cowl with an "l"

for DDs teacher... I'm contemplating making fingerless mitts to go along with this:

Pattern: Evangeline Cowl by Orinda5
Yarn: Lion Brand Woolease
Color: Fisherman
Needle: US7
Recipient: Ms. Flannigan

I did cast on 108 stitches instead to add another cable and did 6 repeats to make it longer. I only met this teacher once but as I recall she's tall and thin with a longish neck.... rather have it loose and floppy and able to cover the bottom of her face if she wishes.

Trick or treat was last night. Here are my spooks:


We had LOADS of kids (and adults) for candy last night. It amazes me that people think you are stupid enough to believe that their infant needs candy..... get a life! Oh well......

TOnight is and extra hour of sleep AND the Phils game... GO PHILS

we have cookies!

here are most of the selection of our cookies... minus the broomstick, apples and pumpkins.. they aren't finished decorating yet.

The icing recipe is great and can be found here
I made this with lemon flavoring cuz I had it in the pantry... but any extract would do!


And I must show the latest in chiengora that is spun and plied... from a friend's samoyed:


Quite soft.... I have to do the wpi and weigh and measure the skeins... right now I'm spinning from the shelties. It's mostly the dark fur... should make an interesting yarn though

10 on tuesday

top 10 ways to waste time on the internet:

1. ravelry
2. facebook
3. craigslist
4. surfing iTunes
5. looking for knitting patterns
6. reading blogs
7. google
8. twine
9. twitter and plurk
10. webkinz (although they killed our pets while we were on vacation)

stripey socks

for babies are such a quick knit! And yes I did make 2... feet come in pairs after all, s should socks!

Pattern:Pitter Patter socks by Jacqueline ZIegler
Yarn: Knitpicks Swish DK
Colors: jade and hollyberry
Needle: US5

These go with the gnome baby hat below.... for the same baby...

Next on to teacher gifts!

Tonight I started to ply some samoyed chiengora... it's really soft :D

curse you, styrofoam packing peanuts

so I won this prize from Women's Day online. They have these giveaways every month (you should go register to win) and sometimes I remember to register... most times I forget. Anyway, today we're sitting down to dinner and I see a HUGE box at the front gate. So I asked DH if he was expecting something, "no" I responded "well I didn't order anything." Then I thought maybe it was a box from my SIL's mother for the kids she's often thinking of them and sending really cool things. So without thinking, I sent DS1 out to fetch the box. As he was bringing it in, it started leaking packing peanuts..... argh. I opened the box, took out my prize and the kids attacked the packing peanuts..... An hour and a half later I am just about packing peanut free..... they mushed them all over the kitchen, body surfing in the 'snow'

The humorous thing was when we were finally cleaning them up, we couldn't grab them. They kept floating in the air. I had to vaccuum the kids and myself as well. What a sight.

After all the mess was cleaned and the grocery shopping finished and put away, I got to use my surprise gift. I'm sure the suspense is killing all of you dear readers, the prize is (drum roll please.........)

a bionaire steam mop

whodathunk that I'd win something??? Actually this is my 3rd time for winning an online prize... so I'm feeling very very fortunate.

Thanks Women's Day you made this woman's day!

babies, babies

it's in the air..... I know so many pregnant women... thankfully it's not me!

So one of the mom's in DD's girsl scout troop (or the brownie affiliate) is due very soon and there's to be a shower for her at Thursday's meeting... WHat to give he? Of course something handmade...

The baby is due mid-November so I was thinking Christmas colors:


Pattern: gnome baby hat by Hannah Ingalls
Yarn: Knitpicks Swish DK
Colors: Jade and Hollyberry
Needle: US5 (pattern calls for a 4)
Recipient: Shively baby


There is a pair of socks in the making to match.

I've been spinning samoyed while watching baseball...... GO PHILS!

what season?

the end for baseball
technically fall
feels like winter

Yesterday it snowed all day while I was at work. Here at home it was raining with some snow mixed in. BRRRRRRRRRR
Perfect for knitting.
DD's girl scout troop had a field trip to theLehigh Valley Amateur Astronomer's Society to see their equipment and have a planetarium show. As much as I want to see all those constellations, I just don't get it. I must have NO imagination.
I'm exhausted... don't ask me why cuz I have no clue. But all I want to do is sleep
I've knit 3 cowls this week.


Pattern: Birthday Cowl by Nova Seals
Yarn: Moda Dea Silk 'n Wool Blend
Color: plum
Needle: US 8 / 5.0 mm
I tried to start this 3 times last year and put it away... this time it flew off the needles


Pattern: Holland Cow by Jenny Raymond and Chris Church
Yarn: Paton's Shetland Chunky Tweed
Color: Deep Red
Needle: US 10



Pattern: Cherry Garcia by Adrian Bizilla
Yarn: Paton's Shetland Chunky Tweed
Color: Biscuit
Needle: US11


The above are both free ravelry downloads. If you don't belong to ravelry, you should it's free and AWESOME!

I have another in mind. And I've been working on a reverse log cabin blanket during bus duty from acrylic stash that was donated to the cause this summer. This will go to Linus project. I started it thinking I'd make a blanket from long strips instead of 'squares' but then found a ton of the same yarn as well as coordinating yarns so I used one skein for a side... and then started the large square... kind of making it up as I go. Should be interesting......

I've been spinning chiengora... from a friend's dog... .it's so soft... unbelievable....

oh and GO PHILS!

"fall"-ing behind

With the beginning of school for me, DH and the kids, I've fallen far behind on blogging and setting up the etsy store.... There doesn't seem to be enough hours in the day!

My weight has plateaued since June.... but my clothing is fitting differently... and I've needed to buy some smaller sizes :-) and have revisited pre-kid clothing, so I guess it's all good.... I'd still like to drop another 10 though.

The Way wedding afghan is complete! YAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!


Pattern: a compilation from Barbara Walker's Learn to Knit Afghan squares 4, 5(2 so leaning 2 ways), 6, 7, 25, 27, 28, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 38, 39, 40, 46, 48
Knitting Simple's Carla's Blanket squares 4 & 26
Square of the month
Hugs and Kisses
Yarn: Lion Brand Wool Ease approx. 30 skeins
Color: 99 FIsherman
Needle Size: US8
Recipient: Jesse and Christina Way

I decided on an attached i-cord border to make things look a bit more finished. Happy to report it only used half a skein... was expecting to need more.

DS, the younger, had a birthday on Friday. He took cupcakes to daycare... and after we were all home from our running Friday night we had cake. All of us were so tired that we were asleep by 9 PM.....



Sat we went pumpkin picking...... unfortunately we got there not too soon before they closed....I'll post pictures of the decorated pumpkins later.

If anyone has a secret to an energy boost.... please give it in the comments... I need one badly.