I logged on to a random email account to find that I had a message waiting for me at classmates.com I was shocked to see that it was from my ex boyfriend from high school. I haven't talked to him since he dumped me on Christmas eve 1993 (I think that was the last time we spoke). Anyway this is what I received:

From:	R
To:	Jennifer
Sent:	November 20, 2005 08:55:11 PM
Subject:	A long overdue, heartfelt apology
Jennifer, This was a shot in the dark, but I'm glad it worked. I owe you an apology. Hopefully, you've forgotten me and this won't mean anything to you. I, however, have not forgotten, and I've realized over the years how much I owe you an apology. Over ten years ago, I behaved like a dumb, selfish kid, and tried to use a sweet, loving, beautiful young woman to satisfy my own wants. Thank God you didn't let it go too far! You certainly did not deserve what I did, and I am truly sorry. I hope all is well with you, and I wish you success in everything that's important to you. Sincerely, R I was ASTOUNDED to get this. I never thought I would hear from this man again let alone have him apologize for his behavior. It gave me faith in dating again.... Somehow it is good to know that as we get older we really can realize our mistakes. I wrote back to him. I am so curious what prompted him to send this.

I love nights like this...

2005-11-20T01:16:00.000-08:00

Cold and crisp but not wet. It's foggy tonight but a comfy cozy kind of foggy - makes you want to just light a fire or snuggle up under your down comforter. I had a pretty good day today - got my house cleaned (I love having someone help do this - almost like having rent-a-partner someone who can clean while I do laundry!) I also hosted my cooking club - New Orleans inspired food, and went to see Harry Potter.

Lately I have been addicted to NPR segments on hurricane Katrina - I found out that you can subscribe to a feed on bloglines that lets you know when new Katrina stories are available for listening. I don't quite know what to say about why I want to hear all of these stories but somehow it feels important to keep all of this in my mind.

I really want to go back to New Orleans and I have been looking into ways to do this in the last week or so. I haven't let my family or my job know that I want to go back but I figure if it seems like it will work out I will talk to them about it then.

I am trying to get together some knitters to help me with a little Louisiana inspired knitting project so if you have any desire to knit a hat, gloves or scarf for someone special who has been effected by Katrina drop me a line and I will tell you more!

Join this KAL!

2005-11-18T01:20:00.000-08:00

Check out this great Knit Along that Margene and Carole are hosting! These great ladies are doing it again by being the hostess to a great cause! I just cast on tonight for a rolled brimmed hat using Patons Melody that I am hoping to send to Anne at the Village Knitter to help warm someone in Indiana who has been effected by a tornado. So now you - go join up too!

Knitting update! At last!

2005-11-11T00:15:00.000-08:00

Ever since I returned from Louisiana I have been struggling with blogging... I guess with knitting too... other things just seem to be getting in the way...

However I did complete the corner to corner baby blanket for my cousin's new arrival - Tyler! He was born on Halloween! :) I mailed it off and they should have received it so no problems showing you the finished object.

I used Paton's pixie yarn and didn't love how it knit up but it was nice and soft - which I know my cousin will like!

The photos aren't great but here are a couple!

Quiz about me!

2005-11-06T01:23:00.000-08:00

Take my Quiz on QuizYourFriends.com!

Thinking of Home.

2005-10-23T10:57:00.000-07:00

September 30

My first full day at Hirsch was interesting to say the least. Part of my team is feeling sick and I am hoping that I have avoided the illness. Somehow I managed to avoid the one at Southern that sent a number of staff to the hospital or home. Some of the team I am working with is super funny - I just keep laughing and laughing. I keep going back and forth on whether or not I am ready to leave - some moments I really want to go home - I am exhausted and cranky and moody, other times I am wanting to stay here and keep working and meeting people. It's odd to think about going home - I am not quite sure what it will be like. Relaxing or stressful? How will I react? I want to keep the mind frame I have developed while I have been here - so much of what I worry about when I am home is things that are just trivial and not at all worth worrying about.

Stop! No - Don't End!

2005-10-22T14:13:00.000-07:00

September 29

Sometimes I want this experience to be over and other times I don't want it to end. Today was frustrating, sad and I laughed the hardest that I have laughed during my whole trip. I have mixed feelings about my new assignment at Hirsch - it is SO huge- maybe 1,200 people - and today it was VERY chaotic. I sort of liked the cosines of Southern and the way it was possible to be in touch with everything that was going on. This shelter is different, there are clothing rooms for men, women and children, a baby food room, a baby supplies room, toiletries room and a shoe hallway. The floor of the arena is mapped out with the streets of New Orleans in tape and people have pretty cozy bed setups - including some people with two air mattresses or actual mattress sets. But grated they are VERY close to each other.

It is weird to not know any of these clients and to fell as if i had gotten comfortable and familiar with the others but not to know these people at all. Just in the few days we were at Southern things had become predictable and normal in some ways. You knew who would smile at you and chat with you. Who might be cranky. Which kids would listen and mind and who would not. Familiar. Now back to the unfamiliar.

So much of this experience has been about that - stretching and moving beyond the unfamiliar- trying new things and meeting new people. Opening myself up to new experiences. I am so blessed to have had this opportunity to grow and change. To meet people and see things that I hadn't before.

Powerful and Amazing.

2005-10-22T13:10:00.000-07:00

September 28

Teenagers, children, babies and adults. My heart aches for them all. The sweetness of these people and the pain they have been through. Surviving and trying to thrive. Such difficult circumstance. Poverty, stress, racism just to name three.

We closed the shelter today. It was happy and sad. I didn't anticipate completely the way this would touch my heart. The way each client would climb in and take hold. The faces of them all etched in my memory. Today I helped to put wrist bands on our residents- almost 200 of them that were left. We didn't realize there were still that many. To make sure everyone was on a bus and that we had enough busses we had them line up with their families and get a wristband. My helper and I wrote the names of each one and made sure everyone had a wristband on. There was something about this process that really touched me. Literally and figuratively. I put a wristband on each and every person leaving the shelter - my fingers on their skin. Human to human. Young and old. Yet again this experience reminding me that these people have gone through so much. They are completely deserving of happiness and were completely undeserving of having this terrible situation happen to them. We are all one. This could have as easily been me or anyone else in this situation. And also reminding me how many factors - poverty above all - have kept them in these shelters. Painful to think of.

This day also had it's stressful times (how many busses?!?) but they seem trivial in comparison to the goodbyes. Aside from the clients I will miss the Shreveport Police and the National Guard. Had more conversations with them as the days went on and it was nice to see them more as people not just enforcers. People willing to give up things like their time and to help like we are. Kind people who go out of their way. So much of this was so powerful and amazing.

Another day...

2005-10-22T12:43:00.000-07:00

September 27

Tired again. On hold forever to change my plane ticket. The day was better emotionally for me but very stressful for our clients. So much different information about when they will be going back to the Cajundome. They really want to return "home." Also people are decompensating more. Becoming increasingly mentally ill - or really it is just becoming more evident. This is a challenge but one that I feel I can somewhat easily deal with. Two of our supervisors out processed today. This was sad for me. They were both a pleasure to work with. I learned so much from B - I really appreciated her patient attitude and the way she dealt with clients. I wish I had that much patience! I continued to play with kids in the shelter, met new people and became more attached to the old ones!

Filled up Emotionally.

2005-10-22T12:36:00.000-07:00

September 26

By the end of the day I am filled up emotionally. I start out the day find but after hours of having to say no or having to deal with angry people I just want to cry, decompress with someone and relax. The challenging part is that I few like few people can understand aside from other Red Cross workers and maybe my friends who do mental health. This makes it more difficult to call home and talk to people who are "regular" friends. Some daily things seem so trivial in comparison to things that are going on here. Although I haven't specifically been focused on mental health issues the whole time just hearing stories and talking to people can be pretty overwhelming.

Today I met a man who had lived in his attic for 2 days in New Orleans before he was rescued by a boat. He has much more going on in his life as well with his health especially but he was determined not to let the experience get him down. The day was also frustrating dealing with supply issues - or rather ways to distribute things to kids. Everyone began to argue and want more and more but also wouldn't take care of the things they got. A total mess and upsetting in general to me. But I am trying to put this all in perspective.

A long day...

2005-10-22T12:27:00.000-07:00

September 25

Everyone was on edge today. CRANKY! EMOTIONAL! I cried twice. Bureaucracy is frustrating from supervisors on different paths of thinking to figuring out when people will be able to return home. Today was also a day of connecting with people - really caring about their needs and experiences. I spent so much time wishing that they didn't have to suffer. Enjoying the diversity of the clients but saddened bye it too. Having a chance to use my mental health skills with adults who have major mental illness. All of the kids were full of energy and things were challenging to keep under control when playing. It was a day of chicken bones, evil twins, laundry fighting and tired feet.

Rita is Coming.

2005-10-13T00:31:00.000-07:00

September 24

We avoided a hurricane in Shreveport but sure experienced a big storm! This morning I went with my coworker to Walmart for supplies incase we got stuck in the shelter for a night (or more) and the generator was on as the power was out. The automatic doors there were not so automatic. There were no more flashlinghts and water was going fast. It was pouring down rain and it was super windy. My coworker had to get gas in the car and when she got back in she was SOAKED - wet hair, wet clothes, barely able to see out of her glasses!

The kids were getting antsy today. They couldn't go outside at all due to the bad weather and they so wanted to play. So I worked with some other volunteers to set up a playroom for the kids. It was somewhat of a challenge as many of our supplies had accidentally been diverted to a different shelter but someone had done some shopping and we had books, puzzles, a few games, crayons, markers and paper and were good to go. A couple of parents and teens volunteered to help and this made all the difference in the world. Thank God for those two moms!

The fact that Rita is moving through seemed to be increasing the anxiety for some. I am guessing that especially for the kids the memory of Katrina was sparked intensely by hearing about Rita. Also some of these clients have family that may be near where Rita is hitting hardest. A very difficult situation.

Although we came prepared we didn't have to sleep at the gym as Rita wasn't a hurricane when she got to us. We headed home (i.e. the hotel) to sleep in our beds after an exhausting day.

Exhaustion.

2005-10-13T00:21:00.000-07:00

September 23

I think the shelter is holding about 360 people now and it is a definitely amazing experience to be a part of. I spent the day dealing with many issues from crowd control, organizing supplies, getting clients blankest, playing with kids, pushing wheelchairs, setting up TV's and talking with clients. I heard stories from and about many people. Families who tried to drive out of New Orleans and but got stuck, stories about the flood water burning the skin of people who were trying to stay out of harm's way in their attic, wading through waist high water in New Orleans and people doing things they really knew they wouldn't do in a typical situation.

Tension is running high amongst the clients. It is really hard for people to have to leave the place they were feeling at home in when they have already had to leave their real homes. It is interesting to see the very few Caucasian and Hispanic people mixed in with a majority of African Americans. Much different racially than the mix in Seattle. But kids are playing and families are talking and doing laundry. All this and we are sitting here in a gym waiting for a hurricane to hit. We may have to spend the night in the shelter because of Rita.

Dinner was one of the highlights of the day today people were very frustrated about others cutting in line and being disrespectful. Hearing that beginning tomorrow meals were going to be organized by the National Guard and the Police due to the chaos that ensued this evening. It is amazing to have the national guard in the shelter. There presence is beginning to feel normal to me which in some ways is sad. One child told me that he didn't like that the military have such big guns with them - he said it made him worry they were going to start shooting. I assured him they wouldn't and that they were here for the protection of all of us - not to hurt us. I wonder how many of the kids worry about that?

Setting Up...

2005-10-13T00:02:00.000-07:00

September 22

Setting up a shelter for 350 is amazing work. I did wake up at 6:30 this morning and spent most of the day doing nothing (except working on Clapotis). Then when about three or four PM hit there was action! We went over to Southern University and helped to set up the shelter - basically from scratch.
We helped to put cots together in a large gymnasium. Supposedly there were about 260 cots there with bedding. Most of the cots were awful - metal poles and canvas about six inches off the ground - just like the one in the picture but ours were blue. Imagine sleeping on that for even one night! They were also a great challenge to put together! However there were lots of enthusiastic volunteers there to help and we set that place up in just a few hours!

At the beginning of the evening the plans were that we were setting up a long term shelter for people who were evacuating from Rita but then three hours later the plans changed. Now the Cajundome in Lafayette had to evacuate it's evacuees and some of them would be coming to our shelter (they had so many people in Cajundome they had to be spread among many different smaller shelters).

I didn't stay the whole night but did stay for part of the arrival. It was amazing to see people coming in. Families and single people. So many children. All had to go through a metal detector and the line to get in stretched down the sidewalk form the door. So many people. Now we just wait for the storm.

Traveling...

2005-10-12T23:49:00.000-07:00

September 21 -

Today was a frustrating day emotionally. It is hard to be here ready and willing to do something but waiting for the organizational structure to take over so we can actually be deployed to a location to start working. That and hurricane Rita is brewing - they are unsure where she is coming so they are hesitant to send us South. The stress of just waiting got to me and made me want to connect with friends back home and in other places - but some of these conversations were challenging ones.

So like I said today was one more day of waiting and travel. It seemed like mostly we drove - went to headquarters (took about an hour to drive 8 miles in Baton Rouge) and then finally got deployed to Shreveport, LA - this city that I had not heard of before is in North Western Louisiana. It is a smaller city with a much smaller Red Cross office and tomorrow they will likely have four different shelters operating. However it seems as if things are changing by the minute so there is not definite plan to where I will be working. Rita now seems to be a category 5 with winds of 165 MPH. People in Louisiana and Texas are being evacuated and moved North. Busses were stationed at a rest stop we drove by on the way to Shreveport - AT LEAST 50 of them - all waiting and empty to move in and help people get to safety. A very odd site. People who have already been displaced are going to have to move again. Traumatic for all involved.

Tonight I went to dinner and to Barnes & Noble with two coworkers. We had a good time. Earlier we had flipped a coin to decide who would be going where - I "lost" but who knows what difference that even makes. I do know that I will likely be staying in Shreveport but that is about all I know - that and the fact that I get to seep in a bed while I am here - yippee! :)

Knitting Clapotis in a Staff Shelter

2005-10-05T00:51:00.000-07:00

September 20-

My day began with waking up early and getting some breakfast with my roommate. We had yummy Southern food and I even ate the grits. After that we waited and waited for a taxi to take us to the Greyhound terminal. Finally we got there and then waited some more for the bus. It was EXTREMELY hot outside and all the seats were taken inside. Plus there were four of us with a ton of luggage. We took turns waiting by the luggage, going inside to get cool air and standing in the shade to prevent heatstroke. The bus was not on time. We had a chance to chat with some locals and it was interesting as we were totally in the minority racially. (This was the case throughout 95% of my time in LA). I kept worrying because we seemed to be the only Red Cross workers waiting for that bus despite the fact that the three men I met the night before should have been there too. Finally the bus arrived and I slept my way to Baton Rouge.

Getting our luggage once there was an adventure. It took a long time but I am not certain how long. People were getting hot and impatient and begun grabbing stuff out from underneath the bus. This did not make the greyhound staff happy. Finally the luggage was collected and we added another Red Crosser to our group. We hooked up with another guy who was trying to get to Baton Rouge Headquarters as well and phoned for three taxis. We waited, and waited, and waited. Waited for almost two hours. OUTSIDE. IN THE SUN. In almost ONE HUNDRED DEGREE weather. (Thank god my mother made me get that sun hat!) The taxis did not come. At least we were enjoying one another's company and there was a place to get cold drinks and take turns sitting in the AC again.

Then we saw a bus pull up - a fancy bus. A bus with TV's and AC and comfy seats. Best of all someone was getting off - only one person. One of our group members, Kate, headed over to the driver to talk to him about giving us a ride. I swear this woman can work wonders because next thing you know we are riding in style. Six of us in AC on an empty bus. Turns out this bus was a FEMA bus that was being used to transport evacuees. The driver was awesome and used his GPS (how cool) device to transport us right to RC headquarters. He wouldn't accept any payment at all except for thanks and a hug.

Red Cross Headquarters in Baton Rouge is AMAZING - it is in an old WalMart and has everything you need to check in or "in process" and run disaster operations. There are different areas for each thing - Medical, Spiritual, Mental Health, Sheltering, Feeding, Communications, Rental Cars, Cell Phones, Snacks etc. - each area is designated by a huge sign hanging above it from the ceiling or on the wall behind the area. I had a picture ID made, got a staff card (the thing you use to pay for meals, gas etc) and went to a general orientation as well as a Mental Health orientation. At the general orientation they kept stressing that we needed to drink water as it is extremely hot. Mental health orientation was somewhat unexciting as we found that they did not yet know where we would be going. Told us to come back tomorrow at 8AM and sent us off to the staff shelter.

I've been told that this is the "deluxe" shelter. It has showers, AC, cots and food. There are many nice people staying her and hosting us. We had some dinner at the Outback Steakhouse and there were interesting conversations and laughter shared between the four of us. I met one counselor from NY, another from Renton, WA and a third from Ithaca, NY. I didn't realize it that night but Mr. Ithaca was to become an instant Red Cross Friend (Something about this situation makes you bond quickly with others.) I took a shower and tried to sleep on the cot from hell. Somehow it seemed as if there was no place for my arms to go and I wished I could just remove them for the night. I was thankful I had ear plugs and a sleeping mask (Heidi you rock!) So that I could block out the light from the gigantic clock (we were in a gymnasium) and the snoring from the loudest snorer ever who happened to be at the cot next to me. I slept but not soundly. Wondered what the next day would hold.

Expect the Unexpected

2005-10-04T23:46:00.000-07:00

I am not sure of the best way to tell the story of my time in Louisiana so I have decided to go back day by day to the journal I wrote and share my thoughts with you...

Monday Sept 19th-
My mother waits for me as I go through security. Of course I get in line behind a woman who is telling me repeatedly about how she has not flown for the last seventeen years - and her daughter just got married yesterday - of course she is on my plane. I manage to dodge her and slip into a different screening line.

From the airport in Seattle I phoned the DR phone number I was given hoping to find that I would have a place to go to when I arrive in Lafayette. The call finally goes through I enter my information and "We're sorry that number is not valid" is the response I get. Panic sets in. I phone repeatedly. You may ask why - this is because if I do not get instructions from this number I will arrive in Lafayette with NOWHERE to go. No place to sleep. Nothing. I try again and again. The number is still incorrect. I to keep the panic to a minimum while eating my Dish Delish sandwich in the fancy remodeled SeaTac airport.

I board the plane and while onboard continue my calling. My friend Tasha is trying to email Red Cross for me, I have phoned the Seattle Chapter only to get a recording that says not to leave a message there but I do anyway. My phone rings! The Seattle chapter calls and tells me that sometimes the phone is being reset and I should try again later. I feel a bit better. They also ask me who I am and just how did I get to be deployed (lovely that national and local coordinate together). Plane ride is uneventful - I did get some knitting done and I swear I was sitting next to two strippers who were traveling to Houston.

In Houston I eat a somewhat disgusting dinner of Uno's pizza. Why are all the restaurants closed at 7 PM here??? I do have success with the phone number - it directs me to the "Cajundome" when I arrive in Lafayette. I have no idea what the Cajundome is. Once at the airport in Lafayette I meet three men who are also going to the Cajundome. Thank god my luggage arrives - all 61 lbs of it!

While walking out to take the shuttle to the Cajundome I meet three women who are Red Cross volunteers and are heading to a hotel. A HOTEL! They suggest that I come with them. Now I am not a dummy - three other female traveling companions and a hotel OR three strange men and a place called the Cajundome that sounds like it has cots. I choose - the HOTEL. We arrive at the hotel and find they have two rooms left. I get my own bed with a wonderful roomie from CA. I charged the ipod and make some phone calls. Enjoy the AC as it is HOT here!

At the front desk we spoke with a man who told us there are seventy nurses staying in this hotel working to take care of people at a local hospital . He tells us that this is the third hotel he has been in since Katrina. He says things are better than they had been when Katrina first hit "At least they aren't walking over bodies anymore." Oh My. I don't know what to expect.

My roommate and I have a good chat before sleeping. We find out that we need to get up early so that we can go to the greyhound terminal to take a bus to Baton Rouge where the Red Cross headquarters are located. Sleep feels good.

Travel Plans Confirmed

2005-09-14T22:29:00.000-07:00

Hello out there in Blogland!

I wanted to let you all know the most recent developments in my Red Cross Adventure. I just got off the phone with the travel agent and have reservations to leave on Monday the 19th to fly into Lafayette, LA (through George Bush airport of course). From there I will somehow get to the "staging area" in Baton Rouge and then they can send me on to somewhere, anywhere - yep anywhere in Louisiana!

I have no idea what the conditions will be like where I am staying - the Red Cross says there may or may not be power, running water, etc. I also really don't know what I will be doing. It will be counseling of some sort but who knows if it will be with kids, adults, or whoever shows up. In the orientation phone call I had the other day they stated that in the places they are serving there have been literally hundreds of people - like 600 - who need to meet with a counselor!

I will be returning on Monday the 3rd of October (sorry Mom I'm missing your birthday!) and will go back to work shortly after that. One very good thing is that my employer agreed to let me take the two weeks off without using any vacation time. I didn't expect this at all and was very surprised and glad!

Currently I am feeling exhausted, excited and nervous. I so want to do this but almost can't believe I am really going. As the day gets closer it feels more and more surreal.

Well, that's all the updates for now! I am off to bed!

I think I will be away for a bit....

2005-09-12T01:09:00.000-07:00

Today I got a call from the Red Cross that I will be going to Baton Rouge for two weeks to help with counseling for the Hurricane Katrina survivors. I am not yet sure when I am leaving as the message they left was semi confusing, but I anticipate it will be later this week. They told me that the conditions are "extreme hardship" meaning I could encounter anything - not sure if I will stay in a hotel, a shelter or ???? , may have electricity and running water but then again may not! All of that and the weather is in the 90's!

Although the conditions sound awful and I am sure the whole trip will be rather stressful I am extremely excited to be going. I am glad that my education and training are giving me a chance to do something to help some of the many people who experienced the awful trauma of the hurricane.

I have no idea what Internet access will be like on my trip but I will for sure let all of you know when I arrive home safe and sound.

Take Care Everyone!

SP 6!!!!!

2005-09-11T23:58:00.000-07:00

Some of this may be a repeat from SP 5 but I did edit! :)

1. Are you a yarn snob (do you prefer higher quality and/or natural fibers)? Do you avoid Red Heart and Lion Brand? Or is it all the same to you?
I am an self proclaimed yarn snob. I definitely prefer high quality and natural fibers and rarely touch Red Heart or Lion Brand. I am not opposed to novelty yarns though - it's not like I would ONLY let my precious hands touch cotton or wool.

2. Do you spin? Crochet?
Spin - No
Crochet - Yes

3. Do you have any allergies? (smoke, pets, fibers, perfume, etc.)
Not really.

4. How long have you been knitting?
It blends together.... two years or so?!?

5. Do you have an Amazon or other online wish list?
I do but I will get back to ya on the link!

6. What's your favorite scent? (for candles, bath products etc.)
I love things that are naturally made with real ingredients and not fakey perfumes. I guess my favorite scents at the moment are lavender and vanilla.

7. Do you have a sweet tooth?Yup! I like all sorts of sweet stuff... Lately I have been having a hankering for gummy candies and red licorice (but I HATE black licorice). Chocolate is ok but for some reason I just LOVE marzipan!

8. What other crafts or Do-It-Yourself things do you like to do?
I recently bought some stuff to try to make my own beaded stitch markers but I haven't had a chance to get to it yet. I want to try dying my own yarn with kool aid but haven't gotten around to that yet either.

9. What kind of music do you like? Can your computer/stereo play MP3s? (if your buddy wants to make you a CD)I love music! All kinds! Folk, Bluegrass, World Music, some Country, Hip Hop, Classical, Jazz.... you name it I probably like some of it. Currently I have been listening to The Duhks, The Ditty Bops, Jill Scott, Joss Stone, Mark Bursard, Jack Johnson, Madeline Peyroux, Alison Krauss and Union Station, and Carbon Leaf but who knows when you will catch me throwing on the Indigo Girls, Lauryn Hill, Dixie Chicks, Ella Fitzgerald, Frank Sinatra, Diggable Planets, Bob Marley, Ani Difranco or.....

10. What's your favorite color? Or--do you have a color family/season/palette you prefer? Any colors you just can't stand?
I tend to like Blues and Purples. I think I am a more of a bright color person than pastels. I am also trying to embrace the fact that I LOVE PINK!

11. What is your family situation? Do you have any pets?
I recently ended a seven year relationship and am living alone with my two cats, Cider and Dickens. I am enjoying the single life (but not always loving dating) as I haven't really had a chance to do that as an adult. I live near both of my parents and live in the city in which I grew up.

12. What are your life dreams? (really stretching it here, I know)
My dreams include having a successful career, expanding my private practice, having a partner I love and enjoy coming home to, traveling to new and exciting places, having a family and living a long and happy life.

13. What is/are your favorite yarn/s to knit with?
Anything soft! There are so many things I have not tried yet. I have knit with a lot of Cascade 220 and I enjoy that but feel like there is more I should be trying. I like alpaca and enjoyed using Debbie Bliss Cashmerino when I made Miss Dashwood. There are so many new things I want to try!

14. What fibers do you absolutely *not* like?
Anything with too much man made stuff in it or that splits easily.

15. What is/are your current knitting obsession/s?
Trying to find patterns I like, wanting to try new yarns, thinking of projects I can make that won't take me forever to finish, looking for cute sweaters that work on plus sized people, wishing for a really cool way to store my needles and a neat knitting bag.

16. What is/are your favorite item/s to knit?
Felted stuff - especially bags. I would like to knit more sweaters and stuff but finding patters for plus size chicks that are cute is challenging!

17. What are you knitting right now?
Clapotis, a cabled scarf (still), and a baby blanket.

18. What do you think about ponchos?
Ick!Won't the trend ever end?!?

19. Do you prefer straight or circular needles?
I really like circular but am interested in trying some of the really nice pretty wooden ones that are available.

20. Bamboo, aluminum, plastic?
Bamboo!

21. Are you a sock knitter?
No! I gave up! I have at least one pair that is somewhere unfinished!

22. How did you learn to knit?
My grandmother taught me when I was very young but then I relearned again when I took a class at my LYS and was hooked. Funny thing was I had gone to a psychic (I never go to those things) who said she pictured me taking a class in something and I decided that she meant I should go take a knitting class!

23. How old is your oldest UFO?
Hmm lets see... so old I can't remember! I think it must be the chenille flower wash cloth I can't seem to get to work right. :(

24. What is your favorite animated character or a favorite animal/bird?
I don't know that I really have one... However my secret pal from secret pal 5 liked Hello Kitty a lot and I have to admit I think I am starting to like her as well.

25. What is your favorite holiday?
Christmas!

26. Is there anything that you collect?
Cookbooks maybe... I also have a little seashell collection I hope to do something with some day!

27. What knitting magazine subscriptions do you have?
None.

28. Any books out there you are dying to get your hands on?
I am not sure I am dying for any of them.... Maybe 200 Crochet Blocks or Cozy Crochet (I wish I could tell if the patterns in here are cute!)

29. Any patterns you have been coveting, but haven't bought for one reason or another?
That is a good question! I am sure there are but I will need to do some research.... Will update when I get back from Baton Rouge!

30. What are your foot measurements, and what kind of socks do you like?
LOL I have no idea! I wear a size 10 or 11 shoe.... and I prefer socks that are super thin... So not ones that I would knit! If I was gonna knit socks for myself they would be more likely to be used as slippers around the house so I would make them out of something nice and warm. But then again maybe you can knit thin socks!?!

New Orleans and other areas....

2005-09-01T23:32:00.000-07:00

As many of my fellow knitting bloggers have expressed I am feeling much sadness about Hurricane Katrina and the devastation it has caused. Don't even get me started on my feelings about the lack of response I think our government is making at this time. However, I wanted to take a moment to remind all of you to hop on over to the Red Cross website (you can get there through the banner on the right too!) and make a donation! Any amount helps. I made mine today and am glad I did! Also take a look at what Margene and Susan have set up! A very cool way to get us knitters involved in making donations! :) I leave you with two more pictures that I especially liked from my trip in 2004 to New Orleans.

Crumpets - the Late Night View....

2005-08-27T00:13:00.000-07:00

Yes, I did take this picture in my bathroom - But I just couldn't wait to put up a pic of Crumpets! The party is tomorrow (I had my weekends mixed up) and I just finished her. She's a bit big for Miss Tamzin who will eventually be wearing her... But I know she will grow into her Crumpets! I'm not sure about the elastic inside and I rewove the ribbon about four times trying to find just the right look! I am so happy that she is done! Crumpets was a fun yet challenging knit - I learned bunches while making her. This may be the most complex project I have done thus far! :)

Technical specs: I used almost three skeins of Cotton Ease in Candy Blue. Did the picot cast on from Vogue Knitting (Boy was that fun - Not So Much!!!), made adjustments in the ties, and used more beads than the pattern called for - not sure how many but maybe 1 and a half times the amount. I swatched and then cast on for the 1 year old size - but as the bodice came together I realized this was going to fit a two year old! I adjusted the length to compensate. Lined the bodice with elastic. If I made this again I would possibly use a smaller size needle as she seems a bit loosely knit. I would also buy a longer length of ribbon than the pattern calls for. I'm not sure I'd use the Cotton Ease again as it was VERY splitty on the needles. Note to self - if you make this again make the ties way way longer than you think they need to be! PS I never knew I could LOVE - I mean LOVE my iron! I touched the dress up a bit with the iron and it made all the difference in the world - especially on the crochet edging on the bottom!

RIP Six Feet Under

2005-08-21T22:53:00.000-07:00

I can't believe it is over. I was mourning the passing of this, my all time favorite TV show, as I watched the final episode tonight. This got me to thinking..... Why do I care so much about this TV show ending??? Then I realized - this show has been there during an interesting time in my life. I have watched it from ages 25-30; times where I have personally changed greatly. I have switched jobs, opened a business, ended a long term relationship and come to understand many things about myself as a person overall. This simple TV show has always touched me emotionally - made me laugh and made me cry. However it is now ending. An ending of a time in my life but also moving into something new..... I wonder what life will hold?

Plodding Along

2005-08-17T00:26:00.000-07:00

I haven't been in the best of moods lately (major understatement) and that's been effecting my knitting progress somewhat. Clapotis is a bit further along but not really worth another picture yet. However this is the Corner to Corner Baby Blanket that I am working on for a special little someone

It's knitting up pretty quickly and it's interesting to watch the way the yarn is making patterns on it's own as I knit. I am not sure that I would do this exact pattern again as it is a bit boring - maybe just a tad to easy for my taste at the moment.

Crumpets has been blocked (hah - my version of blocking that is!) But I am still working on the elastic. I will for sure take a picture of her before she is given away this Saturday! :)

Finally, I am excited on the secret pal front - I have one more giftie to send my pal - and this one is the big one... I am looking forward to seeing what she thinks of my choices. I have been loving how my pal keeps commenting on my blog - it definitely makes me feel special! :) At the moment I am trying to decide if I should do Secret Pal 6 but my mind isn't sure yet.

The Beginnings of Clapotis

2005-08-07T23:14:00.000-07:00

To me that title sounds a little like a STD... But no Clapotis is not an STD she's a beautiful drop-stitch wrap!! My Clapotis is being made out of KnitPicks Shimmer in Happy Dance and she looks a little bit more orangeish here than she does in real life. So far it's an enjoyable pattern and a fun yarn to work with. I do kind of wish that I could have used another yarn like Lorna's Laces Lion and Lamb or Noro Silk Garden but since this baby is gonna cost me around twenty bucks you can't complain too much!

In other news my cats are shedding a ton due to the hot weather we have been having. Despite the fact that I had brushed Cider on Monday the hair was flying off him again by Wednesday. After I brushed him I somehow ended up flattening the hair out and this was the result:

I can't decide if it is more of a hat, a Yarmulke or a Toupe. My mother thinks it should have ties somewhat like Crumpets. Even though I was talking with KE about knitting with cat fur at the Yarn Harlot's book signing I think making icords out of cat fur is a bit of an adventure that I am not yet ready to tackle.

Oh and yes - even though I arrived late and it was incredibly hot upstairs the Yarn Harlot's reading was wonderful! I laughed a lot and made some progress on Clapotis, ate yummy cake and drank lemonade and had a delightful chat with KE and her husband and met Stephanie and her sign my book. Also I found out I was famous... For my toilet picture.... At least I now definitely know that I have blog readers! I may be famous for a toilet picture but it's a start! :)

How Glad Am I...

2005-08-02T22:15:00.000-07:00

That I am paying astronomical monthly dues to my condo association and a sky high mortgage payment to live next to a neighbor whose porch looks like this?

Yes, you are correct, it is a toilet. A toilet set out on her porch. How lovely. Bonus - it is currently being used as a table for her ashtray. Beautiful.

My Secret Pal is Psychic and Canadian Eh?

2005-08-01T21:58:00.000-07:00

(Trying to fight the screaming associated with the post I just wrote getting deleted due to my pop up blocker) I can't recreate it at the moment - just can't do it. So let's just say ~

My secret pal sent me way cool stuff. A hand knit scarf, a nifty magazine, some cute sticky notes and three balls of Patons Grace in Azure. My pal is psychic because I had been wanting some cotton yarn to do some crocheting but couldn't bring myself to indulge in this treat. I was also excited to see my pal is Canadian - I don't think I have ever received an Air Mail package before :)

On the knitting front - Crumpets is done but needs to be blocked - pictures will follow soon! I have begun Clapotis and I need to start a baby blanket for my cousin and her boyfriend who are expecting a little boy in Nov. I picked up some Patons Pixie yarn but am now worried about using it as it is discontinued and some people have said they hated working with it. But it is fluffy and cute and my cousin LOVES soft fluffy stuff! Now I just need to find a pattern for it.... Any suggestions???

By the way - Stitch and Pitch was fun! :) I made a bunch of progress finishing Crumpets and the night was beautiful!!! I now think all sporting events should have a night like this! :)

Home Sweet Home.....

2005-07-25T21:18:00.000-07:00

Miss Dashwood was a hit! I had a great time at my friend's baby shower for her soon to arrive home little girl. She and her husband are adopting and they have been waiting to go over and pick up their little bundle of joy for months now. I am very excited for them! Plus the whole thing gave me hope that if I someday can't birth babies it would be just as awesome to adopt.

Visiting people's homes always gets me thinking and this last weekend I was the houses of two friends I have not been to before. I came home from the second one thinking "my condo is a dump - why doesn't it look like their house???" I continued to ponder this thought and realized that for some reason whenever I go over to a home that looks like it popped out of the Pottery Barn I become insanely jealous. I want that furniture, that paint, those curtains - even the f***ing hand towels! I start thinking all of my stuff is crap and that I could never possibly be as stylish as aforementioned person.

This time as I was green with envy I tried to gain some insight into my feelings. I didn't figure things out completely but I did make some progress! I realized that I had also really loved the style of the first person's home I visited this weekend. Funny thing is - these two homes were wildly different in decor and style. Pottery Barn vs. Eclectic Woo Woo with a touch of Pier One and Archie McPhee's. I think I even felt more at home in the Eclectic Woo Woo house. But for some damn reason I feel like my life should be Pottery Barn.... and it just isn't! Somehow I now know that I need to come to enjoy my Eclectic Minimally Woo Woo Hand Me Down and Antique Comfy Cosy Condo - I couldn't keep up with the cleaning the Pottery Barn would require anyway! :)

She's finished!

2005-07-23T17:08:00.000-07:00

Miss Dashwood is finally finished! Just in time to be given away tomorrow! Above you can see her without the earflaps down.

Here she is with her ear flaps down for extra cold days:

And the sweet sweet buttons I found that were just perfect for securing her earflaps when they aren't needed!

Hopefully little Torrin can wear this hat for many of the cold winter days ahead after she comes home to her new parents!

Miss Dashwood

2005-07-18T22:48:00.000-07:00

Here she is... or at least most of what is done thus far. I have also finished the earflaps but I became so frustrated with the ties that I stopped and did the finishing on the hat and the earflaps (a definite sign of frustration when I am WANTING to sew in the ends!) She wasn't too difficult to knit. This picot cast on was sooooo much easier than the one in the Vogue Knitting book. I know there are a few mistakes in her but I am hoping a non knitters eye will not notice them. ;) Now if I can just motivate myself to make those ties. I frogged the first one two or three times already and considered I cord but I really want to do the one from the pattern because I think it is pretty.

What Do You Knit When...

2005-07-16T00:07:00.000-07:00

You are on a cruise/beach vacation?

I am SO EXCITED!!! Two nights ago my good friend from High School Jill and I booked a cruise to the Eastern Caribbean on Holland America! We got a pretty good deal and are going to be visiting some wonderful places and I am especially happy because when we are cruising Dec 4-11 in the Caribbean with beautiful warm weather it will likely be cold and rainy in Seattle. You can see the places we are going over there on the left - I haven't been to any of them before so I am really thrilled!

We will be sailing on the ms Westerdam in a room with a balcony! I have cruised before - three times to be exact - but never to such cool places on a nice cruise line with a fabulous friend and an AWESOME room! I am really really excited (if you can't tell)! The ship even has a Culinary Arts Center which is super neat because I love cooking and I am hoping I can watch or participate in something fun there as well as spending some time (and $$ of course) in the Spa. I swear this is going to be my dream vacation! :)

So now I am already thinking - what do I bring to knit? I know we will be spending a good amount of time hanging out by the pool and relaxing on beaches when in port - most sane people would read but I figure I can knit! Can't I? I know it might be messy so maybe it isn't a good idea but there has to be a way... Some project I can take with me to enjoy while I am sailing and sunning.... Any suggestions????

More Crumpets!

2005-07-12T22:30:00.000-07:00

Here's the progress to date! The skirt is simple but taking a loooooong time! I am ready for her to be finished! As I was knitting away in a staff meeting this morning I realized two things 1) Knitting is like blood pressure medication or valium when in a meeting that is stressful 2) Holy Crap! I need to get started on Miss Dashwood because it needs to be done for a baby shower I am going to on the 24th! I really hope the pattern isn't too difficult otherwise I will need to run out and buy a gift! Ok I am off to cast on.... that darn picot thing again....

I have readers!!!! (and crumpets progress)

2005-07-06T23:06:00.000-07:00

OMG! I was looking at my blog today for some reason and I noticed there were comments that hadn't arrived in my email box! How thrilled am I to know that there are really people who even looked at it besides my secret pal! (Not that I don't appreciate your comments SP!)

Aside from taking the photos of my stash additions and my cat Cider, I haven't delved into them yet. I am still working on crumpets - no major errors to report however the yarn got SUPER tangled the other night so I had to cut part of it and then spend hours winding it into a ball. I am a bit worried that all that bead stringing is going to have to be redone from my cutting but at least the yarn is usable again. (Note to self - NEVER buy cheap yarn again).

I was having another thought today as I was doing my laundry. Why is it that Knitters and Druggies have a "Stash"? Do other people with hobbies have a "Stash"? I have never heard my friends who are into gardening, or reading, or cooking refer to their "Stash" of plants, books or cooking utensils. Knitters however are a different breed - we hoard our yarn, frequently are "jonesing" for a new fiber, ohh and ahh over the different options we can purchase much as one might be thrilled in a "coffee shop" in Amsterdam if they were a pothead! Now maybe I am naive and other there are other hobbies where people are as fanatic about their "Stash" as knitters. However I think I know one or two people who seem as addicted to knitting or yarn as one might be to crack! (Not naming any names here) :) Maybe we need a new saying - something like "Rugs, not Drugs."

This Week's Additions to my Stash!

2005-07-03T00:29:00.000-07:00

I wish I could say that my stash gets such wonderful additions each week, but unfortunately that is not the case! However, aside from the sale mentioned below I have added to my stash in a couple other ways this week!

First, my order from knitpicks finally arrived! I only say finally because it felt like it took forever - but it was still within the allotted time they quoted me for my free shipping. The Shimmer that arrived from them is beautiful and oh-so-soft! It will look great in my Clapotis and I am chomping at the bit wanting to start! However first I have to figure out how to wind it into a ball..... Any suggestions?

Secondly, I ordered some Debbie Bliss Cashmerino Aran from Knit2 Purl2. I was SUPER happy with the fact that I got it on sale AND it arrived VERY fast! It came in maybe three days! I would definitely order from them again!

I am so excited about all of these yummy new additions I just have to show them to you one more time!!! (But this time with my cat too!)

The insanity of a Yarn Sale!

2005-07-02T23:54:00.000-07:00

Today I had a very interesting knitting day. I woke up early (for me) and drove on over to Bellevue to visit a sale at what used to be Skeins Ltd. and will soon be Hilltop East. Although I have never been to the original Hilltop I the yarn and needles were on sale for 40% off so I figured I had to go! I arrived at approximately 10:15 AM - the sale was supposed to start at 10- and Oh the INSANITY! There were no parking places left and the store was PACKED! This place was the equivalent of Walmart on the day after Thanksgiving for knitters... There were people sitting on the floor looking at yarn, people crowding around yarn, people with multiple bags of yarn and luckily not too many rude people with yarn! :) I scored some great purchases (of course the stuff I was looking for was mostly gone but that didn't stop me from picking up other things) and then spent almost THREE HOURS in line to pay for said purchases. Yes, you heard me correctly - THREE HOURS!!!! The line snaked throughout the store and even though the store isn't that big it took forever! I could have just done all my shopping while standing in line to pay! By the end of the shopping extravaganza I was tired, cranky, my feet hurt and I was starving (I now know to NEVER head to a yarn store sale without eating breakfast first). However I had picked up patters for a buck each (score!) and two sets of Addi's, some DPN's as well as Manos del Uruguay, Cascade 220, Crystal Palace Squiggle, Classic Elite Bam Boo and one solitary skein of Noro Kureyon - all for 40% off!!!! Amazing! I am not sure what I am going to make with it all but that is half of the fun! I am eager to see what the store will look like in it's reincarnation and give kudos to the friendly staff for their hard work they did today! :)

2005-07-01T01:22:00.000-07:00

11 Things I have learned so far from Crumpets

2005-06-27T23:48:00.000-07:00

1) The Vogue Knitting picot cast on is a b****, but it stays intact if you have to frog the part you have knit so far.

2) It is best not to work on a complicated project at 1 AM.

3) When working on a complicated project at 1AM ALWAYS, ALWAYS check off the rows on your pattern after you knit them.

4) When working on a complicated project before 1AM check off the rows of your pattern after you knit them.

5) If knitting after 1AM refer to rules 3 and 4.

6) Knitting is a way to learn patience.

7) Be careful what you ask for - you just might get it.

8) If you aren't' a patient person but you think you should work on becoming more patient you will encounter something that really tests your patience (like knitting).

9) If you care about the person you are knitting the object for that tests your patience when you mess it up you will frog it and learn patience instead of just going on with it looking all messed up.

10) Start projects WAY WAY in advance of when you need to finish them.

11) Don't forget to keep track of what row you are on when you are knitting (Check it off!!!!)

2005-06-27T23:47:00.000-07:00

My poor pathetic Crumpets before frogging.

2005-06-27T23:46:00.000-07:00

Where did I go wrong????

2005-06-27T23:45:00.000-07:00

Crumpets now

Workout Knitting?

2005-06-25T13:14:00.000-07:00

I never would have thought to compare knitting to a work out - until today. I think I finally finished the picot cast on and that thing was like going to the gym! When I got to the end or close to the end I just kept thinking

Four more... (Almost there)
Three more... (This is hard)
Two more... (I can do it!)
One more.....

Phew! The last one is done! I can breathe easily again!

Now maybe I should go to the real gym! :)

2005-06-24T22:54:00.000-07:00

You Know You're From Seattle When...

You have a very strong opinion about where your coffee beans are grown, and you can taste the difference between Sumatran and Ethiopian

You feel guilty throwing an aluminum can in the trash.

You use the words "sun break" and know what it means.

You know more than 10 words to describe a cup of coffee.

You know what a dry cappachino is.

You obey all traffic laws EXCEPT "keep right except to pass."

You know at least eight people who work for either Microsoft or Boeing.

You invite twice as many people as you really want to a party since only half will actually show up.

You know what Lutefiske is.

You personally know someone from Alaska.

You consider floating bridges a pain in the butt, not an engineering marvel.

You know how to pronounce "Sequim", "Puyallup" and "Issaquah."

You have roots in Oregon, Idaho or Montana, but wanted a high paying job.

You've tried to get a job in Alaska, especially a summer job only.

You think skiing always means being covered from head to toe, on snow or water.

You know at least three Microsoft burnouts, of which two are millionaires.

You use more than 5 words to order a cup of coffee. "I want to order an unleaded, double, short, skinny, wet cappuccino with a shot of Amaretto please."

A "designer" wardrobe comes from REI, Eddie Bauer, Lands End, and Birkenstock.

You consider it a sunny day if the sun is visible at some point of the day.

You've been "snow" skiing in the RAIN more than in the snow.

When you're discussing rainforests and volcanoes, you're NOT talking about Hawaii.

You Remember the Kingdome

You have tried to forget about WTO

You know how BLUE the skies are here compared to Eastern Washington

The guy at 8:30 am at Starbucks wearing the baseball cap and sunglasses who looks like Phyllis Diller is really a trans named Eva Destruction that used to play with Hole.

Your car insurance costs more because your neighbors don't have any!

Your mayor is straight, 1/2 your friends are gay, the man who delivers your mail has a bumper sticker that reads "when they pry it from my cold dead fingers....", and your Burger World drive thru order taker was a computer millionaire last week.

You actually get these jokes and pass them on to other friends from Seattle.

Get Your Own "You Know You're From" Meme Here

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Cast On... and on and on....

2005-06-23T23:07:00.000-07:00

The Crumpets cast on is KILLING me! The cheap yarn is splitting and the picot cast on itself is such a nightmare. I think the child I am making it for is going to be grown before I finish the cast on! Hmmm, maybe I could pay someone to do it for me, or clean their house... or.... I am getting close to getting ready to sell my soul to have this cast on finished. Let's just hope it is the worst part of the project!

Back to casting on........

Crumpets Here We Come!

2005-06-17T15:12:00.000-07:00

Ok, Crumpets it is! I headed over to my local Tuesday Morning and picked up six skeins of Cotton Ease in Candy Blue! I downloaded the pattern and am excited to hunt for my needles and begin! I still am wanting to do something for myself... and using KnitPicks yarn but I guess that is on hold for the moment. However I am still wondering... do I choose Clapotis, Cozy or Frill??? Any opinions??????