Just A Tad

I haven't gotten a whole lot of knitting accomplished today. I've had plenty of time but not knittin time. David and I walked down to the ponds, it is so sad. The little pond has totally dried up and the big one is so low you can see the back of the fish. And no rain in sight. And I've been cookin. Chicken Stir Fry, Brown Rice and Apple Crisp.

I had the "boys" bring my Hoosier cabinet up from downstairs. I bought this cabinet in a yard sale probably, gosh, 22 years ago for $50. A friend that finishes antiques took the paint off then finished it for my b-day one year. I've made many an apple pie on that enameled counter top. It's funny, I was showing my youngest, Jordan-22, how the counter top pulls out so you have more working space and then when you are done you can just slide it back. He said, "Mom, you've had that cabinet as long as I can remember, uh, I think I know how it works." Smarty pants. I decided it would make a fine picture/yarn holder in the living room. You can see some of the yarn and then there is a bunch more behind the big bottom door. Functional and pretty to look at. Kinda like me!!!!! Well, actually not either.

The first clue for the Secret of Chrysopolis stole came out yesterday. I've gotten just a tad done. Some unknown speed demon already has the first 178 rows completed!!!! C'est bazar!!!!! The pattern is gorgeous and I am loving my yarn choice, Knit Picks' Shadow in Campfire Heather. This one is going to be beautiful. It isn't too late, mosey on over and join the fun.

The Lady In Black

I thought I was going to have Sara & Matthew's Hemlock finished and blocked to show you. However, I am lacking about 100 stitches worth of yarn to finish the cast off. So, alas, I've ordered an additional skein. It should be here next week and I'll have it finished by the wedding which is the 13th of October.

We had chosen and purchased the dress I was going to wear but after thinking about it Sara and I decided it was really too formal. So we went back to the store and found the absolute perfect one. Mind you it is black but black is my signature color. I have a lot of black, love black and want more black.

Several years ago while substitute teaching, I was in this particular 4th grade class quite a bit, in fact I filled in while the teacher was out on her honeymoon. At some point when I had just been in the class this one little fart of a boy, Bruce Butt (yes, real name), told his teacher, "Ms. Hensley, Mrs. Sturgeon is a witch." The teacher asked what would make him say such a thing and he said, "Well, she wears black all the time and have you ever seen when she raises her eyebrows? Her eyes just glow." I have to admit, I am one of those people that you can read via their eyes. What Mr. Butt was experiencing and had discovered my children have stated since birth.

In fact, when Aaron was a teen he had a friend over for the night. The friend started getting kinda loud and Aaron told him to cool it cause they were going to wake up his dad. The friend shrugged and kept doing whatever it was he was doing. Then Aaron said, your going to wake up my mom. The friend settled down and never made another peep.

It's all in the eyes!!!!!!!

Anyways, here is a picture of my dress. It is so yummy, I can't wait to wear it!!!!

Yummy Things

Today I received my Harry Potter Swap package. Oh my, it was full of goodness. A really gorgeous gold satin lined knitted bag with whatelse the Gryffindor lion design. My favorite bamboo dpns in size 1 from Crystal Palace, a packet of those super cool Coil Knitting Needle Holders by Clover (I ain't never used those before). Two nummy yummy candles and some adorable stitch markers. A very neat pattern from Knit Picks, "Autumn Leaves Lace Socks." 440 yards of some unbelievable yarn from Aspen Moon Arts Handpaints, Merino in Red Clay, really beautiful. And lest I forget some M&Ms. :)

Fiber Gods

The fiber gods must be happy. I think they are happy with me!!!! Why do you ask? Well remember my post about this?

Just last month I sent all that awesome, wonderful fiber off to Stonehenge Fiber Mill (oops, I'm an idiot, it is Stonehedge Fiber Mill) and yesterday I got this.
You can't see all the goodness. There is about 4 lbs of black, black, 4 lbs of a deep grey, 4 lbs of a cream and 4 lbs of a cocoa colored alpaca roving. Yummy, yummy.

That was yesterday, then today I received this in the mail. This is September's installment from Abby's Yarns Batt Club, Harvest Moon. 2 oz of 40% superfine merino, 30% tussah silk, 15% brown suri alpaca and 15% mongolian cashmere with 2 oz tussah silk all hand dyed to match. This stuff is awesome.

My boys say if we have a tragedy of apocalyptical proportions I will be ready to keep us clothed and warm for some time. Trouble is it all has to be spun and then knitted up (I don't own a loom) and I'm the only spinner and knitter in the house. Gosh, talking about pressure. We are all gun enthusiasts. We aren't hunters but in a pinch we could take care of ourselves. But, I bet the little creeps will expect me to not only cloth their sorry rears, I bet they will expect me to do all the cooking as well. Not to mention the cleaning, washing and such. I'll have to be the one that makes the candles and keeps the stinking fire going while they are out running helter skelter through the woods. They don't know crap about herbs and edible roots, that will fall on me as well. Where do they get off??????

I don't know, maybe the fiber gods aren't happy at all, maybe it is the fiber demons that are dancing a jig. Well, guess I'm going to pull another Scarlett O'hara, "I'll think about that tomarra, if I that about it today I'll go crazy." I guess I'll cross that bridge when I come to it. But, you can be darn tootin that these people are at least going to learn to knit. Jerks!!!!!

On to happier and simpler things........Sara & Matthew's engagement photo.

Rockin The Block!!!!

Yesterday our church had our 2nd Annual Rock The Block Party. This year we held it at the Bowling Green Regional Airport. It was wild believe me. We held our morning service out there. We are talking hot people. I think it was around 95 or so. The festivities were from 10:30 am to 6:00 pm. With live bands, a power team (you know, big boys breaking concrete blocks with their foreheads and Louisville Slugger bats over their knees - mega testosterone!!!!!), free hamburgers, hotdogs, cokes and such. My favorite - cotton candy, oh yeah. There were all kinds of inflatables for the kids to climb over, into and jump on. Kiddie games with prizes. And free groceries. This is a way for us, the church, to reach out to the community and show our love. There were a minimum of 3,000 in attendance. It was great, but man were we pooped. Particularly the men in my family. They had worked all day Saturday setting up and then all day Sunday playing music and making sure everything was running smoothly. And then late into Sunday night and again Monday morning tearing down.

Here are a couple pictures of the gang.



My oldest, Aaron, Emma Belle's daddy concentrating on the story he is being told.















Look are that face!!!!





I am one hot (temperature wise) and sweaty Gammy, but don't you think we look alike? I like to think so. :)

My youngest, Jordan, doing what he does best - acting silly.







And finally my stud muffin and Emma Belle's Gampy.

Proud To Be A Chicken!!!!

While on vacation we ate breakfast at the Blue Licks Battlefield State Park Lodge. Blue Lick is thought to be the location of the last battle of the Revolutionary War. I visited the gift shop and found these proud little chickens. I love chickens and have collected several over the last several years. These are a cute addition.

I also got started on Sara and Matthew's wedding gift, the Hemlock Ring throw. The yarn and needles were in my package from Knit Picks. The yarn is Knit Picks' Swish Superwash in Fired Brick. It is great. Very soft. And the needles are the new Harmony wooden needles. They are awesome. Very light and extremely easy to work with.

I'll be showing my other Knit Picks goodies later. You know, I don't want to over load you with eye candy joy.

I'm Baaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaccccccccccccck!!!!

We got back from vacation today. We had a lovely time. I forgot the camera, so no pictures, bummer. Our first stop was Flemingsburg, KY, the Covered Bridge Capital of Kentucky. We stayed at a lovely bed & breakfast, Stockton Station Inn, Saturday and Sunday nights. Then Monday we headed to a cabin just outside of Maysville, KY. It was awesome. Nestled in the hills and woods of Kentucky, a fully furnished, modern cabin. We had several lovely walks in the woods and lots of relaxation. David read a lot and well, you can guess what I did......knitted, knitted and knitted. It was so wonderful. There are only a couple of things I would change. I would have taken more knitting with me, yeah, I know I wouldn't have gotten as much done on any one object but, I like diversity. The other thing I would change is, there wasn't cable/satellite tv. I mean really folks, how the heck am I supposed to keep up with the OJ saga? Actually, I don't watch very much tv at all, however, I am a news hound. Fox News is going practically my whole wake time. All in all it was great. I missed seeing the kids so much and when we got home our youngest, Jordan-22, had cleaned the entire main floor of the house. I mean soft scrub the tub and everything!!!! Talk about a blessing.

I finished the Embossed Leaves socks. And I have just turned the heel on the second of the Fawkes socks.









Eleven inches finished on the Tomten. It is such a joy to just knit and knit and knit without even thinking. And garter stitch is so clean looking don't you think?








When I got home there were two packages waiting on me. One was an order from Knit Picks. Lots of wonderful yarns & needles. I'll have to reveal those goodies later. :)

A couple of weeks ago my step-sister, Lisa, called to inform me she was in Provo, Utah standing in front of the "oldest yarn store in the US," Heindselman's Yarn, Needlework & Gifts. I asked her if she was going to buy me some yarn from there. I was actually joking, but, being the giving individual she is she did. This yarn is pretty neat and really strange. It is made by Raven Frog Fibert Arts in Sitka, Alaska. 150 yards of 55% mohair/45% merino wool. How cool is that?

Happy Tots (Thoughts not Children)

Now tell me, what happier thoughts are there than new yarn? Tell me, now!!!!! Exactly!!!! If you came up with another answer that has nothing to do with yarn or fiber, well, you really need to sort out your priorities and check to see exactly where your loyalties lie. I mean, really think about it. Who is always there for you no matter what time of day, no matter where you are, no matter where you are going, no matter what the mood.......who? You darn tootin straight!!!! Yarn!!!!

Yarn is like no other friend. Think about it. What other friend would allow you to oooooo and ahhhhh all over it, pass it around for "others" to squeeze, drool and oooo and ahhhh, only to be stashed under the bed, or in some bin with all the other yarn friends you've forgotten you even have anymore. What other friend allows you to dress it up in some of the most hideous garb to once again get stuff somewhere far, far away with all those other yarns you have so grotesquely mutilated into unfinished projects that will never see the light of day again. And to boot, you stuff the high quality wool in the same dark plastic container with, can I even say it? Acrylic!!!!! Oh gosh!!!!! Say it ain't so!!!!!!

I don't know about you, but, I plead the fifth. Enough said.

Let's move on. I have a couple new friends. I received the yarn for Aaron's Tomten. I can't wait to get started on this beauty. I'm in the swatching stage. Bleck, I hate swatches. My friend, Peggy (Obi-Peggy-Kenobi), has been giving me some jedi knitting insturctions. She truly is a knitting jedi.

Anyways, on to the happy tots. This is Knit Picks, Wool of the Andes, 100% Peruvian Highland Wool in Chestnut.
Another knitting jedi friend, June, had a contest on her blog. She and I went in together back in the Spring and bought a Romney Cross fleece. Mine is, well this is what mine looks like.

This is what June's looks like. The contest she ran was to name that beauty. I found this picture and submitted "Painted Desert" as the name. I won!!!! And this yummy yarn is what I won. It is 60% superwash merino/30% bamboo/10% nylon. It will make some very scrumpteous, soft sockies. I am so proud. My friend, local writer, designer, Joanne, has an article published in Interweave Knit's Fall 2007 edition. How cool is that. Be sure and check it out. Her article is on the very last page entitled, Green Knitting.

And finally. David and I are going on vacation beginning Saturday. Where are we going? We don't know. Which is very strange for us. We usually have some kind of plan. We are a rather boring couple. We usually get a cabin somewhere and just chill. Read, knit, eat, sit on the deck, maybe watch a little tv, drink coffee like it is going out of style and a few other things. :)

I, of course, will have loads of knitting. I'll probably end up taking enough to last at least a year. Ya gotta be prepared ya know. But, I'm experiencing a little anxiety. I won't be near a computer for about five days. I won't be able to read/answer email. I won't be able to read/comment on you guys' blogs. I won't be able to post on my blog. How am I going to survive?

And then, when I do get back to 6,000 emails and 40,000 blog entries how will I ever get caught up? It is a rough life people, but somebody's got to live it. And I suppose, this is my lot. I'll see you when I get back. I miss you already. :)

Forever Changed

We all have circumstances or events that constitute the sum of who we are. Some are happy and some are not so happy. Still, I choose to accept the view that had I not experienced these circumstances or events I would not be the person I am today. And having these experiences will, hopefully, allow me to help someone along in their journey of this thing we call life.

I could tell you all sorts of stories about my childhood and on that have had tremendous impact to me being, well, me. But, the one I'm talking about today visits my mind and emotions probably the most often, particularly during the month of September and particularly today, September 13th.

My life was forever changed September 13, 1995. It doesn't seem possible it could have been twelve years ago, yet it seems like a life time. At that time I was deep into getting a Bachelors in Mathematics. Exactly one week before I had spoke before a special committee of the Kentucky State Legislature as a representative of the Community and Junior Colleges throughout the state. My mornings consisted of getting my children, Aaron-17, Sara-14 and Jordan-9 off to school before I headed out for my day of classes. On this particular morning Sara's friend Jenny had called to say she had missed her bus and could they give her a ride to school. You know as a mom you get tired of being the jerk so I told them sure. I didn't want her to get in trouble with her mom for missing school. As I was getting ready to go out the door they pulled up, Aaron had forgotten his backpack. Backpack in hand off they went. Just as I was walking down the front steps the fire alarm in town went off and as I got to the end of our road a State Trooper went flying pass me with light and siren on full tilt.

I almost turned to go the same way, but decided I was being ridiculous so I turned right and went on my way. The kids didn't have cell phones at the time. Aaron had a pager and I called it thinking that when he got to school he would call. And then I called Nanny's house. She lived about a block from the high school so I made them park there instead of the school because I was afraid they would have a wreck with all the craziness of kids trying to get out of the parking lot at final bell. She hadn't seen them, but I told her it was foggy and it was probably just taking them a little longer than normal. I ended up calling Aaron's pager and Nanny a couple more times. Then I called the church to speak to my husband, David. Our Church Administrator said that he had received a call stating that the kids had been in an accident and he and our Associate Pastor had gone to check it out. David wouldn't have anything to do with a cell phone but I knew Marion had one so I called it. Marion answered and as soon as he knew it was me he gave it to David. As he said hello I could hear the helicopter blades in the background as two choppers lifted off to head for Louisville. David stated that the kids had been injured in a one vehicle accident and were being stat flighted to Louisville but not to worry, he was sure it was just a standard thing and for me to go on to classes. I knew better, I knew if they were stat flighting them it had to be serious. We discussed a good place for me to meet him so we could go to the hospital together.

As I drove to our meeting place my phone rang. It was the police, they had found Aaron's pager going off and called the number. As soon as he knew it was me he asked if I knew where my children were. I told him it was my understanding they were being flown to a hospital in Louisville. He said yes, my two were being taken to Kosair Children's Hospital and that Jenny was being taken to University. I told him how to get in contact with her mother and hung up. I didn't know the extent of any of their injuries but I knew enough to know that if Jenny was being taken to University she was the most seriously injured.

Once we arrived we were ushered into an emergency room where Aaron lay on one side and Sara on the other. They had both been thrown out the sun roof of Aaron's little Ranger and both had sustained broken backs plus many lacerations and contusions. Sara's back was broken in the thoracic area and her spleen had been badly damaged. Aaron's back was broken in the lumbar region and he had two plastic surgeons working on his face and head for a number of hours. Sara was in the hospital for about a week and a half and then sent home for a month or so to see if her spleen would heal before they did her back surgery. She had to wear one of those hard tortoise shells in order to be able to move around. They performed Aaron's surgery within the first couple days. And he remained in Kosairs for about a week and a half before he was transferred to Frazier Rehab. Basically he had to learn to walk all over again. He remained at Frazier for about 5 -6 weeks. By the time we were able to take him home he literally looked like someone from a concentration camp. It took him many months before he could walk without a cane and he had to wear a brace for some time. David stayed home with Sara and I stayed with Aaron.

Two days after the accident they removed little Jenny off of life support. If you have children, particularly older children, you know there are friends that your kids have that you like but when they are around it is like having a guest and then there are friends that just fit in, they seem like part of the family. Jenny was one of those. When she was around she just felt like one of mine.

I cannot begin to tell you the grief I felt at that time. The Bible says that when Jesus was in the Garden of Gethsemane, He was in so much grief and pressure that He actually sweat drops of blood. I cannot imagine that kind of grief, I felt at any moment large droplets of blood would begin to pour from my forehead. I experienced immense grief but also anger and even guilt. Why did I get my babies back, injured and maimed yes, but I got em back and why didn't Jenny's parents get her?

It took me several years to work through that. Am I actually through it now? When something so traumatic happens to you I don't know that you ever actually get over it. Here twelve years later I could cry as if it were yesterday. Is it easier? Definitely. Sometimes I feel like Scarlett O'Hara, "I'll think about that tomorra, if I think about it today I'll go crazy." But when it is this time of year or I look at my children, particularly Aaron, and see how their lives could have been different it is a challenge.

Sara is doing great, she has rods on both sides of her spine. Which, to her joy, will require her to have c-sections when she has children. That makes her happy, I don't know why. Do you want pain before or pain after?

Aaron is doing quite well. He is slightly crooked and lives with pain everyday of his life. But he still gets to do what he loves to do, play and teach private music lessons.

They are alive and living a happy and productive life. I gave up multiple scholarships. I attempted to get back into the flow and complete that degree several times over the years. But, I was just never able to get back into it. And that is okay.

I don't know all the reasons for things, and I don't always understand but truly one thing I do know is Romans 8:28 says "And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. "

Does that make my pain go away. Not really, but it does bring comfort. And I know that I am better prepared to understand the grief and pain of others than I would have before.

I have been forever changed.

And The Nominations Are........

There are a couple responsibilities one must accept once one has been nominated for the "Rockin Girl Blogger" title. Of course the first and foremost is to continue to be a Rockin Girl Blogger!!! The second is you are expected to nominate others for the same title. You all know how absolutely cool I am so I will have no problem with the first. But now the second has proven quite difficult because there are so many I could name, but I can't just name everybody, so here we go. Peggy named two and Lynn, who nominated Peggy, named five, so I decided to name three. Please hold all applause until all have been nominated.

The first is: (drum roll please)

Roseann - Roseann is an unbelievable knitter and spinner. She rocks out socks like nobody you ain't ever seen before. She also provides awesome details for her projects, telling you what she did and how.

The second is: (drum roll please, you would think I wouldn't have to ask after the first)

Lori - Loribird is another one of those unbelievable knitters and spinners. You gotta look at these gloves she made. She not only knitted them, she also spun the yarn. I can't really tell you how Lori and I met. I do know it was several months ago when she lived in Alaska. She is called Loribird because when she was a child she was always bringing home little injured birds that needed nursing. (If I didn't get it right straighten me out Lori)

And the third is: (thanks, I didn't even have to remind you that time)

Tabitha - My and Tabby's relationship goes way back. She and my daughter Sara were in the same grade and had many classes together. She dated and later married my oldest son, Aaron. Together they produced my wonderfully, awesome Emma Belle. And although they are no longer married, we have maintained a close relationship. She just began knitting about a year or so ago and then quickly fell into the spinning hole. Finally in July she began blogging. Although she hasn't been blogging very long I wanted to nominate her because she is one HARD ROCKIN MOMMA. I could not ask for a better mother for Emma Belle. I never ever have to worry about where Emma is or what kind of people she is around or how she is being treated. Tabby is awesome. I am so proud of how she and Aaron took a negative situation and came out acting like civilized adults. That does not happen very often. They both have always put Emma Belle ahead of their feelings or emotions. For that she is a ROCKIN GIRL BLOGGER in my book.

So, there you go girls. Now's the time to post your "Rockin Girl Blogger" button on your blog and get to nominating.

ROCK ON DUDETTES!!!!!!

Friends

I am so excited!!!!! You know the Internet is so interesting. Since the inception of my blog, about six months ago, I have become friends with so many people. These aren't people that I will probably ever get to meet face to face, we don't talk via telephone, and actually very little via email, we primarily converse via our blogs. We all come from various walks of life. Many of which, most I think, I am old enough to be their mother. I'm sure many of us have very different political and/or religious views. Yet there is a deep kindred spirit between us. I can't really tell you how or where I met them, but usually it was from posting a comment on someone else's blog, seeing their post and then tracking it back to their blog. More often than not we are bound together through our knitting and/or spinning addiction. When I talk about them to my family I always say something like "My friend Lucille, from Timbucktoo, said ********, or she made *******." (The name is fictitious for fear of leaving someone out) Through blogging we share in the triumphs and the challenges of one another's life. I can say it is truly a joy to know each of them. Many of those listed under "Daily Haunts" in the right-hand column of my blog I classify as friends, if you haven't already, check them out.

Let me tell you what my friend, Peggy, from Oregon did. She went and nominated me for the title of "Rockin Girl Blogger." How cool is that? How exceptionally sweet is it? It deeply touched me, really!!!!! To tell you the truth I'm not sure how this works. Does my nomination go before the "Academy" for vote? Is it like the Nobel Peace Prize, do I get to go to some cool place to accept? Am I going to be sought after for articles and interviews so I can exhibit my wit, intelligence and exceptional knitterlieness? Yeah, I know I'm getting carried away, particular with that last one. Whatever the case, I'll get to strut this button on my blog. How cool!!!!!
Thank you my dear friend, Peggy!!!

On another note, I took part in Spindle and Wheel's Fiber Frenzy Swap. The pal I got to send yummy fibers to was Beth. Well, today I received a thank you package. Beth sent me some absolutely gorgeous Jagger Spun Zephyr, 50% Merino/50% Tussah Silk. It is a total of 1260 yards of a yummy to die for rose colored lace weight yarn. I can't wait to make a beautiful shawl out of it and it shall be named my "Beth Shawl." Thank you so very much Beth. Check out her shop's site, The Spinning Loft.

Do You Believe In UFO's?

I mean, really, do you believe in UFOs? I know that throughout the world there have been sightings for years and years, possibly for centuries. Oh, they probably called them something different back then but a UFO by any other name is still a UFO. I am doing my part to dispel the UFO myth. In the past couple of weeks there have been fewer and fewer sightings in my neck of the woods. How about yours? Now, there are some UFO's that will never go away. Not in my lifetime. I just make sure they are buried so far below the surface that they won't be seen until I'm dead and gone. I'll leave those uglies for my children to sort through. Who knows, either they or their children might find them beautiful and make some sort of great piece of art to grace their home with. And you know what I'll do? I'll roll over in my grave. Maybe all untamed UFOs should be destroyed so they can never come back to haunt you.

I'm chugging right along, producing more FOs. I just finished the Rose/Grey Basic Rib socks I was making out of Austermann's Step. This is a wonderfully soft yarn and the sockies are so cozy. Too bad they aren't for me.j :(

I just cast on the Bellatrix socks. These are going to be so funky. They actually look, well you will just have to go look at 'em. I'm using this yarn. I did order me some of those gorgeous needles. I can't wait to get them. I also order the yarn to make this Tomten for Aaron. Except he wants it around knee length. And I ordered the yarn to make this for a wedding gift for Matthew and Sara. She knows I'm up to something, she goes through the house picking up this pattern and that asking "And what is this for?" Or she sees my swatches for the stole KALs coming up and asks the same question. I'm going to have to work on it while she is at work if I want it to be a surprise.

And lastly but certainly not leastly -------- IT RAINED YESTERDAY AND IS TODAY AS WELL!!!!!!!

Progress, Buggies & Paying It Forward

Friends!!!! Let me tell you about progress, right here in corvette country. Progress with a capital P that rhymes with T that stands for Triumph!!!!

Yes sirree, we are talking about progress. I finished my Maggie's Felt Tote by Fiber Trends and I just love it. It is huge but not so deep you can't see the bottom making it difficult to dig out the very thing you are looking for. :)

I've also made progress on my Fawkes socks.

I've spent quite a bit of time over on Ravelry getting my projects, stash and needles/hooks info entered and updated. I have been researching a couple patterns over there as well. You will see them sometime soon I am sure. Oh, I know you will. I can't hardly wait to get some of these things OTN but I am restraining myself for a bit. Don't you find it is interesting what the definition of "a bit" is? You know, it could be months, weeks, days or even minutes. I can't start on these things, the yarn hasn't come in from Knit Picks, so there. Restraint has nothing to do with it. Happy? (OMG, just as I was fixin the link over there I looked, go look at those new needles!!!!!! Gotta have 'em.)

A friend of mine, Joanne Seiff, who has many patterns in print with various knitting magazines or yarn companies just released the cutest set of patterns. When I saw them I knew I just had to have 'em. Aren't they the cutest little things you ever did see? Here is where you can purchase your very own set of these buggie patterns.

One of my "Daily Haunts" is Sonya's blog, In the Skein of Things. While checking it out I saw this and wanted to take part in it. If you notice the quotation marks around the paragraph below, it is because I decided why re-invent the wheel. Sonya had said it so nicely I just stole her words. So here is what you do.

"This is the "Pay It Forward" exchange, based on the concept of the movie where acts of kindness are done without expecting anything in return...just passing it on, with the hope that the recipients of your kind acts will pass it along to someone else. Here's how it works: I will make and send a handmade gift to the first 3 people who leave a comment to this post on my blog requesting to join this PIF exchange. I don't know what the gift will be yet, and it won't be sent this month and maybe not next month either, but it will be sent within 6 months and that's a promise! (Now that is her promise, you will receive a handmade gift from me, but let's not put a date on it okay? Alright already, within 6 months.) What you have to do in return then is "pay it forward" by making the same promise on your blog. I think this will be great. You never know when someone needs a pick me up. I can tell ya it is really wonderful to find something in the mail that brightens your day. Ok, who will be first, don't be shy.And whether or not you are playing this game, why not pay it forward in real life and do a random act of kindness to someone this week? Amen"

So ...........................Let's Get It On!!!!!

EXTRA, EXTRA READ ALL ABOUT IT!!!!! Do not forget to tell me in your comment whether or not you are game for the Pay It Forward thingy. Just because you see more than three comments, it doesn't mean I have three participants. And send me an email with your address and info. peggy dot sturgeon at insightbb dot com

Pssssst, Wanna Know A Secret?

Well, we will all have to wait some time for this secret. I finished the swatch for the Secret of Chrysopolis set to begin Sept 29, 07. Which as many of you know, is giving me time to turn some UFOs into FOs. Slowly but surely. :) Below is a pic of the swatch and also two pics of the yarn. I love this yarn and I love the color. Knit Picks Shadow in Campfire Heather. But, as you will note, it is difficult capturing the true color in photographs. It really depends on what type and how the light hits it.

She Did WHAT????

First a pic of the swatch I knitted up and blocked for the Secret of the Stole. I think it will turn out nicely.

Okay, I told you I'd tell you something funny. Well, to me it is funny and I wonder how many people this kind of stuff happens to. You know I am an extreme extrovert, I made that point clear in this post. Well, last Friday I went to Wal-Mart to do some grocery shopping. I really hate grocery shopping, I mean I really hate it. If I wasn't facing mutiny on the Sturgeon I would possibly never go. Anyways, there I was in the check out line minding my own business. When I looked behind me there was this little old lady, obviously either an extreme extrovert or a total lune. She picked up one of the tabloids that had a picture of some star's butt, you know showing all the cellulite. This star was wearing a swimsuit that has one of those scarf like wraps. The lune pointed at it and said, "I think maybe she should have pulled that down more don't you?" I laughed and said yeah. Outside it sounded like 'yeah', kinda light and free. But on the inside it sounded like Gil Favor from Raw Hide, 'ye....aaaaaaaaaaaaaaah." (I loved that show as a kid, it is the reason I eat dried beans today!!!!! SEE PREVIOUS POST)

Well, she then began to touch her hair and said "I just got my hair cut, you think it looks okay?". "Sure," said I, "I thought it looked like it had been styled, it looks very nice." "Do you think I should color it?" said the lune. Her hair is a very pretty silver. "Naw, I like it like it is, I've thought about letting mine go natural but my gray isn't as pretty as yours." "Well, you don't look old enough to have gray hair honey," says the wicked weirdo. "Oh," blushing me says, "I'm fifty, I'm plenty old for gray hair." Out of no where, she slaps me right on the butt and says "Don't you lie to me!!!!" Yep, right there in checkout lane #9 at Wal-Mart on Campbell Lane, Bowling Green, KY, I'm accosted by a little old lady.

About that time the checkout girl says, "Ma'am you can go to lane 10, she is empty." As little miss psycho walks by me she stops and says, "I was waiting on a compliment myself, I'm 74." I said, "No!!!!, I can't believe that, you sure don't look 74!!!!" I think God understands those kind of lies. She says, "Oh, you are just saying that cause I said that to you." I says, "No, you look very nice for 74, but I'm not going to slap you on the butt!!!!" Said lune turns to me and says, "You ain't gonna turn me in are you?"

I don't know folks. Does this kind of stuff happen to everybody? Maybe extreme extrovertism is the same thing as lunacy.

Rawhide

I love Rawhide, I love Gil Favor, if it wasn't for Rawhide I wouldn't be a dried bean eater today!!!!

Turning Curses Into Blessings

I think I told you that after the MS3 craze I ordered Victorian Lace Today and purchased enough lace weight to last for some time. And I began working on a beautiful stole out of the book, Beginner Sampler, pg. 58. It was going fairly well. I had to learn a new cast on. A lace cast on. After perusing several examples in the book I decided on the crocheted cast on thingy. For me it just seemed the simplest. Got it going just fine. After about the 10th row I realized that my stitch count was off. This is about the place the "curses" came into play. No biggee. I took a couple deep breaths, screamed at anyone who attempted to talk to me and began tinking back.

I put it away for the night. Picked it back up the next morning and tinked a little further. Cool, things going okay. I can handle this. I will not be defeated, hell can't hold me down!!!! Put it down to do something in the kitchen and I got waylaid messing with email. Out of the corner of my right eye I could see a little figure gleefully jumping. Gleefully jumping and gleefully tossing something up in the air over and over again. I figured Katie Scarlet had gotten into some of my stash and was playing catch. She never does that, but ya know it has been one hot summer. Who knows what those temps do to mess with our hormones and such. I gotta funny story to tell ya, but I'll wait.

I go into the bedroom and what does she have? Initially I thought she had gotten the second ball of Knit Picks Alpaca Cloud, you know the ball I wasn't using. The ball that wasn't connected to the lace in progress. Then I noticed the ball looked like two balls. So I thought she had for some strange unknown reason gotten both the working ball and the second ball of yarn. You know, maybe the alpaca stirred up some primordal something or other in that little yorkie mind of her's. Of course, with me screaming like a banshee and flailing my arms around like a windmill she takes off underneath the bed. What I find is, it is only one ball. It is the working ball pulled apart so it looked like two and many, many, many stitches had been pulled off the needles. Well, CURSES!!!! I pulled the remaining stitches off, pulled out the ball winder and the swift. I very slowly and painstakingly untangled the freakin ball and rewound it. I've not knitted with cobweb weight, but people if it is thinner than this stuff it has to be like a spider's web.

But ya know what. It has actually been a blessing. I decided to use the time between now and the end of September, that is when the Secret of the Chrysopolis begins, and the first of October, when the Secret of the Stole begins, to turn some UFOs to FOs. I have had good success. I've finished Aaron's Satchel, the Jaywalker socks and the Rust "Basic Rib" socks. Pretty good huh? Turning curses into blessings!!!!








Oh yeah, I got my yarn in for the two KALs I mentioned above. For the Secret of the Chrysopolis I chose Knit Picks' Shadow, 100% Merino, in Campfire Heather. And for the Secret of the Stole I chose Knit Picks' Shadow, 100% Merino, in Lost Lake Heather and these Czech Glass Beads, size 6 in Teal Rainbow Mix.







Maybe next post I'll tell you the funny story. I think stuff like this only happens to me.

Christmas Bells Are Ringing!!!!

I've joined another swap. This one is "Christmas Around the World Knitters Swap." Sounds like fun huh? I love Christmas and all the trimmings. With this group we get a swap partner, duh!!!! And follow these guidelines of what to send.

1. Something to knit from (enough yarn for 1 skein/small project)

2. Something to knit with

3. Something hand knitted by you

4. Something for the taste

5. Something for the soul

6. Something to hang on the Christmas Tree

Below is the questionnaire we are to answer and post on our blog.

1. Are you religious? I am a Christian, yes.

2. How long have you been knitting? Would you consider yourself a Beginner, Intermediate or Advanced? I learned to knit when I was 9 but didn't begin to be obsessed with knitting until about four years ago. Hmmm, I am probably Intermediate or somewhere between Intermediate and Advanced.

3. Do you have any other hobbies besides knitting? Yes, I spin. I can also sew, crochet, needlepoint, cross stitch, etc., etc.

4. Favorite color(s)? Black, greens & corals mainly. But I love most all colors but not usually pastels.

5. Do you collect anything? Besides yarn and such, I love anything French and chickens and roosters.

6. Are you allergic to any fibers or animals? No.

7. Do you have any pets? Yes, one Yorkshire Terrier, Katie Scarlet.

8. Coffee, Tea, or Hot Chocolate? Yes, yes and yes. I am a coffee lover most of all but I also enjoy hot tea.

9. Cookies or Sweets? Yes.

10. Do you knit socks? Absolutely addicted to sock knitting.

11. If not socks then what? (tell us about your favorite knits) I just started knitting lace and I love that. Plus, felted satchels, sweaters, just about everything.

12. Do you put up a Christmas tree? If not then what do you do? Yes, I love putting our Christmas Tree. Usually I put the tree up Thanksgiving weekend, the last weekend in November.

13. Favorite holiday treats? Chocolate Covered Cherries

14. Favorite holiday smells? Baking sweets, cinnamon, nutmeg, coffee

15. Do you celebrate Christmas in a traditional or unconventional way? Please elaborate. I celebrate Christmas in a traditional manner. We have lots of family get togethers with lots of food. I was raised by my Aunt, Nanny (84). She couldn't have children of her own so my entire marriage, 30 years now, we go to her house on Christmas Eve and spend the night to have Christmas present opening at her house. Even now with my three children grown, we all go, some of us in beds some on couches and some on the floor. It isn't Christmas without being at Nanny's Christmas morning and her frying bacon, sausage and eggs for us with her very strong coffee.

16. What are your favorite holiday traditions? Baking cookies with my daughter, Sara. Visiting family.

17. Finish the sentence: “For me Christmas is all about....” FAMILY

18. If you were a Christmas ornament you would be…….? Ballerina

19. What was your favorite gift you've ever received? Or given? Received - Small diamond earrings from my husband. Given - A Hand Painted Nativity set given to my Mother.

20. When do you start your Christmas? As far as decorating, the last weekend of November.

21. Do you send Christmas cards? Do you make them or buy them? I do not send them.

22. What is your favorite Christmas dish? I love fruit cake.

23. Carolers are at your door. What do you do? Run for the gun!!!! NO!!!! Stand on the porch until they are finished and then clap and thank them.

24. When do you open presents? Christmas eve or Christmas morning? Christmas morning.

25. Do you celebrate with family or friends or both? Primarily family.