field day

for the kids at school today. Didn't take the camera so there are no pics.

However, one of my colleagues from school sent me this picture of myself and my partner in crime in music from our Earth Day concert (the one which was rained out of the park)
We dyed the dresses together... The kids had tie dyed shirts which we then painted the planet earth on the front. The blue first from a circle stencil and the green land done by making a stamp they could put paint on and place on the earth. They really came out great I think.

a short one today... a little tmrw and then a surprise!

10 favorite things to do during 'me' time

i don't get much 'me' time so my list will be sparse

• shop at thrift stores (especially if I have a friend with me)
  
• knit
  
• spin
  
• frog
  
• dye fiber
  
• play with music
  
• craft some other way
  
• read
  
• surf the net
  
• facebook my friends
  

What do you know? I came up with ten. How about you? Play along! What do you do with your 'me' time?

I got the rest of the yarn for the way afghan... now there's no excuse.

great finds, great day :-D

the best find of the year!
Official Tour de France yellow t-shirt...


I am in love <3 new with tags for $3.50

It will adorn both me and louise during this year's tour... can't wait!

and what appears to be a black cashmere twinset in black for $3.50 as well FIber content tag was missing.. but it's got the feel and halo and says handwash or dry clean.

can you see me doing the happy dance????

also i got mom some photo boxes and when the cashier rung them up they were 50%off... YES! Truly it was my day of all days......

last night/this morning I made DD a hippie headband for her retro costume day at school


pattern: hippie
yarn: sugar 'n cream stripes
color: lime stripes
needle: US8
changes: 110 stitches CO, 3 repeats instead of 5

rock on!

lazy sunday

no pictures of the wedding couple today. Forgot the camera.

It was frog day today.. well deconstruction at the very least. All the sweaters from Friday are in parts and 1.5 are skeined and washed. More to come.

Joann's has the yarn that the way afghan is made of on sale this week. So I'll run and but the rest that I need. I think another 12 skeins should do it. That's a lot of yarn in that puppy! I think 6 pounds! It'll be cheaper for me to drive it up than mail it.

Went searching in the attic for pants for DS1 and found 8 pair that fit him :-D Love that I don't have to go buy him more... he grows so darn fast!

Need to cast on socks for DH for Father's Day. I'm thinking of the Interweave Knits Herringbone Rib pattern that they're offering for free right now. I have this really lovely wool, silk, cotton, cashmere, nylon, viscose blend that is super soft...a tweedy blue. I'd like socks from it. (of course it's recycled yarn.... and won't be going in my etsy store when I open it if I used it, but that's OK!)

back to work... whle the kids are away the lady needs to produce.

wedding bells are in the air

and the afghan isn't finished....the wedding is this afternoon... oh well..

I also have to buy more yarn Guess I underestimated since there isn't a pattern or anything

If you're in Palmerton and looking for a great place to grab lunch try the 110 Tavern at 110 Delaware Ave (the main drag) The menu has something for everyone and it's really tasty!

not much... I'll post a picture of the bride and groom tmrw!

thrifting rocks

i was thrifting today in a new to me store in Lehighton

boiled wool jacket for felting projects $3
Preswick & Moore 100% merino ladies mock turtle gray $2.50 will be lace weight
Chadwick’s 100% cotton bulky knit sweater.. pretty color… ladies L $3
Valerie argyle front grey back wool/viscose/nylon/cashmere/angora blend $3
St John Bay cotton/acrylic/rayon blend lime green worsted sweater $2.50
Abercrombie and Fitch 100% lambswool turtleneck $3 DK seems to be
Bonner of Ireland handloomed linen/cotten blend lacy pullover $2/.50 this will be really nice yarn

Old Navy black crocheted purse for my SIL $1.50

it was everything 50% off... what a great day to go :-)

i'm beat more later.....

last day

for teachers today. HOORAY!!

there was a nice luncheon at the blue ridge country club that included fresh fruit, cheese, cheese tortellini with pesto sauce, swedish meat balls, fried cheese ravioli, mozzerella sticks, bruschetta, wrap sandwiches and salad with brownies and cookies for desert. Beer, wine, soda and coffee were flowing freely. All this for $20 and you got to leave at 2 instead of 3!

I had 2 very dear friends that retired.... there were 10 retirees being honored. My friend Sam gave a great speech though... humorous as always. Nice afternoon.

Tonight DD flew up from brownies to juniors. She crossed the bridge... she was so excited all week. And we have our first project to do as Juniors. It will be one of our weekly craft projects that I'm planning for the summer. Keep your eyes posted. Every week will feature a new project!

Same girl has a sleepover at a friends tmrw.. I think her social life is better than mine...(well that wouldn't be too hard to do anyway)

I need to get more yarn for the blanket tmrw. I thought I had bought about 20 skeins, but I could have been wrong. So I'm on the last 2 with many more squares to knit. I figure I'll need one skein to sew them all up and 2 or 3 at least for the i-cord trim. I'm getting about 2 squares of stockinette from one skein.... and sometimes 2 with the cables... so I'll need 3 more for the cables and about 9 more for the stockinette... that should do it with the leftovers from each skein... i'll do russian joins on the yarn in the attached i-cord... it'll work out.

tmrw ds2 has his last day of day care.... then he'll be sleep deprived all summer cuz I'll be fit to be tied b4 I give him a nap.

see u tmrw.

'way' more to go

in order to finish the way afghan. But here's what's complete and unblocked.

From the Barbara Walker Learn-to-Knit Afghan Book

square 3: Basketweave


square 4: Lattice with Seed Stitch


square 5: Diagonal Ribbing... there are 2 of these so they can face opposite directions



square 6: Twisted and Crossed Ribbing


square 7: Garter and Rib Pattern


square 25: Wave


square 27: Wickerwork


square 28: Twining Rib pattern



square 30: Twisted Lattice



square 31: Twisted Panels


square 32: Assorted Mock Cables


square 33: Simple Cables with Moss Stitch


square 34: Double Cables


square 35: Lacing Cable


square 38: Open Cable and Four-Rib Braid


square 39: Cabled Lattice


square 40: Variation Cables

I have 3.5 of 25 plain stockinette done as well... and need to complete 5 more cables.... oh and the wedding.. yeah, um it's this Saturday >.<


here is DD at her piano recital last Friday... she did SO well :-)

i'm pathetic

this week's ten on tuesday is 10 best songs from last year.... i can't find ten best, but i found a few that i really liked. i guess i'm too old. 10 great standard would be hard for me to pick just 10. 10 classical songs same thing, but 10 new pop songs... just don't listen enough i guess. and the stuff my students listen to doesn't impress me all that much!


in no particular order

• john mayer..... say
  
• a fine frenzy..... you picked me
  
• paramore..... that's what you get
  
• colbie caillat..... bubbly
  
• ha-ash..... already home
  
• zoé..... nada
  
• jennifer hudson..... if this isn't love
  

and a couple from the year b4

• the last goodnight..... pictures of you
  
• the guggenheim grotto..... philopsophia
  

i grabbed a few cashmere sweaters last week at the boutique at the rink for me to wear and one for DD to wear. A cotton/poly/lambswool blend sweater to frog. Some knitting needles and some really nice silver stuff... a 3 pt water pitcher among other things.

happy JUNE

where has the time gone?????

I've been busy knitting on the way afghan... although apparently not busy enough because the wedding is this weekend and the afghan isn't even half finished. I'll soon post poicuters of some of the squares.

this weekend was the Moravian alum reunion. I got to see many old choir friends... and sing with our director, which is always an extreme pleasure. I absolutely adore Dick Schantz and he and Monica kept us in stitches as usual. I stoped at my old sorority house and reminisced with some of the sisters about the bygone days.

I must have picked up a bug at school becuase the rest of the weekend I was feeling rather poorly... fever... headache the whole nine yards. I'm still not myself. But the good news is tmrw is my last day of teaching. I really need a break.

And I'm off to South American for a bit. I'll try to post pictures to keep you up to date mom. I want to hit up some thrift shops before I go though to grab what could be the last of the wool for the year until the fall sets in ..
right now I'm frogging what I think to be alpaca. It appears to be handknit and extremely well made.. no tags... my guess is alpaca it's strange though the outside is fuzzier than the inside.. although when frogged it doesn't seem that the yarn is strange at all... such a pretty color. would make a lovely shawl... This one I may be keeping for myslef (or something for a gift... )


i'm going to attempt NaBloPoMo this month as a way to journal the trip. Wish me luck....

DD and i were out to buy paper for me to make my awards for school. We found some cute things for their teachers for end of year gifts.I have to get the daycare people something this week as well... it's all coming fast and furious to a gigantic halt.

OK.. signing off for now.. pictures to come!

lovin' the work

I finally cut down the big evergreen bush that we've been talking about getting rid of since we moved here 10 years ago. I was out doing some yardwork and the neighbor came home. We started talking and I started purning.....hard, with very old lopers my dad had given me, broken handle and all. She offered to let me use theirs... new and sharp, AND kept me company while I cut away. Secretly I think she was really happy to see it gone too. Anyway... I'm sore from all that. And now I still need to dig out the stump.

My friend Patti had invited me to come over and try out her wool picker. So I walked down in the late afternoon carrying 4 fleeces in clear plastic boxes. You should have seen the looks I was getting walking down the street with all that stuff. So she helped me prepare the fleece. We did part of the BL/BFL/Romney blend I bought last spring. After about two hours of picking I had 2 BIG garbage bags of puffy cloud-like fleece. I wish I could spin it right now, but I have to finish the afghan first.

I left the rest of the fleeces there (with the exception of the black lamb finn) to pick more hopefully this weekend. DH asked me how much a picker was... I told him I didn't want one here at home with the kids. It looks like some torture apparatus.

My room at the 'new' building was flooded over the weekend. It completely destroyed the 1st grade big book. Fortunately the guitar was in it's hard case and wasn't harmed.
The other school I teach in had a leak in the roof so there was water damage there as well.

hope someone is being crafty cuz I haven't been lately.

high time

that I post.

My friend Deb came to my little kid's concert at school Friday evening even though her 'baby' is a senior. She's a real advocate of the arts in our school district (we need all the supporters we can get). At any rate, she taped first grade singing The Library Song by Tom Chapin (all of their songs were about reading) The only part that's hard to hear is the part where they're using a stage whisper. It's 'sh quiet please' and then the refrain again.

I give you the Library Song by Tom Chapin


It was a beautiful evening. The seniors had prom in the park from 4 - 5:30 just across the street from the K/1 building. Our program started at 6:30. We had to have it outside because there is no place IN the building large enough to house all the kids at once. (yes, the building is newly renovated) So we used the back steps and then the parking lot as the audience seating area. Parents brought chairs and blankets and everything worked out fine! The whole evening rejuvenated me in my job and spawned my brain to come up with some new ideas. I busted my behind getting ready for it though hauling all kind of equipment and setting up the risers alone.... was my workout for the day. When P and I got home, I lasted about 20 minutes into Thomas' magic railway with him until I was dead asleep. LOL

I am working on square #9 for the Way afghan.. I need to get cracking really. June 6th is coming fast.

Haven't been to any thrift stores lately either. Must. go. soon. But I have been frogging delicious fibers. If you're on ravelry take a peak at my stash that's marked recycled. Most of that will be going in my etsy store once it's open. Still working on a name for that. Maybe I should have a contest!

We've been really busy with the end of the year activities at the school where I teach and my own children's schools: concerts, art shows, etc.

I owe you a picture from our earth day concert which was unfortunately inside due to the prognosticated weather. I have it stored elsewhere...i won't forget though.

Today my baby is sick. He woke me up at 6 with a belly ache... and of course vomited... at least in the right spot and not on me!

I think my mojo is coming back... It's been gone far too long.

on a break

in case you haven't noticed... the end of the school year and all the nonsense that goes with it is here.... concerts, grading projects, grades etc...
I've knit a bit, not too much but I've been busy frogging and trying to get ready to open my etsy shop as soon as school is over. More on that to come.

Just a reminder...be kind to the planet it's easy tothink green

go green

tmrw is earth day... and I'll be way busy at school doing our earth day choral concert (with any luck in the borough park) featuring all great songs celebrating Mother Earth.
Look for a write up in the tnonline.com or the Hazelton Standard Speaker today. Both papers were supposed to do a write-up... Lord knows our department can use some good PR.
The instrumental program is going to take a hit at the board meeting tonight I'm afraid.

Soon to come pictures of what's been happening in my life.. just no time to post until after the concert!

Do something to help save the planet... visit Earth Day and 50 Things you can do and if you have clear skies in your neck of the woods... watch the heavens celebrate with a meteor shower!

ten on tuesday

10 signs that you're getting older.
I could only come up with 9... maybe that means I'm not getting that much older? Doubtful

• harder to lose weight
  
• gray hair
  
• memory starts to fail
  
• need readers in order to see to read
  
• more content to sit
  
• less patience with loud noise
  
• awaken in the middle of the night
  
• don't understand the music of the youth as well
  
• think of the past as the 'good old days'
  

taxes are filed (hopefully) need to do the city ones while I put the kids to bed... We e-filed last night but it was rejected because of a silly typo....

The stress is building... but I'm trying to remain calm. I had to fix my tiedye dress and my boss' shirt tonight.. also dyed one for DD...

off to argue the chillins to bed

Happy Easter Monday

Yes I know I've been MIA.... but I really have been a bad knitting girl. I've been frogging thrift sweaters more than knitting of late... my idea is to open an etsy shop to sell recycled beautiful fibers and such so I've been building inventory while the thrift stoes still have wooly fibers to buy. It's getting difficult to find though. The last time I went I came home empty handed!

Friday was tie dye day. My colleague and I did about 70 t-shirts and a dress for each of us for our Earth Day concert. The kids will be painting the planet on the front on Friday at our combined rehearsal. I need to make the stamp yet... so I've been really occupied with work from school. The marking period ended not too long ago so there were grades... The knitters from PSSAs have been bringing in their completed and incomplete rectangles (which I need to finish) And the district is contemplating cutting a music position which has been weighing heavily on my mind.

So please forgive the lack of blogging AND knitting... I'm still touching lots and lots of fiber... hopefully will be creating rather than destructing soon.. We have a wedding to go to in June and I want to make them an afghan... so I better get working.

Easter was lovely with the family... I ate far too much. But it was tasty :-)


hope you're all well... I'll be surfing and typing again soon.

what are they thinking?

Yet again, the federal government is lowering health standards for the American public by entertaining an bill which seems intiated by Monsanto corporation (maker of aspartame... public health supporter??? please) to force organic farmers to use fertilizers and insect sprays to 'protect' the food supply... UM... isn't that an oxymoron to organic gardening???

If you are at all concerned, please read the article below, follow the links and write to your congressman and senators asking them to vote NO...

As a country, we need to encourage healthy habits which include stopping putting chemicals in our bodies... So much for supporting a naturally healthy America and decreasing long term medical costs.

Bill to Outlaw Organic Gardening

Subject: Monsanto: A bill to outlaw organic farming next week?

US House and Senate are about (in a week and a half) to vote on bill that will OUTLAW ORGANIC FARMING (bill HR 875). There is an enormous rush to get this into law within the next 2 weeks before people realize what is happening.

Main backer and lobbyist is (guess who) Monsanto (aspartame maker) - chemical and genetic engineering giant corporation. This bill will require organic farms to use specific fertilizers and poisonous insect sprays dictated by the newly formed agency to "make sure there is no danger to the public food supply". This will include backyard gardens that grow food only for a family and not for sales.

If this passes then NO more heirloom clean seeds but only Monsanto genetically altered seeds that are now showing up with unexpected diseases in humans.




The name on this outrageous food plan is Food Safety Modernization Act of 2009 (bill HR 875).

THIS IS REAL, FOLKS! PASS THIS ALONG TO ALL CONCERNED ON YOUR MAILING LISTS & CALL YOUR SENATE REPRESENTETIVES TODAY! Get on that phone and burn up the wires. Get anyone else you can to do the same thing. The House and Senate WILL pass this if they are not massively threatened with loss of their position.... They only fear your voice and your vote.

The best thing to do is go to http://www.house.gov/writerep all you have to do is put in your zip and it will give you your congressperson and how to get in touch with them. When you call their office someone will answer the phone, just tell them (politely) that you are calling to express your views on HR 875. Tell them your views, they'll take your name and address and pass your comments along to the congressperson. Here is a list for U.S. senators and their contact info.

Congress bill 875

Write to your representative

yup!

You Are an Espresso

At your best, you are: straight shooting, ambitious, and energetic At your worst, you are: anxious and high strung You drink coffee when: anytime you're not sleeping Your caffeine addiction level: high

What Kind of Coffee Are You?

this brings happy thoughts

Today's 10 on Tuesday is

10 things you like to do on vacation:

1. eat local foods
2. sightsee
3. shop
4. sleep
5. knit
6. sunbathe
7. read
8. drink (not the water)
9. go for long walks
10. not think about work!

come play along with us

These day's I'm really needing a break. But it's not coming for quite some time... and so I plod along.

did you know?

How fitting that I am teaching students to knit this month! DD and I have been enjoying making a friendship bracelet with the kit she got from friends for her birthday.. uses embroidery floss and a loom type thing made of thick foam (there were 4 included with patterns for the colors of the floss... 2 square and 2 circles)

There's still plenty of time for you do participate. Here are a few links to find out some more information:
Craft Association
Family Crafts
Kids crafts

world wide water day

how can you save water?
use low flow toilets and shower heads
replace washers or faucets
Turn off the faucet while brushing your teeth
If it's mellow let it yellow if it's brown flush it down
shower with a friend ;-)

for even more (and better) suggestions visit
Water: Use it wisely
Save water 49 ways
Think at the sink
Think of how you can save this precious resource.. we all need it!

some saturday

we got up (OK... 3 of us slept in the living room last night) got ready for gymnastics... DS2's class went to lunch and then on to the DaVinci center for brain awareness week!

After that we stopped at Salvation Army and I picked up 8 sweaters... 7 to frog and the last to felt at least the front and perhaps frog the sleeves and back.

I'm frogging the aran sweater. It's been a real pain to undo the neckband from the body. But I have the side with the buttonholes about frogged. This sweater is really beautifully knit.. a shame to frog, but the yanr will be gorgeous when its washed and dyed. and I love the buttons...

I finished another square for the lizard ridge and am on square #3 for the Way afghan. Also knitted some more rectangles for the blankies for Linus Project. I've done 2 in chenille so that there is a soft cuddly corner to love on the blanket.

Yesterday was the one year anniversary of my dad's death. I think of him every day. He's probably cursing about the whole bail out issue and especially AIG....

happy crafting!

thoughts

1. my school knitters did an awesome job this week. They are ALL knitting successfully. I am so proud of them.

2. I've thought about the Peruvian sweater... I may deconstruct it and make some bags! A large one from the body and a smaller thin one (or wine bottle cozies) from the sleeves :-)

3. The aran sweater I believe is handknit from handspun.... just started deconstructing... after I'm finished and given the yarn a good bath, I think it will be dyed and will become GORGEOUS aran weight singles...


there is only 1 workday left this week.

Happy St. Patrick's Day

Yesterday 12 students came for PSSA knitting activity. 2 had knit with me last year. One I started to teach to purl but today she fell back into knitting (she had left her original at home). It's a great group of kids... they learned to use a knit cast on yesterday which took a long time for them to put on 28 stitches... and today they started to take off. We had 90 minutes to knit and I'm so proud of them!

on a more serious note, the board meeting is tonight. I wish I could be there, but it's time to put own children before my school children.

one of the subs at school brought in 2 sweaters for me. One is Peruvian colorwork and so beautiful... I hate to frog it... but I know this wool doesn't felt well (I've tried with a different sweater) the other is a bulky aran knit with really neat buttons that remind me of coconut shell.... I'll frog that one. It seems to be hand knit... what a shame, someone obviously spent a long time knitting it.....

Didn't do 10 on tuesday today cuz I didn't have the energy to find 10 songs I hated.

here's to a happy tmrw!

not whining

but I'm worn out... school has done that to me. The drama and stupidity of the board of education and administrators not really thinking about the ramifications of decisions they are choosing to make and how those decisions will affect lives, in so many varied ways makes me sad, frustrated and yes feel physically ill.

tomorrow PSSAs begin and with that a new crop of knitters. I have some returnees who will be learning to purl so that we can add some variety to our blankets. We'll donate to Linus Project again this year... it's nice for kids to be making things for other kids.

My colleague sent me a copy of an excerpt from a welcome address given to parents of incoming students at The Boston Conservatory on September 1, 2004, by Dr. Karl Paulnack, Director of the Music Division. And rather print it here, you can click here if you care to read it. It is truly deep, inspirational and moving. Dr. Paulnack graduated from William Allen High School, in Allentown PA, not far from my home. Many of my friends went to school with him. This address doesn't just speak to music, it's really insightful to life... thanks Tommy for the mail.

On another knitterly note, I have 2 squares for the Way blanket finished. I'll use these patterns for my new purlers as well. I've been so consumed with the department news that I am afraid my knitting class will suffer...

i leave you with heavy heart.. perhaps I'll have pictures later in the week to post. I'll remember the camera to take pictures of my cherubs knitting.

I also have a tutorial to post about making your own knitting needles.
so much to do and so little time/energy right now.

peace friends...

short and sweet

and prepping for the PSSAs: knitting needles to sand and patterns to prepare for my cherubs.. teaching the experienced to purl this year.. so they can then follow a pattern.

Chorus: still finishing writing out the parts and need to record some vocal tracts.... too much work far little time, and plan the stuff for the t-shirts.. there will be pictures of them. Hopefully they'll look awesome

School: have these monster amount of papers to grade for 6th grade and the end of the marking period is here... that mans hand out 750 grades... bleh!
personnel is a huge mess and our department is falling apart... ugh!

knitting: started a wedding present from the Walker learn to knit afghan book but this will be all one color, socks OTN for me, DH's vest needs the math to be done for the armhole decreases

diet: about 8.5 pounds and holding... haven't measured the waist lately but it was at 4" The lack of sleep definitely is bad for the diet...... makes me hungry

I've found some great pages lately, that I'll post links to in the sidebar... really wonderful crafty fun blogs!

stating the obvious

that I'm not going to make it for the February NaBloPoMo.
I've fallen behind and can't catch up.
I'm not interested in catching up.
Blogging should be fun.
There's too much on my to do list.
I'm overwhelmed.

I'll be back... not promising when though

overdue shots

These have either been long promised or new pictures that need to be posted TONIGHT.

My proof that Martha Stewart has not one thing on me (OK she has a lot more than 1 thing, but this one I thought of before her help) My heart shaped brownies, served ath my DD party on Valentine's Day. They disappeared in a heartbeat


Next is the 16th square for the Lizard ridge and I'll follow that immediately with square 17.

Noro Kureyon 153A

Noro Kureyon 188D

Here are a couple of pictures from DD's party of the girls working on their crafts and them all together showing off their necklaces.

first thing - make the goodie bags


next we made bracelets... DH wasn't taking pictures then. He escaped to the basement. But you can see one of the creations on the wrist in this picture.


The heart necklaces were the last crafty thing. you can see all the girls wearing them here.

Between all the crafts, we ate pizza, decorated heart cookies and ate them, and decorated the heart shaped cupcakes. All this while the girls sang their hearts out to the Mama Mia! soundtrack

Here is the bracelet DH gave em for Valentine's Day. You can see the sheep and ball of yarn.

At the concert on Sunday as I was listening to the choir sing I was playing with y new bracelet and admiring it and it dawned on me that the chain is reminiscent of an i-cord. I don't know if I was able to catch it in this shot or not.


And finally my creation du jour.


Pattern: Ballband toilet paper cover by hakucho
Yarn: Lily's Sugar and Cream
Colors: hot green and hot blue
Needle: US7

Thanks hakucho, I've had this in my queue forever. Finally got around to it today. Gives me an idea for my upstairs bath to try to make one to match my shower curtain... kind of a jaquard plaid... I'll let you know how it goes.

DH's vest is back to the armhole deccreases again. I want to look at a vest that fits him to see how to go about the next step.

Off to do some schoolwork. Tmrw is a long day for me. Need to get ready for the sub on Thursday as well :-) and prepare for the spinning afternoon.

whoda thunk?

My friend Heather, found this on youtube. It's of our kids spring concert from school last year. One of their classmates must have taped it.
I'm just saving it so DD can watch it more easily. Don't feel as though you have to. They had a concert of old music and their decade was 1910-1920



I'll add more to this post later.

technically

for me it's still Sunday since I haven't hit the bed yet. DH and I sang a Vivaldi concert today at a Cathedral in town. There were 5 of us soloists. It was really fun. I enjoyed it. Wish I had had more to sing though. As I was sitting in the concert I was thinking of all the pictures to put on the blog, but sorry none for today. Hopefully I'll get some on tmrw. I was also admiring my new bracelet and it dawned on me that the bracelet part is much akin to a knitted i-cord... and the charms slide over the i-cord. Promise that I'll post pictures tmrw.

A very old dear friend found me on facebook today. I was pleasantly surprised. Haven't talked/seen him in more than 30 years. I'm sure we wouldn't recognize each other.

I frogged a bit more tonight and finished another lizard ridge square. So that means I've only hit about 9 balls of yarn so far this year... I really better get moving if I'm ever going to make 200. I keep harvesting yarn from sweaters and making more stash instead of knitting it and making it disappear.

This week I go to DS's school to demonstrate spinning. Tmrw I must make some rolags and prepare for that lesson... 2 classes of 50 1st graders. What excitement! It makes for a short work week for me though which is always good. Work Tuesday and Wednesday, off Thursday and work Friday.. can't complain at all :-D

OK.. I think I'm going to bed now... DS2 already came looking for me. So I need to put him back in his bed and crawl into my own!

happy valentine's day

to one and all... tell someone that you love them.

We had a party here at the house for DD and 6 of her friends. I'd type more but I'm really beat. I want to tell you that Martha has nothing on me though. The day before she posted this as her cookie recipe of the day, I had made them for DDs party and have the pictuers to prove it. Just wish I had posted it on my blog Thursday night when I made them. At least in my heart of hearts I know I had the idea before I read it on Martha's site.

The girls decorated little cotton bags for goodie bags with fabric markers, made valentine charm bracelets and Valentine necklaces. We decorated heart shaped cookies and they put the toppings on their heart cupcakes. Of course it HAD to be heart themed being that it was valentine day. I hope everyone had a good time. I'm exhausted and need to go to bed to ward off this sore throat. Tomorrow I solo in Vivaldi Gloria and Dixit Dominus at the Cathedral in town.

DH bought me a lovely charm bracelet from Cleo's with 2 charms... a ball of yarn and a sheep... I love it! Thanks honey.

my kind of ad

from Melbourne AU
It's so cute and fresh.... of course, I'm not looking for love, just love the yarn! I wonder how many meters are in those balls??

All 3 kids stayed home with DH today. The older 2 had off from school. I went in and by lunch was feeling miserable. Came home and slept. Now I have to get ready for DDs party tmrw. Cupcakes and house disinfectant.. don't know which to start first LOL.

HOpefully tmrw night I'll have pictures of the party to post. We're doing LOTS of crafty things... (of course ;-) )

it hits again!

Well now the bookend children are on their second round of the stomach bug. DH has been a real trooper. He's been home 3 out of 4 days this week playing nurse and comforter, AND he'll be home tomorrow with them as well since they have off from school, but I don't (snow day make-up). What my school should have done is closed anyway. The number of absences is astonishing! All those kids should stay home for a good long weekend and stop sharing germs.

Having said that, I made valentine candy tonight and mini heart brownies. Except my brownie missed her meeting. I used the Ghirardelli brownie mix and admit to cheating a bit.....but it was soooooooo worth it. You should try them. one word YUM!

I raveled the red/orange silk/cotton/wool sweater yesterday and started the Old Navy rust one today. It's really relaxing to do. I'll wait to wash them together. I have so maany plans, just not enough time....sigh

bronchitis

My middle child is a carbon copy of his father! Not only in appearance but in health as well. The poor kid has bronchitis. He's missed 3 days of school and there's only 1 day left this week. My poor baby!

I've been busy deconstructing and frogging yarns. Look all I've done:

100% Merino from Express sweater, bulky weight all 623 grams/675m



All of which is caked now:

And this blend of wool and angora rabbit from a kids JCrew cardigan which totals 221g/331m. I felted the front pieces. Those skeins are center pull cakes now as well.

I have much more frogged and washed, but need to count and weigh it.

10 favorite places to shop

This is the alternate for today's 10 on Tuesday, since I did the topic last week.

• IKEA
  
• Joann's Fabrics (since it's the only fabric store near me)
  
• Barnes and Noble
  
• BonTon (for sales)
  
• Wegman's
  
• A.C. Moore
  
• Michaels
  
• ebay
  
• American Family Services
  
• Salvation Army
  
• VIA
  

OK that was 11 but who's counting? Can you tell I love a bargain and food?
Tell us where you love to shop!

happy birthday DD

You are an incredible young lady. I can't believe how you've grown since that day 9 years ago when you came home from the hospital. Where did the time go?
Papi and I are so very proud of you. You're smart, thoughtful, helpful, beautiful, great sense of humor and fairness. We are so blessed to call you our daughter.

So even though there will be times when our decisions seem unfair, please remember that we're trying our best and we've never done this before. You're our first and only princess... and we love you more than you can know.

Happy birthday darlin' Hope the new year treats you stupendously!

love
mom and dad

and here they are

Women's S Hugo Bescati butter yellow 100% cashmere wrap lace…4.99









Women's L Heidi tan 35 silk/25 nylon/20 ramie/12 angora rabbit/3 acrylic/5 wool short sleeve sweater DK… $3








Men's XL Old Navy rust lambswool worsted…. $6 *










Women's M The Limited blue-periwinkle tweed wool/viscose/nylon/silk/cashmere/cotton blend sockweight …$6
(i have another in this colorway in my stash already and one in another color… it’s so soft)






Women's L Express beige merino aran knit … $4











Men's Belmondi brown/black/white tweed 55 merino/20 rayon/10 cashmere/10 nylon/5 angora rabbit crew neck sockweight or heavier…. $4






Women's L SO orange/red tweed 40 silk/30 nylon/15 ramie/11 wool/4 other turtleneck light worsted ….$6








Women's M Gap mustard yellow cardigan 100% worsted cotton (hope the button band is picked up stitches) $2








Women's M Express blue white tweed merino turtleneck heavy worsted/aran… $3







* from the pricey thrift store in town

Sorry about the sideways shots... I forgot to turn them before uploading

And these to felt and make bags, mittens etc


I picked up a few sweaters at Old Navy as well.. 3 cashmere ones for me and a cotton cardigan for mom in a beautiful blue to match her eyes!

thrift motherlode

first:
NEW 100% cashmere sweaters (short sleeve) at old navy for $10.... that's right
NEW 100% cashmere sweater (long sleeve) at old navy for $24

and at the thrift stores... oh my!


Pictures and details to come in the morning after I get it all sorted, just let me say it was a GOOD day!

losing

very slowly, but steadily

1.5 pounds this week and 0.5 inches from the waist (that's all I'm measuring)
Guess it's OK considering I haven't worked out on the Wii in a week.. still..

off to sell GSCookies at the nearby mall with DD...

what city?

You Belong in New York City

You're the energetic, ambitious type. And only NYC is fast enough for you. Maybe you'll set yourself up with a killer career Or simply take in all the city has to offer.

What City Do You Belong In?

or depending on the food I choose…

You Belong in London

A little old fashioned, and a little modern. A little traditional, and a little bit punk rock. A unique soul like you needs a city that offers everything. No wonder you and London will get along so well.

What City Do You Belong In?

Ironic that I'm pretty close to New York and my niece and her husband are in London for a while for work. Maybe I should go visit them... oh wait, they live in a flat, probably wouldn't want 5 of us descend on them.

sleepy eyes

I fell asleep with the youngest last night and awoke after midnight, not wanting to blog. I'll try 2 tonight to make up for it. This one is for Wednesday and I leave you with something that I stole from g-girl:

ten on tuesday

This weeks 10 on Tuesday is supposed to be 10 favorite children's movies.

Very easy for me, since we have 3 children here at the house and I am still a little kid, really.

Monsters, Inc.


Nim's Island



Princess Diaries (both)

The Borrowers


The Parent Trap


The Shaggy Dog


Toy Story (both)



Finding Nemo


Mary Poppins

groundhog day

How could he help but see his shadow with all those bright lights around? Granted it was a beautiful day where I work, but still 6 more weeks.. isn't that a tad depressing? At least I believe we're going to dodge the big snow that was slated for tonight into tmrw. Just a small amount now...

On another note... I got so carried away with organization yesterday that I forgot to post my entry... I'm still going to count it for NaBloPoMo though since I wrote it yesterday. Last night after I cleaned up all the dishes, packed the kids lunches, made my lunch and snack for today and packed it and baked a quiche for dinner tonight for the man and kids, I started with the coat closet. It holds the tablecloths and whatever junk the kids throw in there. I was sick of it... So I had covered boxes for the tablecloths and 2 bins for the napkins. Then I took all the unused lunch bags and backpacks out and put them in storage in the basement, with the other things of that nature. Brought the kids hat/mitten box and put it on the floor and got a bin for DH's and my hats and gloves as well. It's so nice to be able to see the floor and make sense of the shelves.

This closet *could* be attached to the pantry to make a really nice pantry, but where would we put our coats. Guess they could go in the bedrooms... but the boys would be cramped since they don't have a closet so as it is.

OK... I have to say that now I'm loving the food on this flat belly diet. Yesterday for my snack I had Kashi puffs with yogurt and almonds mixed in.. mmmmmm
Today for breakfast I had oatmeal with 2 sliced strawberries, a bit of sliced banana, some peanuts and a bit of semi-sweet chocolate chips all mixed together. It was a little bit of heaven. Lunch was a wheat flat out bread with spinach leaves, sauteed onion and garlic and asiago cheese very thinly sliced all rolled up together. Heaven, I tell you and dinner was a salad of escarole (lots), edamame and tofu cubes tossed in a dressing of sliced strawberries, sliced red onion, diced red pepper, balsamic vinager, olive oil, cold pressed flaxseed oil, with a hint of strawberry all fruit mixed together. It was really yummy! I had been missing my greens so I'm hoping this will help me. I don't miss the heavy carb load or the sugar. AND I feel so great eating this way, even though the pounds are not dropping off like I wish they were. I have more energy and for the first time in a long time am really happy.

I went to see DH in a comic opera at the college he teaches at on Sat evening Mozart's Bastien and Bastienne. He played the role of Colas.. I laughed so hard the tears were rolling down my face. Ham isn't a word that was strong enough for him. The students loved it as well. I'm sure it was the talk of the department today.

I knit on his vest almost the whole time and have about 14.5" of the back complete again. Now I have to start the shaping of the armholes. So I've more math to figure. Of course my handspun isn't meeting gauge, especially with the needle change up one size, so I've got all kinds of calculations to make now. I've just about knit 2 skeins of the handspun so that puts me down 11 skeins so far this year... Need to really get knitting if I'm going to hit 200 by the end of the year. I'll get rid of some at DS1's school. They're looking for red yarn for a Valentine project, so I'll send some in. I'm not even meeting January's quota. Of course the summer will do me better since I'll be home more, but perhaps 200 was a bit too much to bite off.. a real challenge. I'll definitely make 100 without a problem.

I think some dishcloths and LR squares are in the future. And a friend's son is getting married in June. I'd like to knit them an afghan. I think of squares of all different stitches, perhaps in some Paton's in browns and beiges would be nice. Maybe I should get that Barbara Walker stitch book about the afghan. Hmmmmmm. I just dread the idea of seaming the whole thing.

Well off to work as soon as this little girl stops moving around, I'll escape clean the kitchen pack lunches for tmrw, do some school work and THEN knit.

today is a great day for..

organizing! I don't know why, but I got this urge to clean and organize my pantry in the kitchen. When I was at the grocery store, I bought these fabric boxes and bins and was anxious to put them to use. The large bin was for the kids snacks in the pantry. I wanted to keep them out of MY way so I would be less tempted to eat them. While I was doing that, I figured why not organize the pantry to see what we have...

LOTS of Pepperidge Farm Goldfish (I can go a couple of weeks without buying any and my kid devour them.
TOO MANY boxes of Macaroni and Cheese (enough for a month or more, not every night mind you... but think Sam's Club quantity)
TEA flavors that I should be drinking!
Plenty of flour (all sorts, wheat, white, organic, soy, spelt.... you get the picture)
Powder your body with powdered sugar
NUTS (which I'm nuts about... and are all on my new diet :-) )

At any rate, it's really beautiful now and I know where everything is. And can easily keep away from the crackers and chips and cookies and pudding and well you get the picture.

There's more boxes to hit the coat closet... I'll save that for later tonight!


OH this should be dated yesterday, I wrote it in text edit and forgot to post it.. if you're reading this, you've probably read the previous post and already know why!