Just a quick post to say that I have been knitting, I promise. I just can’t find the cord for my camera, so I don’t have pictures to prove it. I found my knitting mojo over the weekend, as Shawn had to work and the only thing I had to do was laundry. So, the girls and I watched a few movies we had in the dvr queue, and my fingers found their knitting groove.  I am just about finished with the back of my St. Brigid, I have just a few rows to go to finish the last repeat. Once I get the back finished, I think I’ll use the same tactic that I used on Shawn’s sweater, and knit the sleeves before I knit the front. And, in my spare time I have been working out on my Wii Fit Plus, walking laps on the dock with one of the other girls in the office, and planning the fabric purchase for the wedding gowns. Oh, and I have been planning an outfit for the Old West Festival I just found out about. We can got this year, but not in costume as it’s too close to the wedding, and I’ll have enough sewing to do. But, it’s never too soon to start planning next years costume. Ok, back to debating if I want to brave the snow storm for lunch, or starve and knit instead.

For anyone who doesn’t know, I’m getting married in October, and I have gotten more than a little plush. I have been gearing up to start my work outs again, I have been (trying) to watch what I eat, and have been designing my wedding dress. So, in the natural order of things, having bought a Wii for the family at Christmas, I decided I wanted to get a Wii Fit Plus to help whip me into shape. I figured that I would shop Amazon a major online, discount retailer for the best deal. Now, before Christmas I saw that it was on sale for about $85. Know that things get cheaper after the holidays and during tax season, I figured I would wait. Last night I decided to check up on it to see what it going for. Low and behold, I found that it was going to $79.95. I was practically jumping for joy. I thought, ok if it’s still that price on Friday, I’ll jump all over. This morning I check on it, and it was going for $149.99. REALLY???? I was floored. How could the price jump that much over night? And talking to my SIL in Dayton about this, she stated that the computer hardware site that her husband uses, does the exact same thing. Apparently, it’s a trend in the business now, to keep the consumer on their toes and guessing. Well, the only thing it’s going to make me do is shop else where. At that rate, I’ll just walk into my local video game store and have instant gratification for the full retail value of $99.95 + tax. Then, I didn’t have to pay shipping and handling, and wait for 5 to 7 business days for it to arrive. (Ends rant and steps down off of soap box.)

Anywho! I have been busy with planning the wedding, and that really helps, as my knitting mojo has escaped, again. I am offering a small monetary reward for whom ever finds said mojo. As for the wedding plans, we have narrowed it down to 2 venues, I have changed my mind on my dress (after buying 20 yds of fabric for the original design), and have started planning all the brides maids dresses. Soon, we will be ordering the fabric wholesale, and we’ll be able to start sewing our hearts out. We have also been planning dresses for this year’s Regency Picnic, and I have been shopping for fabric samples. Let’s just say that JoAnn Fabrics has been my best friend this past week, and I’ll be visiting again this Saturday morning. Maybe all the wedding and sewing plans scared my mojo away? It could happen.

Happy Knitting! (& Sewing)

Just my luck, huh? A new year and I have already been sick for 90% of it. Then, just to add insult to injury, on the way home from my mom’s last night, I met a particularly vicious pot hole. I take that back roads from my mom’s (who lives in a semi-rural area), because it’s quicker, and with a lot less traffic lights. Last night, as I came around a curve, a car coming at me was slightly over the middle line. Just to make sure he didn’t get too close to me, I leaned toward the shoulder. Little did I know that this vicious pot hole had taken up residents there. As soon as I hit it, I knew I had a flat. I automatically hit my hazard lights, and told the girls that it was a flat. I pulled over on to the edge, once I was in the straight away. I got out and looked, and sure enough, the front passenger tire was off the rim. That pot hole got me good! So, I called for road side assistance, and settled in for the 45 minute wait. Once the tire changing service got there, he walked over and said, “You need this back tire changed, right?” I told him no, it was the front tire. He looked again, and told me that the back one was flat, too, I had to have a flat bed tow truck to get me out of there. So, I thanked him and called for a tow truck. Yep, both tires on that side were done for. It takes a tremendous amount of talent to flatten 2 tires at once, so that makes me uber talented. This was at about 7:45, I hit the pot hole at 6:45. When ordeal was finally done, the flat bed tow truck dropped us off at 9:30 in front of our house. Luckily, Shawn had the day off today, and pulled both tires off the car and took them over to the tire shop. I met him there, after work (Thanks, Miss Amy, for the ride to and from work! Love Ya!). Thank the Heavens that the warranty was still good on my tires. However, the front rim was toast! I kinda figured it would be, that pot hole was mean. So, a new rim and the warranty cost on the 2 new tires set me back about $80 dollars. I love my tire shop, they are the best.

So, other than all the excitement, I have been planning my herb garden for this spring. I have been looking to see what I want to plant, but my list is way bigger than my time and wallet this year. So, I’ll start off with what I can, and add more each year until I get it where I want it. I’ll be planting my usual herbs (spearmint, sage, dill, rosemary and such), and I’ll be adding a lot of medicinal herbs (burdock, fever few and such). My great-grandfather would be proud. It seems that I am the only one to follow in his foot steps with the medicinal herbs. I can’t wait for spring!

As for knitting, I started a small shawlette on New Year’s Eve to keep my fingers busy, but since I have been sick, I haven’t touched it. I’ll post pics as soon as I find my camera cord, the Pixies have taken it again. I thought we had reached a deal, but I apparently haven’t been keep up with the cookie payment plan. Guess I’ll have to bake some this weekend so I can get my cord back. lol.  Anyway! Off to read my book. Happy Knitting!

In our school district, all after school activities and sports were cancelled, due to a levy that failed, again, and again, and again. Because it didn’t pass in the spring, they cancelled everything for the up coming school year, and placed it back on the ballot for August. It failed, again. This same levy was turned down time after time for over 4 years. When it did not pass in August, not only did they not give back sports and other activities, they took the buses from the high school students. For me, the buses where not an issue, as I have to pass Katie’s high school on my route to work. But, it put a lot of other parents in some sticky spots. This must have done the trick, as they place it back on the ballot for November, and it finally passed. Since it passed, the band finally got to march (after missing an entire football season). This evening, they  marched in one of the local Holiday Parades. I got some really good video, thanks to one of the cops directing traffic. When I eased up to talk to her, I asked if I had to turn around. She said that I could park right where I was, and help her by blocking traffic. It was awesome! Here is the Youtube video I posted. Enjoy!:

Where has this year gone? It seems like we were just moving into the new house, I blinked and it’s December. I haven’t been able to get much knitting done in the past few weeks. We have been finishing up the garage so we can park in it, and getting things ready for Shawn’s dad to visit. We got the tree up on Monday, with the lights on, we just didn’t decorate it until this evening. Here is what it looks like this year:

Christmas Tree 2009

We got out the Menorah. It’s sitting on the bar, waiting for December 11th at sundown:

Our Menorah

And, as we were moving the kitchen table so we would have room between the table and the tree, this is what I found:

A dead sock

That would a Valentine Lace Sock made in Lorna’s Lace Tickled Pink.  The cuff was destroyed. If that was all that needed repaired, I might be willing to attempt it, but he also ripped out the front of the ankle area. Such a naughty dog! Now, I have to find some more of this color way to make another pair, as these were one of my favorites.

Oh, and one last thing, I saw that there was blog give-a-way over here. Check it out.

This week, Katie brought her Competition band uniform home. She tried it on for me, so I could see how much I had to take up the hem on the pants. The first question out of my mouth was, “Are you going to attend Star Fleet Academy?” Here is what it looks like:

Katie's Competition uniform

 

It looks so close to the uniforms from Next Generation. In the words of my dear SIL, “Oh. My. Spock.” There were Star Trek references used all evening. Phrases like, “Make it so, Number One”. And here is another version of this photo, courtesy of my niece:

 

The latest Star Fleet grad

My niece is great with photo shop. lol. I haven’t got to see the “Friday Night” marching uniform, which she says looks much better. But, besides that, I have been knitting when I have time and motivation. Here is proof:

 

St. Brigid - in progress

Besides the knitting, I have been doing some hand sewing. I have been adding glass beads to the Medieval corsage I made last summer:

 

Medieval corsage

I have been beading it in patterns, so I don’t get bored with it. And I have been planning new costume projects. The next thing I may work on is a Regency Ball gown made from lavender broad cloth with an over lay of ivory lace:

 

Fabric for Regency Ball gown

 

Yesterday morning, I had a bad scare. Before we go to bed, we put Jaxx to bed in the laundry room, that’s his room. When I go up yesterday morning, this is what I found:

 

Total destruction!

The night before, he wasn’t put to bed. Being the puppy that he still is, he tore up a half a basket of sock yarn. What I didn’t know was that there was a small bag of buckeyes half way down in the basket, real ones, not candy.Yes, I was angry with him about the yarn, and scolded him for it. What I didn’t see until I put on my glasses, was the buckeyes that he chewed up and may have ate. I didn’t know what to do. I know they are toxic to dogs, and I don’t have any money to take him to the animal hospital. The only thing I could do was watch him for signs of a reaction. I was so upset that I cried all the way to work, off and on during the morning, and all the way back to the house at lunch to check on him. Thank the Heavens that it didn’t affect him in any way. He’s a lucky boy! It even made me forget about what he did to my yarn, since I’ll be able to eventually untangle it all and re-ball it. So, in parting, here’s a pic of my lucky dog that we affectionately call “Witless the Wonder Mutt.”

 

Jaxx, aka Mr. Lucky or Witless the Wonder Mutt

 

 

 

Well, that’s it for tonight. Happy Knitting & Sewing!

 

 

 

 

 

After suffering a bout of the flu (not swine flu), I have gotten back to knitting. Which makes me happy, as I had ordered the yarn for my St. Brigid several days before I was struck down. Then, to add insult to injury, my yarn arrived just when I was feeling the worst of it. All I could manage to do was stare at it. But, after surviving, I was able to return to work (after a week), and was able to cast on.  And, just to finish a languishing project, I finished Shawn’s Fancy Gentleman’s Socks, making pair # 8 for the year (way behind where I wanted to be):

Shawn's Fancy Gentleman's Socks

It’s a little blurry, sorry, but I was taking the pic from half way across the room, still feeling on the lazy side. I have managed to get in several rows over the past few nights, here is my St. Brigid so far:

St. Brigid

 

I even get to use my pretty size 7 KP Options tips with this one. I’m just too sure about the Options straight cable needle, with the little notches. Not too sure if I’m liking that. Maybe if it wasn’t so new, and the edges of the notches were a little worn. I’ll post back about that later.

And on the sewing front, I have decided to finish a medieval corsage that I started last year for the Great Lakes Medieval Faire, but didn’t get to complete, and didn’t wear in it’s half finished state. So, I picked it up the other day, tacked on the braided trim, and have started tacking the black glass beads to the crosses in the quilted outer cover. Take a peek:

medieval corsage

This one goes to a deep wine colored gown, that I also didn’t wear. I have every intention to, but after trudging around the first day, in the sweltering heat, I was not about to kill myself with heat exhaustion. I opted for jeans and a t shirt. Once I get this finished, I may decide to make a cloth belt that matches the dress, with an embroidered trim. Any who! Back to working on Brigid while watching the movie Clue, for the second time this evening. Happy Knitting! (and sewing!)