Oh Happy Day!

What a joy it was to be chilly this morning. I forgot what that felt like. In fact I was able to wear my jaywalkers and my new Eath shoes today. and I have to say my back does feel better. The sock mania continues, my monkeys are finished and I'm almost done with a pair for my Mom. I would be on my second "On your toes" sock but I decided to rip back and try to make it a knee high. I don't know if I'll have enough yarn, but I certainly had a lot left over when I was ready to cast off, so my fingers are crossed. As soon as my Mom's socks are done, I need to start a pair for my MIL. Her birthday is coming up and she really liked my jaywalkers so she'll be getting a nearly matching pair. I love Tofutsies yarn so I'm happy to make a duplicate pair. Plus I'm using the leftovers for stripped socks later on... I can't wait to get to those they already look beautiful in my head. Of course all this knititng has to occur around my study schedule which is a bit math heavy at the present. What was I thinking taking Calculus 2 and Physics together? Well to be fair that wasn't the origianl plan, but I digress. I did find my camera cord (finally) so I leave you with a few pretty images.

The Birthday Girl (I can't believe she's two) and my Sockpalooza socks. Arent' they gorgues? I love them! Thank you Jenneke!

Technical difficulties

We have lost, rather misplaced, the computer cord for our camera. Which means that I can't post pictures of all the lovely yarn I bought at Stitches, and I can't post pictures of the munchkin's second birthday party. I blame the husband who went on a home improvement kick while I was away, but that doesn't make the cord appear, so it's not really important. I also have wonderful pictures of the fabulous socks that my sock pal made for me, and I am so mad that I can't find my stupid cord... At any rate, school has started and I'm still knitting so that's a very good sign. I finished my Monkey socks this weekend, and I'm trying to finish a long overdue second sock. I need to get back to my brother's sweater and next weekend begins my Sweet Mary Jane KAL. So we'll see how that goes. Hopefully I'll have pictures soon, because I blog without pictures is just sad.

On the road again

Literally, we were in Amish country the last couple days, and now the munchkin and I are off to Wisconsin. And after a week I'll be moving on to Stitches Midwest. Yahoo! So I can't promise that I'll be posting, since the internet access in the woods is a little unpredictable, not to mention sloooowwwwww. So happy summer to all! I'll have a ton of picture in about a week.

No Photos

If I wait for my pictures I may never post again. So here's what's new: I finished my Sockpalooza socks! Yeah! And I started a pair of Monkey socks for myself which I like to refer to as my "Harry Monkeys" because I've been working on them while reading the last Harry Potter (plus it just sounds funny). Yesterday I did a truck load of cooking and put most of it in freezer for when fall classes pick up. And I pulled a lot of weeds in the garden today. Now if I could just get excited about finishing my brother's sweater. Oh yeah, the Munchkin is working on potty training too. So I guess it's been a pretty busy week so far.

Rainy Day

It's raining, again. And I have a head cold/sinus thing. So I'm not too perky. I am almost done with my sockapalozza socks. They should be done in the next few days and I'll get a picture up. I like them so much I almost hate to send them away. But they're too big for me so I guess I can let go. And then to finish my brother's sweater. He asked me to knit him a sweater, oh about two maybe even three years ago. And I cast on but never really got anywhere with it. So I promised him that I would finish it for his birthday. Not that anyone in their right mind needs a wool sweater in August, but it does put me on deadline. So, hopefully I can get most of the socks finished at work today (there will be a lot of hurry up, now wait time)so I can get cracking on Jesse's Flames. I have the front finished and I'm working on an arm, but the intarsia slows me down. My plan is to dedicate myself to that sleeve this week. And when it's finished, Friday or Saturday, I want to cast on for the back and run right through it. So my fingers are crossed. I guess the rain did come at a good time, it's forcing me to stay inside and knit. Not that that's a bad thing.

truth in the absurd

My Peculiar Aristocratic Title is: Milady the Most Honourable Amy the Erudite of Much Leering Get your Peculiar Aristocratic Title

Ha!Ha! There's actually a little truth to this. Oh well enough silliness, I need to deal with the screaming child in the other room.

The best of summer

So the recent heat has had me thinking about how I tolerate summer. I should preface this by sayign that I LOVE fall and the begining of winter. Those first couple snows make me so happy. And what's more beautiful than a crisp automn day complete with breeze, fiery leaves and the smell of a fireplace somewhere...
Alas it's July and I'm determined to make the most of it, by making salads for dinner and sharing some photos...

Zoe offers sunscreen to Elmo

And it's just not summer without my ivy geraniums. I fell in love with them in Paris.... Mmmmm......
My first sucessfull hollyhock, my mother is sooooooo jealous!

And my Dahlias are doing very well. Some where I lost the picture of my herbs... Let's just say that I haev four differnt kinds of basil and about fourteen types of herbs. Oh Fifteen becuase lavender counts too!

Squeeeeeeee!

It came!
It came!
My invitation to Ravelry!

And it's all I'd hoped it would be!

The Munckin

My husband was away this weekend at a work thing, and being the only parent spurred some thought on my part. My daughter is really some kind of kid. She's pretty much a self-imposed vegetarian. She has just started eating chicken in very small amounts, and she likes hot dogs (which I don't consider meat) but that's it. She prefers chickpeas, and tofu enchiladas. She's a maniac for veggi lomein, or fried rice. She is addicted to cheese. I'm not complaing here. I think it's great. But it seems strange that she loathes all thing breaded, and can already appreciate good rye bread. She's also very aware of her own clock. It seemed that she was slow to speak, but now she's turning out full phrases. She can identify her own name when it's written down and pick out the proper letters on own. And she's getting much better about playing with other kids. This may sound a bit boasfull, but I really marvel at the person she's becoming. And I'm so proud to be her mommy.

As promised awhile ago, here is a picture of my new organised stash. Of course that's not all of it. There are still three rubbermaid tubs in the closet next to the new shelves. :) But the "tub" yarn is charity and baby stuff, so it doesn't need as much organization


And my husband's first pair of socks (from me)


I love the way the jaywalkers turned out! And the spindle socks are too comfy!



And a picture of my new imporved, even more red, hair.


This was taken on Courtney's wedding day (link in previous post). Congrat's Honey! I'm so glad you had such a beautiful day!

I have been so busy lately I haven't had time to post. My reserch appointment is goign well, but taking a lot of time. And between Courtney's wedding and my sister visiting I've been running! Soon I'll post some pictures of FOs and my newly organized sewing room and stash. But I just wanted to check in and say "Hi!" I'll also try to get soem good pictures of my new hair. I henna-ed it this week and it's gorgues. Red, but a really rich red. I promise pictures will be up this week. Hope you're all having a good weekend.

What knitting have you done?

I've seen this around the net, and wondered how I would measure up. I'm proud to say that I'm more experienced than I thought. The Bold are things I've done and the Italics are things that I plan on doing someday.

Afghan
I-cord
Garter stitch
Knitting with metal wire
Shawl
Stockinette stitch
Socks: top-down
Socks: toe-up
Knitting with camel yarn
Mittens: Cuff-up
Mittens: Tip-down
Hat
Knitting with silk
Moebius band knitting
Participating in a KAL
Sweater
Drop stitch patterns
Knitting with recycled/secondhand yarn
Slip stitch patterns
Knitting with banana fiber yarn
Domino knitting (=modular knitting)
Twisted stitch patterns
Knitting with bamboo yarn
Two end knitting
Charity knitting
Knitting with soy yarn
Cardigan
Toy/doll clothing
Knitting with circular needles
Baby items
Knitting with your own hand-spun yarn
Slippers
Graffiti knitting
Continental knitting
Designing knitted garments - I'm working on this now actually, but I'm not finished
Cable stitch patterns
Lace patterns
Publishing a knitting book
Participate in an exchange
Scarf
Teaching a child to knit
American/English knitting
Knitting to make money - I wish!
Buttonholes
Knitting with alpaca
Fair Isle knitting
Norwegian knitting
Dying with plant colors
Knitting items for a wedding
Household items (dishcloths, washcloths, tea cosies…)
Knitting socks (or other small tubular items) on one or two circulars
Knitting with someone else’s hand-spun yarn
Knitting with dpns
Holiday related knitting
Teaching a male how to knit
Bobbles
Knitting for a living - again I wish!
Knitting with cotton
Knitting smocking
Dying yarn
Steeks
Knitting art
Knitting two socks on two circulars simultaneously
Fulling/felting
Knitting with wool
Textured knitting
Kitchener stitch
Knitted flowers
Purses/bags
Knitting with beads
Swatching
Long Tail CO
Entrelac
Knitting and purling backwards
Machine knitting
Knitting with self patterning/self striping/variegated yarn
Stuffed toys
Knitting with cashmere
Darning
Jewelry
Knitting with synthetic yarn
Writing a pattern
Gloves
Intarsia
Knitting with linen
Knitting for preemies
Tubular CO
Free-form knitting
Short rows
Cuffs/fingerless mits/arm-warmers
Pillows
Knitting a pattern from an on-line knitting magazine
Rug Knitting on a loom
Thrummed knitting
Knitting a gift
Knitting for pets
Shrug/bolero/poncho
Knitting with dog/cat hair - Eeewwww!
Hair accessories
Knitting in public

Time Flys

Where did my vacation go? The Exterra started coughing on the way out of Indiana. So we literally spent the entire day driving. We had to rent a car to drive back to our house with in order to get the Civic, in order to turn around and start over. Ugh! As if the pilgramige isn't rough enough... And unfortunately I didn't get much knitting done, or at least not as much as I hoped. And I didn't get any real reading done. I brought a brand new book and read three pages. And now I'm back home, trying to get into the swing of my new research job. It'll get better, but right now I'm just trying to get through the week. Although it's nice to not have homework to worry about, I'm just not into my new routine yet.
On the bright side, most of my cutting garden has been planted, along with two forget-me-nots and a bleeding heart. I finished my spindle socks, and I'm on the hubby's second sock's heel. I also have the loooonnnnnggggg lace scarf done. I would be a lot farther on my Sahara, but when I got to the waist shaping I reallilzed that I was short on the back stitches so I just ripped two inches worth of body to fix that. And I did manage to get to the Elegent Ewe in Menominee. I love that place. I treated myself to a skein of Cheery Tree Hill in Serangheti. I also picked up two skeins of Tofu-tsies for gifts.
Well that's all the time I have for now, but I'll be around much more regularly now. Summer is a much more relaxign time for me.

Because tonight is all about fun

Read my VisualDNA™ Get your own VisualDNA™

No more homework
No more books
No more teacher's dirty looks

at least for a couple months.... That's right finals are officially over. They weren't great but they didn't need to be. Now I'm on to the unwinding. If the rain blows over my knitting girls will be enjoying grilled strip steaks and grilled corn with their cosmos, if not I'll boil the corn and broil the steaks. But either way there will be Cosmos and cake. Yahoo!

I'm not Dead yet

I'm still around I promise. I have two more final exams, and then I shall be free to blog until my fingers cramp up. My organic exam is on friday, and then I will be back with a vengance. I have munchkin pictures and garden tales, and of course knitting to catch up on. So, soon very soon, I'll be posting daily. Well at least daily, after Mother's Day. We're going to Wisconson for Mother's Day and while we're in the woods, computer time is very limited, but I'll check in Milwaukee. Until then.....

What a Secret Pal!

I got my very first Secret Pal Package! And what a package it was!

Check out the booty...


And I can't say enough about this washcloth. I love the cable so much I'm afraid to actually use it.

Berroco Glace is so soft, and this fushia is so pretty. And pink and green stitch markers.. I love pink and green. It's so pretty and perky.

My pal even sent treats for the munchkin, a Clifford dog, and two lovely books. Zoe was so delighted she slept with him and brought him to breakfast with her.

Thank You Secret Pal! You're the best!

So Much

Wow! so much has happened lately. I was inducted into Lamda Iota Tau, the national honor society for english majors/minors. I recieved my summer reaserch match, and it's great. I'll be workign with a Doctor at the hospital who is doing glucose metabolism reserch. He's considered adjunct facility, and all though I probably won't see my chemistry friends too much it's sounds very interesting. Monday is our last regular Calculus Exam and the last week of regular classes. Yes that's right. I never trhought it would come, but the semester is drawing to a close. I'm thrilled and terrified. I could use another few weeks in Organic, but I'm also thrilled to leaving it behind. Organic Chemistry is something that I know I'll need to access later, but right now it's abstract and convoluted. It's just a bunch of reaction floating around in space. I'm sure that it will fall into place when I take Biochemsitry and have an application for it.
Last friday was a fun time. Lots of chinese food, red wine, and a ball winder. I'll post pictures later today. The Munchkin helped too. This week I'm planning kababs on the grill. Hopefully it should be warm and sunny, and the munchkin can run in the grass, while we laze about on the patio. That sounds so good right now. Thursday mornings are always so difficult. I ahev to get up early after Wednesday, my all day day. Truely I work early on Wednesday and round it off with a night class, and an afternoon full of Organic. Luckily next semester (fall) I don't have nay night classes. What will I do with myself. I'll almost be on a normal schedule. Well, I'm off to shower and to work. I'll post some pictures later.

ps-Lynn, you are so right about the mini-me thign. It's almost spooky. If my baby pictures weren't fading it would be hard to tell who you're looking at. :)

The Peeps

So the Munchkin likes Peeps. Not as much as the malted milk balls, I mean eggs. But she does like the marshmallow. This week has been insane nad since I am lacking in knitting news or pictures I figure a dose of cuteness is in order.

She also likes to paint, which I figured. I think "draw" was her third word. Of course I'm procrasting here. i should be studyign for an Organic Exam, adn doign integrals for Calculus. But there is a light at the end of my tunnel. Tommorow night is knitting night. I'm ordering take-out and Courtneywill be coming over for some knitting and down time. Thank Goodness.

Adendum and a movie

Well now I know why the few socks I've made for myself were tight. I measured my foot wrong. That's right, or maybe they grew when I was pregnant. Weird things happen to your body when it's busy making a new person. But my foot is actually 8 1/2" long. And I can say that with confience after re-measure yesterday three times. I just couldn't believe it. Al of this comes form a good place though. I finished the frst jaywalker and started the second, while watching "The Holiday." And I must say I loved that movie. First of all I was pleased that while it is a chick flick it not as cheese ball predictible as most. And I really didn't think anyone could make Jude Law any sexier, but this writer did... I don't want to spoil it it so I'll leave it there. I even found Jack Black attractive, JACK BLACK! His character was just so sweet. So check out the movie and maybe, just mabye re-check your own sock size.