Need inspiration?

I have you covered! Check out all this good stuff!

Really cute summer tank pattern here.

I am so tempted to join this. (I really have to control myself here. Like I don't have enough to do already.)
But it looks so fun.
But you don't need another project.
But it is spinning and knitting and lace.
But when would you have time?
Well...maybe I could make time.
STOP RIGHT NOW! Do not say one more word.
But..
NO, I SAID NOT ONE MORE!

(Umm, did you guys hear those voices too? Or is it just me? Just checkin.)

Ooooh check this out too. It is the coolest color scheme thingy.

A blog I have been enjoying lately. Ahhh....lace.

My friend Cath inspires us all to be better people in this post. Go read it, it's well worth it.

Oh, I also got the new Debbie Macomber book "Back on Blossom Street" in the mail this week. Review coming soon.

Have a fibery good day people!

Monkeying Around

Yeah, I have been doing this and that. And yeah that too. Keeping busy, doing a little bit of nothing. However, I have been literally "monkeying".

I started a pair of Monkey socks for my mom. I like them......um.....now. See first, they looked like this.

(yes I know that is the most horrible picture ever) Anyway, see that evil pooling? It was hideous! I went through all my gusset decreases before I decided that I could not live with that. So I ripped back to the leg and put in a shortrow heel. I like it much better now. It currently looks like the first picture. Hehe, no pooling! Yay! (it is so funny, but I am just tickled that the cable of my needle actually matches this yarn perfectly...dork, I know)

I received the most wonderful package of yarnie love from a good friend of mine this week. Just look at the haul!

Oh yeah, that will keep me busy for a while. The girls just love some of these yarns. I think I will have to make them some socks! Thanks my friend! Bunches and bunches. Oooh, I have more packages to blog about too, but I will save those for another day.

I've been on a bit of a baking kick this week. Brownies, muffins and then I made this delicious looking strawberry pie today. Yumm, I can't wait for dessert!

I will share if you can get here by 7pm or so.

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This is my little monkey:

Pulling a silly face. Awww...I just want to smooch those cheeks some more.

Changes

I'm playing with my blog a little. I have known for a while that it is really hard for some people to read, but I didn't have the time to mess with it. Hopefully in the next few days I will have it all fixed. Boy I stink at this. I want to be techie, but I don't really think I have it in me. I know what I want the blog to look like, I just don't know how to do it. My email me link in the sidebar still works if you have any advice for me. Or you can leave a comment. Thanks for being patient while I get it all worked out.

Eye candy for the people who are only here for the pics ;)

The Sporty One snagged this pic of a beautiful butterfly on my lilac tree the other day. I love it!

Got your ripple on?

Have you caught the bug? Have you been able to resist? Are you getting your ripple on yet? I know I am.

These things are so addicting. This past week I was having some major hand pain. All that basket carrying in the greenhouse really did my hands in. I am beginning to think I have a little bit of arthritis in them. They were so swollen and sore, I couldn't even stand to knit (not even while popping large quantities of Aleve). Crocheting didn't bother me as much, so I took out the ripple. I did quite a few rows and it is really looking nice now. I would love to do one of these for each of my girls, if they don't want to make one for themselves.

If you think you might want to ripple, there is a lot of inspiration here, and the pattern I am using is here. They are sooooo fun, just ask Opal. (HeHe....The ripple got her too.)

One more week of soccer.....YAY!!!!!!!! I should be done in the greenhouse soon too, my hands are really hoping so. I have one more busy week, and then maybe things will slow down around here a little bit. I couldn't be happier.

What would you do if you had an extra copy of a really hard to find book? Like say, this one.

Tagged

I have been tagged by Opal for the 7 Random Facts Meme. The rules are simple. Each person gives 7 random facts about themselves on their blog. Then they tag 7 others and leave a note on their blogs.

1. I am a junk food junkie. I rarely eat healthy foods. I like healthy things, I think about eating them, but I never actually do. I need to get in the habit of making healthy choices, but it is just so hard when things like chocolate, cookies, cake, candy and Diet Coke etc. are out there. I even eat junk food for breakfast. Horrible. I know.


2. I absolutely detest going to the dentist. I avoid it like the plague. I would rather see my OB/GYN than go to the dentist. Yes, really.


3. I have a couple of small phobias. I get very uncomfortable in small spaces or crowded areas. If I cannot move about freely, I get claustrophobic. I am also very weird about germs. Shopping carts and public restrooms especially gross me out. I flush with my foot, and try as hard as possible to avoid touching the door handles. Ewww. Oh, feet gross me out too.

4. I am a very good whistler. I whistle a lot, though I rarely realize I am doing it. I have been complimented many times in public by total strangers about my whistling. Haha, I even have vibrato.

5. I got married when I was only 18 and my husband is almost 9 years older than I am.

6. My grandma was my best friend through most of elementary school. I would always hang out with her rather than kids my age. To this day I like older people.

7. I am very afraid of snakes and spiders. I can't even look at pet snakes. If I find a spider in the house, I put the long end on the vacuum and sweep it up. I can't even kill them, shiver.

You know, it's a little hard to think of 7 random things about yourself that you have never mentioned before. I had already used my Diet Coke addiction and only being able to sleep on the left side of the bed, so coming up with 7 more was tough for me. I hope I didn't bore you to death lol.

Ok, if they're willing, I tag Amy, Cath, Jeanie, Harriet, Trek, Alison, and anyone else who wants to try. (finding 7 people to tag isn't the easiest thing either, when it is late in the game like this)

It's a love/hate thing

Secrets. I love them, yet I hate them. Secret knitting. Fun yet frustrating. Wanting to share, yet not being sure if I should. I have been playing a little. The design bug has taken a chunk out of my behind. It bit me hard I tell ya! Currently lace has me in it's clutches.

Don't ya just love it?

Just laying there, being it's gorgeous self. Simple yet lovely. Ahhhh..

And another one:

Eventually I might share...YAY!!!! Just let me work the patterns out. Sorry to be such a tease. Well, not really. I've been bursting to tell everyone. It's just so much fun!

In family news: The kids are doing well in school. The Sport One's soccer team is undefeated so far this season, and she has been asked to play up at JV level for a few games. Fun stuff. The Musical One was excited to sing at the MSVMA Solo and Ensemble Recital last Friday. Only a few choirs in the state are invited to this and it's a great honor to be asked. They did very well, it sounded beautiful. The Monkey is just being his naughty little self. Ahh...the joys of being 8. I am still working. Last week was crazy. This week I had yesterday and today off. I caught up on laundry and worked on my new designs. Hubby is putting in major hours at work. We are like two ships passing in the night. I can't wait for June. May is such a killer.

Free Pattern Alert

Well if you would like the Periwinkle socks pattern, you can now find it here. I wrote the pattern for Crystal Palace and knit them with their Panda Cotton yarn. There is one typo in the pattern as I write this. Near the end, in the toe decrease section, it should say until there are 12 stitches remaining, NOT 11. Susan will probably have it corrected very soon, so if you get there and it already says 12, then it is already corrected. I hope you enjoy it!

Well I am off to work again. My body hurts so bad all over! I could almost cry lol. Yesterday at the greenhouse, my partner and I moved, watered, bagged and loaded around 900-1000 hanging baskets. Yikes! That makes for some sore muscles. I am sure it will be the same today. Then after work I have to make a pasta dish for The Sporty One's soccer team. Yay! (not) Wish me strength.......

Sniff, cough

That is me. I am sick. My throat is killing me and I feel like total crud. Crud!

I have done very little knitting. I have the second periwinkle sock to the heel flap. I hope to make some progress this weekend. The pattern might be available if I can get it written up.

I have been doing a little designing. I will show you when I can.

I am sorry if I haven't been commenting on your blogs. Between working, being sick, and attending all the kids' activities, I have really slacked on that. I really appreciate each and every comment you leave for me too! One of these days I will get a blog with better commenting features, so I can respond to each of you personally.

Blog crawl anyone? Here are a few of my favorite blogs to visit. Check them out.

the Akamai Knitter - Opal, my friend from Hawaii, can sure knit some socks and shawls! Oh, and her kitties are so cute!

CrazyAuntPurl - Yeah I know, everyone reads her.

Esotarika - Great knitting and sewing here!

Knit, Spin, Teach - Amy just finished a great looking shawl, and I love her to pieces!

Just Jeanie - The woman is a sock designing wizard I tell ya!

Knittin' Notes - Cath is a good friend and a great dyer! Go Mama Llama!

Maia Spins - You all know how much I love to read Maia lol!

Loves to Bike and Knit - JennyRaye is so sweet and you will find lots of inspiration there!

nonaKnits - Check out that rockin' doily!

spindyeknit - Alison gifts more knits than anyone I know. She also has a book coming out!

Stitches of Violet - Marguerite knits the most perfect socks and I love her bird pics.

Strings 'n Things - Ev is a great knitter and designer.

Talullah’s World - Christine has helped me so much with techie stuff. She is a whiz!

Tiennie Knits - Tiennie makes gorgeous everything! Just look at her latest FO's!

The Yarnpath - Robbyn is a thinker. She is always trying new things. She has a great chat too (sorry I haven't been there lately Robbyn).

I will have to give you some more later. I need to go get some work done! Don't worry, I won't give you all 217 of them from my bloglines list. Hugs to everyone! Have a great weekend!