Tami's Blog

Favorite Things

2011-01-14T20:02:00.001-07:00

Part of my goals for the year is to be more regular in posting on the blog. Sometimes I have nothing to write about, but, I do like to have my thoughts, ideas and stuff out there. So, anyway, I watch a couple of children that have recently watched The Sound of Music. Now, I like musicals and Sound of Music is one of the first musicals I remember watching and I loved it. But, one of the kiddos was wandering around yesterday singing A Few of my Favorite Things yesterday and it got me thinking about what my favorite things were. Some were easy to come up with, some were more difficult to choose. The difficult ones fell into 2 camps, either I love so many I couldn't pick or I couldn't come up with a favorite. Something to keep in mind, my fav's change often. Some daily, some seasonally, some when I get a new notion in my head.

Favorite Cookbook

This cookbook is great in the winter, especially when I cannot think of something to make with what is available and fresh!

Favorite Children's Book

This books makes me laugh, end of story, it is hilarious.

Favorite Book

I have always been fascinated by the Salem Witch Trials and I am loving this style of writing that takes you to the past and correlates it to a present story.

Favorite Color

Favorite Movie

I really couldn't think of one, I have lots I like, but not any I thought I loved:) I tend to like cheesy movies, like RomComs and Spoofs:)

Favorite TV Show

Oh, Glee, I am so happy you start again soon, You make me laugh .

Favorite Food

Avocado, yummy. I love you with egg whites and salsa and on a sandwich!

Favorite Magazine

This was hard to pick, I also love Living and Ready Made and Eating Well and Whole Living and .......

Favorite Place to Shop

Target is amazing. I also love thrift stores. Probably my second fav place to shop are thrift stores, most any.

Favorite Restaurant

This is a great local pizza place, the food and the atmosphere are great. I also love Bittercreek Alehouse in Boise and Ricks Press Room in Meridian

Favorite Child

I typed this cause the kids were looking over my shoulder and I wanted to freak them out a little. So, I asked them what they thought the answer was and Hannah points to Anders and Anders says "yeah, I was the most inventive when I was little" (which is the nice way we say that he was a handful). But, I have no favorite. I love Anders for his inventiveness and I love Hannah for her creativity. Which says both of our children are creative, Hannah with her arty crafty stuff and Anders with his sciency building stuff.

Favorite thing in my kitchen

Really, best thing Pampered Chef has ever made!

Favorite Hobby

Ha Ha! my husband (who is my favorite husband) suggested this one, but I love them all. Reading is fun and I love it. But, I also love to create. I can create with knitting, scrapping, sewing, decorating and just general crafting so they are all my favorite. Or maybe I should say my favorite is creating!

Favorite Office Supply

yes, I love to highlight!

Favorite thing that has happened in the last 5 minutes

Hannah said "lets play marriage" to her brother (they are in the dramatic play center) and when she said marriage it sounded just like the priest from Princess Bride. "mawagge." he he.

Well, there you go. I wonder if Julie Andrews could do my favorites justice:

Highlights on paper and Real Simple in the mail

Target and Cheese knifes in my kitchen

Flatbread Community Oven to eat,

these are a few of my favorite things.

Avocado and Cheesy Musicals

Turquoise and Seasonal Food

Rhyming Dust Bunnies read to small children

These are a few of my favorite things

Anders, Hannah and that favorite Husband

Creating and Making lots of fun

Thrift Stores full of deals galore

These are a few of my favorite things

When the dog bites

When the bee stings

When I'm feeling sad

I simply remember my favorite things

And then I don't feel so bad

PS, dear Julie Andrews, sorry I butchered this song so much, but, it was fun (and maybe a new favorite thing)

New Year Update

2011-01-07T14:13:00.000-07:00

The lest year was busy, hence the lack of posts. So, since I didn't get a Christmas Letter out, but I did get some photo cards out, I thought I would do a little update on the blog.

This year brought lots of changes, the childcare is going strong and we have had a few families leave, always sad, and a few new families join, always a new adventure. As part of the last year we have been working on a new program, the QRIS (Quality Rating and Improvement System) . It is a lot of work and a lot is expected for a quality program -- which we have always been -- but the QRIS gives us some expected guideline, which I like! That has kept us super busy and super excited about what we are doing. Also, I have gone back to school, again, and for the last time, to finish my degree. It looks like I will be graduating with my AAS in Fall of 2012. I plan to go onto get my BAS, but I have no idea when I will graduate with that degree. The Childcare also received a grant to pay for a huge Outdoor Learning Environment, which was a HUGE blessing and a HUGE amount of work to complete.

Anders is getting big, almost as tall as me, and I am sure will be taller than me in a few years, eek. He is doing great in school and will begin guitar lessons in a few weeks with his Pops (super excited he is about it). Hannah is still tiny and precious (when she wants) 3rd grade is always a hard year and I am ready for her to find out how more mellow 4th grade is when it comes to drama. Both the kidlets have joined 4-H this year. Hannah in the Rabbit project and Anders in the Cavy Project. They are enjoying it a ton and have learned a lot! Anders is still in Scouts, a Webelo Scout, and seems to enjoy that as well.

Larry's book is still out there and still for sale. It seems to be slowly getting sales and he did enjoy being an author. He still works with me and, I think, he enjoys the days! He still runs with the HHH and does lots of other things to occupy his time. He recently became interested in fishing and I am sure the family will be doing many finishing trips this spring and summer.

I, I have been busy! Childcare, School, Scouts, 4-H, kids school and all the other duties (such as laundry, cleaning, cooking, menu planning) that come with being a wife and mother. I am really enjoying school and cannot believe how much I am learning.

We had a great Christmas -- everything was homemade! It was so fun finding this to make for everyone and so fun getting things the kids and Larry made for me! I think homemade means so much more -- at least is feels that way.

As for this year we have lots going on again! We should finish the QRIS in the spring with a 4 star rating out of 5 (hopefully) and I will be in school and have my last 60 lbs to loose, the kids will continue with their activities and I will continue with crafting and coming up with some more homemade gifts for next year, Larry will continue with all his fun and learn lots about finishing! We have decided to do Project 365, a year of pictures with a new one everyday! It can be something big, like Christmas, or something small like how my Kitchen Counters look or what we had for dinner. I have had a lot of fun deciding what to take and want to post them each week. As the year goes on, I want Larry and the kidlets to get more involved in the picture taking and have their perspective on the year as well! Here are the First 6 pictures of 2011.

January 1st, Relaxing and Watching Football

January 2nd, Comics, the kids favortie things about Sundays, they read them over and over!

January 3rd, Stuffed Acorn Squash for dinner, it was super yummy.

January 4th, I got my NookColor, thanks to Christmas Money!

January 5th, this is what it feel like I did all day, fold Laundry.

January 6th, Went to Costco, fridge really full:)

I hope you all have a wonderful new year and blessings in whatever you decide to take on this new year!

Photography

2010-10-14T13:44:00.000-06:00

So, a few years ago the hubby and I scored big time on Craigslist. A canon 20D camera with a 50mm and a 75-300mm lens, a bunch of other doohickeys I have no idea what to do with still (filters and whatnot) and a bag for $400, I know total steal. Right now I am looking at purchasing a better lens for what I use our camera for, something along the lines of a 18mm to 75 mm to I have a little more range with my shots!

So for the last 2 years I have used Auto, Auto is/was my best friend until Darcy came along with this little series called "31 Days to a better Picture." I couldn't resist! I have been reading the posts everyday, but I have not had the time to pull out the camera to work on the assignments until today. So most of it was pretty easy and I got it right away! Well, on day 11, Darcy threw us a tough assignment, photograph something in Manual! The ignored M on my camera dial. I have gotten comfortable with the P, AV and the FV. But the M, I was avoiding it. But, the time for avoidance was over. So, I pulled out the tripod and some brownies (to photograph, not to eat, well, I did eat one as a reward!), figured they needed a little color so I dug through the fabric stash, and tada, a somewhat correct manual photo of brownies. Here are the numbers, I don't know how I got these numbers, I just kept tweeking the dials for the shutter speed and Aperture until I found the right combo. As for ISO, I have found that 400 seems to be the best on my camera. So the Aperture was 16 and the Shutter speed was 4 seconds:) Enjoy.

Why am I doing this, besides learning how to take better pictures? I want to be able to take our family photo this year myself! And in order to take the best picture possible, I had to learn what the other side of the dial does!

Thank You Darcy for the awesome information!

Candy Corn Display

2010-10-01T14:06:00.001-06:00

So, Candy Corn is back again! I love how it looks, almost sunny and cheery in the midst of the fall weather. Ok, it is 90 today, but the leaves are changing and it is just fall!

So, With the leftover candy corn from my bracelet and another project, coming soon, I filled my apothecary jar with some goodies and added a little creepiness with some creepy cloth from the dollar store!

Candy Corn

2010-10-01T14:01:00.002-06:00

Someday Crafts host a Categorically Crafting Link every week with a special theme, there is always a really cool theme and lots of great ideas pop in my head after the fact, but this week it pops up in my reader and the theme is Candy Corn! Yes, I have been tossing candy corn crafty ideas around for a few weeks and this was the motivation to get er done!

So the first of a few is this lovely!

I used, candy corn, Black Spray Paint, spray sealer and, the leftover cardboard roll from packing tape! I loved this wreath, but lacking the patience to make it I would just drool over it every time I saw it. When I went through a roll of packing tape and placed the cardboard piece over my hand to keep it from rolling away while I switch rolls out of my tape dispenser, I realized it would make a great chunky bracelet and that with Halloween coming up, I would love a Candy Corn bracelet!

So, step 1: paint your cardboard roll black:

Step 2: Line up your candy corn and using your hot glue gun, glue them on:

Step 3: Seal with some clear sealer to keep the candy corn looking lovely.
Step 4: Wear it with pride:

Another Silhouette Giveaway!

2010-09-24T13:17:00.000-06:00

Here is another Silhouette Giveaway at Twig and Thistle!
I really want to win one of these:)

Stashbusting and so on

2010-09-23T14:01:00.000-06:00

I signed up over here for Stashbusting September. So far there has been little craft doing, but I did clean out the craft space and sell a bunch of stuff over Labor Day weekend. I made $100! Yeah! The down side, 2 days later I got an email telling me about Rehobby. It is a local craft consignment sale, sell your extra crafty items and buys new (used) stuff! I have been selling and buying my kiddos clothes with their partner sale for years, Moppet Togs. I have always spent less than I make on the sale of my kids clothes and I get tons of quality clothing at huge savings!

Anyway, no crafty things yet -- but I have a bunch for Halloween that I am super inspired by -- but I think I need to go through my crafty things one more time and see if I can find more to sell at Rehobby!

Wow! I am honored and awed!

2010-09-21T20:35:00.001-06:00

A picture of the table I built is on THE www.ana-white.com! She said it inspired her! Oh my gosh, she inspires me. So awesome, I am just speechless and a little rambly:)

I built this over Memorial Day Weekend while my hubby was visiting his Mom, all by myself! It is not perfect, but, I made it and I LOVE it. Now to see someone I admire so much was inspired by it is just amazing and totally awesome and wonderful. It is better than the feeling of walking out from taking a test and knowing you aced it. Wow, awesome.

Anyway, here it is, the table built by my own two hands, a drill, a miter saw and some stain:)

Anyway, I originally modified the Modern Farmhouse Table plans to make a square table, now she has posted Square Farmhouse Table plans! The only thing different from mine and hers are the legs, I stayed with the 2 x 6 legs and she made it with 2 x 4's. Other than that, she did the exact same things I did!

After the table was built, I used Minwax Wood Conditioner to pre-treat the wood for the stain and then I applied 3 coats of Minwax Anntique Walnut PolyShades in gloss, yeah for poly and stain in one! In between coats of stain I sanded with a 220 grit sand paper and my palm sander. When I applied the stain I used rags to wipe it on rather than a brush. And the wood is hemlock studs!

That's about all! Thanks Ana for making the plans and being inspired by my table, I truly am so honored!

inspired...

2010-09-20T19:26:00.001-06:00

This totally inspired me today, I feel an amazing project coming on, now I just need to find the pieces!

I won something!

2010-09-20T19:21:00.001-06:00

So awhile ago I won this from Another Lunch! I love this blog, she has some super creative lunch ideas that make it a little more fun to pack the kids school lunches, which I am trying to do more this year since the food the school serves is processed and full of sugar/additives and so on. She was so kind to host this giveaway and I was super excited to win it, I haven't won anything is a LONG time:)

Well, it came in the mail today! I was so excited. I should give a disclaimer to my reviews -- I am a HUGE fan of the Earths Best brand, I buy their products for the kids all the time, we love the Crunchin' Crackers and many other things they make. We buy Organic and Natural products for 90% of our groceries and do not buy a lot of processed foods. I do love Lara Bars and my kids love Clif Bars and the world would be a very sad place if I couldn't get chocolate. But our sugar intake is minimal. In the last few years I have worked super hard and lost 70 pounds, with 50 more to go. I have recently hit a plateau, some because I have gotten so tired of working so hard and some because I really need to change up my work outs and do them more often! I have tried the Peanut Butter we got before, I regularly drink Almond Milk, just another brand, but the rest I have not tried ever. I was given these products free and I don't think they expected me to review them, but I am going to:)

I got a bag of Garden of Eatin' Popped Tortillas, a box of Almond Dream, a box of Health Valley Organic Granola Bars, a jar of MaraNatha No Stir Peanut Butter, Earths Best Organic Snackin' Fruit Hearts -- blueberry flavor, a coupon for a free Earths Best Frozen Entree and a $25 gift Card to Sports Authority.

I have not tried the Almond Dream, it is in the fridge chilling right now, but I do typically buy Almond milk for myself to use on my oatmeal and cream of wheat. Looking at the nutrition facts, it has twice as many calories and LOTS more added sugar than the brand I normally buy. I normally buy unsweetened original flavor Almond Breeze by Blue Diamond. The only reason I buy Almond Breeze is it was the first to make it and the only brand I could find in our area for a long time. Now I have seen the Almond Dream and another one by Pacific, neither of which I have tried.

The first thing we opened to try was the Popped Tortillas -- not a fan! Neither my husband or I like them. They have a funky taste to them. They smell funny. That is about all I can say. They nutritional facts are not bad for a chip product. But, we don't like them.

Then I opened the Granola Bars, wow! Talk about sugar. There is 11 grams of sugar in a 29 gram bar! WOW! and you could totally taste it. It was overwhelmingly sweet, I could not finish my bar, never mind the fakey fruity taste. After I tasted the sugar level of the bar I looked at the ingredients list -- 1. Organic Whole Grains (they then list a blend of grains like rice flour, oats etc). 2. Organic Brown Rice Syrup (Sugar). 3. Organic White Chocolate Coating (first ingredient of that -- Sugar) 4. Organic Evaporated Cain Juice (Sugar again!) a couple more ingredients -- cranberries and such and then ..... Organic Rice Syrup Solids -- more sugar. too much sugar for me. The hubby tried -- too sweet, the kids tried, Princess didn't like them and the boy loved them -- he has a major sweet tooth. For comparison sake, I pulled out our fav bars to eat. Z Bars are the kids favorite -- 36 gram bar has 10 grams of sugar and sugar is the 4th ingredient on the list in the form of brown rice sugar. Kashi TLC Cereal Bars, Blackberry, a 35 gram bar has 9 grams of sugar and Sugar is the 3rd ingredient on the list, again rice syrup. And, Larabar, Pecan Pie is a 45 gram bar with 18 grams of sugar, but the ingredients are Dates, Pecans and Almonds -- no added sugar!

Now the Peanut Butter, we have bought this brand before, but stopped because of the added SUGAR!!! Seriously, in peanut butter there is no need for added sugar. I had forgotten that until I pulled the jar out of the box and read the label:)

Um, oh the Earths Best Snackin Hearts, Blueberry Flavor. Again Earths Best Brand is a favorite in this house and I like these too, a little more sugar in them than I would normally buy, but they are a yummy treat and the blueberry tastes like real blueberry instead of fake flavoring. In a 20g serving there is only 5g of sugar, much better than many of the other products sent to us.

All in all, I think Hain Celestial Group, the makers of all these products, want us to think we are buying healthy products, but in all actuality, we are buying sugar filled products with the words health, natural and organic on the packaging. Another time to point out to READ FOOD LABELS!!! they can tell you very important stuff. I will continue to buy Earths Best Products, but I will stay away from the other brands in this group.

MMMMMMMMMMM, Popcorn!

2010-09-14T13:22:00.001-06:00

I seriously love popcorn. Popcorn would be on my list of things I have to take to a deserted island and now I have to add a microwave to that list.

A few months ago my air popper broke, it was a super sad day in my house and I have been popping corn on the stove top for a while, not as often as I would have popcorn as before because of all the extra oil. I have been missing my air popper and was about to purchase another one, when I got my Ready Made magazine in the mail. One of the tips in the magazine was to put a bit of popcorn in a brown paper lunch sack and cook it in the microwave for the popcorn cycle. I tried it last night and it works! I am actually sitting here eating a bowl of my microwave popcorn right now!

The cool thing about this way of popping corn, I can add as much or as little butter and salt to my corn and I don't get any of the nasty cancer causing yuckies in the packaged microwave popcorn!

So, in my experiments I found a regular brown paper lunch bag, 1/4 cup of popcorn kernels and the popcorn setting on the microwave to be perfect! The 1/4 cup of kernels is mostly popped at the end of the cycle and produces the perfect single sized serving of popcorn. If you are like me and popcorn is a food group all by itself, then you might want to pop 2 batches of popcorn using this method. I did try popping 1/2 cup at one time and a lot of the kernels did not pop:( After the corn is popped and in my bowl, I add a little salt and melted butter!

Giveaway!

2010-08-23T13:02:00.002-06:00

It's somewhere else, but click here to head over to Under the Table and Dreaming for a giveaway of the Silhouette!

Puppet Theater!

2010-08-12T09:16:00.001-06:00

So, I have been busy this summer, but I wanted to add this little gem up so you could see what I did. This spring I made a Puppet theater for the daycare and love it. It hangs in the hallway, but it could easily hang in a doorway to a room or closet as well!

This was a super simple project, I just bought 3 different colors of fleece at Joanns and 2 tension rods that you would use for the shower curtain. Sewed up some curtains, put them on the tension rods and hung it up!

Kids are so funny

2010-06-04T14:12:00.001-06:00

Hannah's chore is to unload the dishwasher, once a day. A somewhat easy chore, I think. Well, everyday, it is a fight. She has come up with some excuses, It's too Hard, Anders should do it, I don't have to do it on the weekends etc. Some are more inventive than others -- "I don't get enough fresh air" was said when we asked her to come inside and do her chore.

Well, this morning we found something that made us laugh. Hannah had made a Father's Day book. The first several pages were about her Dad and what he likes to do and what they do together, his favorite food, how old he is and so on. The page that made us laugh started with "I love it when my father........................." She filled in the blank with "forgets to load the dishwasher". See, if he forgets, she doesn't have to unload it. I get the logic, but that doesn't make it any less funny!

New Mirror

2010-05-24T21:25:00.007-06:00

Saturday while we were on our way to Hannah's tumbling we passed a Garage Sale, it looked promising so on the way home we stopped. I got this:

I thought it was wood, but I guess I didn't look closely enough and it

was plastic:( Oh well, I got some plastic spray paint -- Espresso -- and then topped it with

some Ivory Spray Paint, light distressing and tada:

A close up of the Distressing on the details:

This was the first piece I bought that I have refinished.

It was so fun!

Overhaul

2010-05-24T17:05:00.002-06:00

Blog is getting an overhaul! Yippee!!

Just changing how things are navigated and what I post and how it is sorted. I am kind of anal about sorting and organization. With all of the changes to the blog -- Scrapbooking blog, then family blog, then knitting blog, then nothing for a while and now a whatever I am doing blog I felt it needed a little more organization.

New tabs at the top make it easier to navigate to what you actually want to look at, like crafts, or decorating.

I have also added childcare stuff to the blog, so I will have ideas on centers, inexpensive ways to copy commercial daycare products and just random daycare stuff!

I hope you enjoy the "newest" direction!

Got the bestest compliment today!

2010-05-22T19:18:00.003-06:00

Today was a fun, but cold and rainy/snowy day. We went shopping for wood so I can build this table while Larry is gone next weekend. And I bought myself a palm sander too!

Then we spotted a garage sale, I found this great mirror, needs a little paint and then it can hang out at the end of the hallway. When I found this mirror is when the best complement got given. I asked Larry what he thought and he said "I don't know what your style is anymore" (that's not the complement) and I said what? he goes "when you picked the color for the office wall I thought it was crazy, but it looks crazy good and I know you will do a good job so what I think doesn't matter" or something to that effect. The walls in the office make me feel like I am in a glass of chocolate milk, in case you were wondering, and that is a good thing!

So Mirror for $7, though it was a wood frame, got it home realized it was plastic, but hey they still make Plastic Spray Paint, so, I'm OK with it.

Then I went thrifting all by myself!!! But, I will talk about that more later. I have some super fun projects I have to get done for Hannah's Birthday and I will show the progress of those as I go along.

Off to pull my black bean brownies from the oven..

I should be doing Laundry

2010-05-11T20:56:00.009-06:00

And yes, Laundry in our house is spelled with a capital letter!

Instead of doing laundry I spent some time catching up on Blogs, finding new fun ones to read and being VERY inspired! I have not been super inspired in a long time crafty wise so I am very excited to have inspiration again!

The first thing I did was head on over to dollar store crafts -- I found this blog a week ago and immediately had to go to the dollar store.

There I found these:

Added a little black spray paint. And came up with these:

While I had the black matte finish spray paint out, I painted this not sure what I was going to do.

Then I saw all the silhouettes all over the place. I love a good silhouette, in fact that is what we made all the childcare Mom's for their Mother's Day Present! But, I had already painted the box black and the traditional way is to make the silhouette black, and I wanted something a little different anyway.

So I found some "antique" clip art (my original idea was a page from an antique book, but I am loath to rip apart books for anything) and

cut out a silhouette of Hannah

and then used a little mod-podge, added a H

and tada, a silhouette box, my way!

And, here it all is put together!

Busy Times

2010-05-08T08:07:00.004-06:00

So much has been happening and I have not had a ton of time to update my blog. Facebook is much easier for me right now, but here is to hoping I can update my blog more often. Here is a list of what has been happening since September:
1. We filled up the enrollment! yeah, but that also explains the lack of time I have had lately!
2. Knitting is at a stand still, I am not too sad, this happens to me when I craft, I tend to change what I want to do a lot!
3. Had a fun trip at Christmas time, tried out a new Pizza place in Baker City, OR -- Piazanos, if you ever find yourself in Baker, you MUST go there!
4. Began the QRIS process for our business, basically a rating system similar to hotels and restaurants, only for childcare. It takes a long time to complete and a lot of work!
5. Applied for a grant to redo our yard into an outdoor learning environment!
6. Won the grant! Yeah!
7. Spending all of our free time redoing the backyard into an outdoor learning environment!
8. Learned how to use power tools and built my first ever project!
9. Going back to school in June, there will go the rest of my free time otherwise known as when I sleep!

I hope everyone is having a great spring (finally)!

Stash Busting!

2009-09-18T13:36:00.003-06:00

So, in all my excitement for Christmas Knitting, I have decided to do a little -- ok, a lot, of stash busting! My stash is not overly huge, but, I do need to use this yarn I have already bought:) (so I can buy more!)

Already I have knit a few things, a hat , a soap holder ,
a purse and I finished the socks I started back in July. I have also started another hat ( I am thinking I will have a lot of hats for Christmas Presents!) and a Henley T-shirt! For the Henley, I am using the yarn from Dahlia that I have to frog due to an extreme size change! Yeah for weight loss!

In all my stash busting excitement I spent the last few days going through my stash, finding patterns that are good for the yarn and matching them up; this is what my office floor looks like right now:

I can't wait to get started, there are some very cool patterns in that pile!

I also tried recycling yarn for the first time! I found 5 sweaters, 3 of which would not work (they were all felted and tough to pull apart and the yarn was breaking) the other 2 I got tons of yarn from. Some pink for a sweater for Hannah and a TON of gray for something, not sure what yet!

On a different note, Handmade, one on the LYS I go to, is closing! :( On the bright side, everything is 50% off! Yeah yarn shopping spree:)

It's time again!

2009-09-08T06:14:00.003-06:00

It is time to figure out my Christmas Knitting. Now that we are back to all our swim/cheer/tumbling/soccer activities I have my knitting time back:) I must figure out my list of knitting and what else I need to get done. Every year I have done the same thing, but, a different style for everyone. One year it was dishcloths, another hats, scarves. I have made (not knitted) blankets. I have also done calendars and other fun stuff. Not sure what to do this year. Mittens sound like fun. I love Bella's Mittens and they would be quick and involve cables (my fav!). I could also do some more hats, you can never have enough hats, and I have 10 in my Q right now. I did see hot bottle covers -- they look cool and could work for a few of the gifts (in laws).

Just not sure at this moment.

WOW how time flies.

2009-08-27T13:08:00.003-06:00

Summer is almost over -- yeah for school starting, nay for cold weather -- and it has been a super fun, busy and adventurous summer. We have not had a lot of down time and I think that maybe we are being forced to do that right now, but, more on that later.

I thought I would do my last few months in a little picture montage -- I am sorry if you have a slow connection -- it may take a while to load.

Looking back, my last post was in March! yikes. So our spring and summer went as follows:

Easter

A trip to Spokane, Larry ran Bloomsday, Kids rode the carosuel.

Hannah took off her traing wheels.

And we planted a HUGE garden.

But, that's not all folks:

The kids ran a race

Hannah turned 7

Larry and I went up to Ketchum for the Sawtooth Relay. Larry's team name is the Hash Brownies (they are in a running group called the Hash and they dressed as brownies HA HA)

Hannah finally lost her first tooth:)

We got a bunny -- mini lop/rex mix named Magic Carrot

The kids (and us) ran in another race!

The garden grew and grew!

It was Anders day at Flying Pie (last in the family to have his day, so very exciting for him)

4th of July

Harvesting the Garden

My SIL sent me some yummy yarn for my Birthday!

My birthday trip to Emigrant Springs and other parts of Oregon.

Got some yummy yarn on my Birthday Trip

Worked on some socks on my Birthday Trip

Visited "our tree" on the greenbelt

Crazy

2009-07-08T11:41:00.004-06:00

The title sums up the last few months and why I have not been here! We have gotten really busy work wise and with the kids. So much has gone on!

I made it through Lent:) Yeah! The upside, well, there really is not a downside, but now when I feel like eating out it feels like a huge extravagance, not just an every day thing! So yeah!

Knitting wise I have not really done much. I made a tank for Hannah. My sweater got frogged (not a horrible thing, more on that later). Other than that I think my projects are all going backwards. At least it feels that way!

We went to Spokane in May and Sun Valley in June and this weekend we are going on a surprise trip for my Birthday!

The big news, we have started clean eating, in the process I have lost over 60 lbs!!! yeah! (that is why I had to frog the sweater -- way too big:)

I think that is all and cannot wait to share pictures of our trip this weekend!

My Secret Pal Partner!

2009-03-09T19:00:00.004-06:00

Today, way earlier than is normal, a package arrived on my doorstep. We thought it was something Larry had ordered, but when we opened the door -- it was a huge box from my Secret Pal! Yeah! I was soooooooooo excited -- not only has she been a super secret pal, but, this package was the reveal package. I was all ready to rip in and see who she is and I get a phone call! Someone wants to come over right now and tour the childcare! Ugh!!!! Good on the new children part, bad on the timing part. I had to put the box in the office and wait, very patiently, until I had finished showing off our business. As soon as the mom left, it was time for nap, which meant I could spend some glorouis time looking through the box of goodies and reading the card inside! I had already be spoiled, she sent me a subscription to Interweave Knits a week ago -- something I have been wanting!

I slowly (super speed) opened the box and paused long enough to take a picture:
My husband at this point, not only remarks on my restraint (I tend to rip right into presents) but asks (like the smarty pants he is) "is it fabric" (knowing full well it is a knitting swap -- not that I wouldn't love fabric -- but the box it came in was from fabric.com)

Anyway, First I opened the beautiful card, from Andrea, my partner who has been spoiling me for the last few months and done a super job at it by the way! Yeah, I know who she is now!

The first thing I opened was a book -- Custom Knits by Wendy Bernard (one of my favorite designers)

Then a lovely Journal and a packet of scrapbook papers and stickers (there is a really cute black paper with pink dresses that I LOVE).

Then, the yarn, a lot of yarn.

First, 2 skeins of Atacama 100% Alpaca, hand dyed (made by Araucania yarns -- one of my favorties)

Then a cute pink bag, made by my Secret Pal, with 2 skeins of sock yarn. ONLine supersocke Cotton and SPARKLY Fortissima Colori (sparkly in case you didn't see that the first time:)

Then a cute red bag with cows (again made by my secret pal) full of Araucania Ranco (2 skeins) in a beautiful purple, green and brown colorway!

This made my day and I love it all so much, thank you again Andrea!

Knitting and Lent

2009-03-06T08:19:00.003-07:00

Since the kiddos and I have switched to a Lutheran Church I have been learning so much -- Lent being one of those things learned. The churches we have attended in the past have never celebrated Lent, they haven't even talked about it and what Lent is. So, I have learned about Lent and I love things that are steeped in tradition and ceremony (Why I never visited a sacramental church before is beyond me) so, naturally I love Lent. I have been having lots of discussions on what one is supposed to do during Lent and I came up with my own little thing I will do for Lent. I decided that every year I will pick something in my life that needs to change -- eating habits, spending habit etc -- and then choose something specific I can work on. This year I chose to not eat out for the 40 days of Lent. I am not also taking Sundays off as some people have told me I could do (maybe I think that it does not mean as much if I take breaks:) Instead of eating out -- which we do ALOT -- I am spending the time each night (or most of them) to cook dinner for my family and learning to take snacks with us when we are running errands for the day. My hope is to make this a permanent change. I would like to save the amount we spend on eating out and also eat healthier at the same time. I did tell Larry the other night I don't thing I can give up Mexican Resturants forever -- I can make most other things at home and they taste as good if not better that resturant foods, but Mexican has a special flavor I cannot seem to replicate.

Well, that is what I gave up. I also wanted to add some sort of positive thing. So, since I love knitting and I knit an amazing amount of time every day I chose to take an hour of my knitting time and make something for charity. I have been involved in the Hand in Hand program at the library near us for a while, but I have been doing what I think is the minimum of effort towards the goal of clothing the areas homeless with warm items. Since I added the hour of knitting for charity each day, I have made a dozen scarves and several hats! It is amazing how much knitting I actually do:)

On a non Lent note, I have been working on a few new patterns that should be perfected in the next few weeks. I am getting pretty far on Dahlia and my Hemlock Ring Blanket (Which I LOVE). I am also almost done with the 2nd sparkly sock. Oh, and I crocheted my first Granny Square. SP13 is wrapping up and I am trying to decide if I want to go another round. I have so much fun with the Secret Pal Swaps, I am just not sure If I can commit this time. So, I have a decision to make!

Have a wonderful day, we are enjoying some late winter snow right now, in fact here is the view out my window! So Pretty:)

in the last week

2009-02-24T07:30:00.004-07:00

I have done a lot:)

I finished my Errant Socks and they look fabulous. They are my best pair so far and fit PERFECTLY!

I started another pair of socks with my sparkly yarn from the previous post.

I ordered the yarn for the Hemlock Ring blanket from Knit Picks. I am not very paitiently waiting for it:)

I bought the yarn for Dahlia and started knitting it on Friday. My goal is to have it done in 1 month!

I also need to send out my last SP13 package. I am trying to decide what I should send and am having trouble. I keep thinking a theme package would be fun. Maybe send out a box of Idaho stuff (local yarn, candies, postcards and misc stuff) since this is the reveal package where my pal gets to find out who I am!

New Yarn, FO

2009-02-17T16:29:00.006-07:00

This weekend was a blast. First I made it to Fuzz!! Thursday just as some very sparkly very new sock yarn was being pulled out of the box. Of course I bought a skein and am killing myself for not buying one of every color. I am going to be at Fuzz again on Friday night and if there is still the yummy sparkly sock yarn it will be going home with me!

I also bought some Ultra Alpaca for a hat I had found on Ravelry that morning. It turned into Habitat by Jared Flood. I love his designs and love this hat! I ordered some Swish Worsted from Knit Picks so I can knit the Hemlock Ring Blanket.

Saturday I went to Handmade too and they were having a surprise sale -- 40% off anything pink, white or red. It included books and all yarns. I just about lost it in the store, but, since Larry was with me I was VERY good:) I only bought 1 skein of yarn and 2 magazines. I got the new Debbie Bliss Magazine and I must knit LouLaBelle Bag. It is so cute. Yarn wise, I bought a skein of Rowan Kidsilk Night in Pink. Since I finished the swallowtail I have been eying more lace patterns and the Rowan is something I would probably never buy at full price, so since it was on sale I had to buy some and now I just need a project to match.

Well, back to the cabled sock I have never made the 2nd one for. I must finish those so I can knit some with the sparkly yarny goodness from Fuzz!! (So I can buy more of it guilt free:)

Swallowtail is Finished! Yippie!

2009-02-12T08:38:00.004-07:00

Late last night I did something I thought I would never be able to do -- finish a large lace project using little needles and thin yarn! But, I did it, all thanks to a super encouraging Secret Pal! Without my secret pal sending me the yarn and pattern, I probably would have given up on lace.
Well, it is done and I don't hate lace anymore, I actually was thinking of what my next lace project was going to be while I was casting off the shawl! I do have to say I am not in love with the nupps.

So, here it is in all of her glory. I have a few people to show it to and then it will be flying off to my Grandma in Hawaii!

The photos with the red background are while it was blocking and the photos with the black background are after it had dried. It is not perfect, but, if you are that close to the shawl to see the mistake (in the nupps section) then you are too close:)

Knitting completion

2009-02-03T13:26:00.003-07:00

Ok, not completion. But I did finish my first Errant Sock. Not especially loving the socks, so I am putting them down for a while and finding something else to work on.

I have been working on the Swallowtail shawl as well! I have made it pretty far with only a few mistakes. I started the nupps section last night. Not in love with the nupps, but, I am determined to finish this shawl. I would love to be able to send it to my Grandma in the Spring.

Otherwise, I am not really knitting anything else. I am a little out of sorts, I can't seem to find a project I want to knit and am almost feeling bored at the thought of knitting! I am not sure what will inspire me, but, hopefully that inspiration hits soon:)

Hannah's Day!

2009-01-27T12:46:00.004-07:00

Our local pizza place -- Flying Pie Pizzaria -- has a "It's Your Day" person every day. The cool thing, you get to go in and make a pizza your own way, wear a silly hat and have a ton of fun. Well, Hannah's day was this past Sunday. She had so much fun making her own pizza, and now her ambition in life is to own Flying Pie Pizzaria, by the time she is 20:) She has wanted to work there ever since she found out Larry and I both used to work there before we got married!

Some FO Goodness:)

2009-01-22T11:33:00.003-07:00

This week has been a slow knitting week. I only got 2 hats done;) I wanted to use the yummy Malabrigo my Secret Pal sent me -- so I searched and found the Brangelina Hat. It looks super cute and fits really well! I made another version with Wool Ease thick and Quick -- I need to make some adjustments for it to fit Larry's head and started another one to hopefully accomplish that goal.

Here they are:Me, modeling the Malabrigo Version!
And the wool ease version:)

I have been working on my socks and the Swallowtail shawl. Sometime when I get done with a row of the lace, I am shaking from holding so still. Hopefully by the time I am done with the shawl I will have more lace confidence:)

Hannah started soccer this last weekend. The team is so cute -- they are all 6 or younger and the youngest is 2!

A quick update

2009-01-14T13:48:00.003-07:00

I realized this morning that I have not updated my blog in a while:) So, quickly, I have started the swallowtail shawl and it is coming along, slowly, but, surely! I am almost done with the fist big chunk of repeats and cannot wait to move onto the next phase:)

Anders and Hannah both start soccer this Saturday, so my week has been full of shopping for lots of soccer stuff! They are both so excited and can't wait to play.

I knit my mother a scarf and it is so beautiful -- unfortunately, I forgot to take a finished picture:(

That is about all the time I have right now. I will try and update more later!

Something Accomplished!

2009-01-04T15:34:00.003-07:00

Back in November we had the house painted. Most of the walls are a very pretty tan color and i had 1 wall made into a red wall (I have always wanted a red wall:). The plan has always been to make the red wall a picture wall. I saw this very cool picture wall kit online. All you did was buy the kit and it came with the frames and a piece of paper that you hung on the wall so you would know where to put the nails in to hang the frames -- thus eliminating the holey wall that normally happens when I hang pictures:)

Well, the price (over $1000.00 for 6 frames) was a little much. I decided I could do the same thing with some blank newsprint and it worked! All the pictures line up well and look very cohesive.

Here is what I did -- got a piece of paper the size of my picture area( my area was 6x4) and then laid out the frames on it till they looked how I wanted them to. Then I traced around each frame and marked where the hanger was on each frame. After that, we hung the paper on the wall, made sure it was level and made the holes in the wall for the nails. Then we ripped the paper off the wall and hung the pictures. A total piece of cake:)

I hope you all had a wonderful weekend!

Fo's for 2008

2008-12-31T14:23:00.002-07:00

A little knitting recap -- all of my finished objects in the last year! I finished the last pair of socks on Dec 30th:) I hope everyone had a wonderful new year.

Merry Christmas

2008-12-25T19:50:00.002-07:00

I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas Day.

We had our first year of a 6am wake-up by a kiddo and I loved every minute of our day!

See you later:)

I do this every year.

2008-12-24T14:34:00.004-07:00

Every Year, a few days before Christmas I decide I must get my kiddos another present. I don't know why I do this, but I do it, every year. This year is no exception! Instead of buying them another present, I decided to knit them each something else! So Hannah got 3 new barbie dresses and Anders got a sock for his Nintendo DS. I not longer have time to knit anything -- except maybe a hat for Larry -- No! I no longer have time to knit anything, so I am officially done with Christmas knitting!

The Barbie dresses were so fun! I can see why people like to knit mini stuff -- it goes super fast. I knit 2 last night and 1 this morning.They are knit in Louisa Harding -- Jasmine, that I had picked up to use to knit some barbie clothes for Hannah -- she has been begging me to knit dresses ever since she found the Knits for Barbie book on my shelf! I used 2/3rds of the gray one and less than a 1/4th of the pink. I can make lots more barbie clothes!

Anders DS Sock is knit with the Bernat Camo. I think he will have a blast with this and I think I may have to knit one for Hannah for her Game machine thingy.

Christmas Fun!

2008-12-23T11:49:00.003-07:00

This weekend was a super busy one, and it seemed like we were always going somewhere or doing something!

On Saturday Larry ran in the local Christmas Run. He was Rudolph. There was a whole group they ran with -- Santa, reindeer, elves and they even had a token Jew. A fun group. While they were running the kids and I played in the huge amount of snow (for us -- until we got several more inches in the last few days -- 4 just last night -- normally we only get an inch or two at a time) and had some hot cocoa!

After the run I took the kiddos to see Santa at the mall. They had so much fun and I love these years when they believe -- I don't ever want them to stop.

knitting wise, I finished the Monthly Dishcloth KAL Challenge -- to knit all 24 cloths for 2008 and knitted a kippah for a friend of Larry's!

Crocheting

2008-12-23T11:41:00.003-07:00

I promised it was coming! I have been wanting to learn beyond the single crochet edging I can do around things I have knit so I could do more things around my knitting:)

Last week at a knitting group I have been going to, I learned how to do crocheted flowers and added some cute white ones to Hannah's mittens, scarf and hat set. The snow blossoms are so incredibly cute and made me want to learn more.

So, I have been eying this pattern. All crochet and so cute. I thought I would make a super wonderful strawberry purse instead of the acorn, but, alas, my crocheting started out super tight like it is supposed to be and then each time I picked up the project the crocheting got looser. I think this phenomenon has something to do with me wanting to go faster and the faster I went the looser I got:) So, the bag became a hat after I added some flowers, a little tight on Hannah, but it fits a 2 year old perfectly. So, with not further ado, here is the first crochet project I have ever done:

Weekend Update

2008-12-21T07:27:00.005-07:00

No, this is not SNL, but, I am doing a weekend update:) A lot has happened this weekend, of course it is 3 days till Christmas (I wrote this a few days ago, now, when I am finally finishing it is Christmas Eve Eve:) and I am so excited and super busy!

Friday was awesome, My first SP13 package got here:) Yeah! My spolier is so awesome. She really got to know me through my blog and emails and sent the most wonderful package. It included so many great presents. I thought about leaving them wrapped for Christmas, but, I am to impatient for that!

The first thing I pulled out was some super cute stitch markers that look like little hot dogs!

Then, some yummy chocolates -- these are so good and super rich, just the perfect thing.
Then, some yarn, not the only skein, but the most thoughtful, I think. She sent some beautiful cotton sock yarn so I can knit some socks for Anders since he thinks wool is so itchy.

Next was a baggie with some yummy soap and a Christmas Morning Bath Bar. They both smell wonderful!

The next package was the most exciting for me -- Malabrigo! Yeah! It is the most beautiful purple and so so soft! I love the Malabrigo:)

Last but not least, was a package with some Misti Alpaca Lace and the pattern for the swallowtail shawl. I plan on finishing my WIP's and then I will begin the shawl while I am on vacation next week. The directions seem pretty straight forward and I can do it! I am sure:) Lace, here I come!

THANK YOU SO MUCH SECRET PAL!!!

I have more, lots more to update on, this is all I have time for now and will hopefully have more time later today to talk about FO's and Crocheting -- yes you read correctly -- crocheting!!

Secret Pal 13 Question #2

2008-12-18T10:31:00.002-07:00

Are you doing any holiday knitting?

Yes,

Have you finished yet?

No, I only have the thumbs on Hannah's mittens to go and then I crocheted some flowers (Yes, I figured it out!) to add to her mittens, hat and scarf. I should be finished by tonight!

Cookies!

2008-12-16T13:21:00.003-07:00

I love Christmas Baking, every year I love it and every year I look for new recipes of delicious cookies I can make. So, this year, was different. I had to find cookies that didn't use egg, or figure out how to sub for the egg. I came up with a list of mostly shortbread type cookies with some candy thrown in the mix. Alas, there is snow forecast up until and including Christmas -- so no Christmas Candy, but I did make a ton of cookies this weekend:)

Here are some yummy pictures of Snoballs, Cornflake Cookies, Chocolate Chip Tumbprints, Cherry Shortbread, Almond Butter Cookies and Jeweled lace Cookies. Snoballs I make every year and everything else is new. The Jeweled Lace Cookies will make an apperance every year from now on too!

This weekend....

2008-12-15T18:11:00.003-07:00

was so busy! I think that is the way it is for Christmas every year, but, I always forget how busy we get. Friday was the kiddos Christmas Program at School -- so cute:) I also tried to make a Chocolate Cream pie without eggs and it turned out so yummy. Saturday we made Christmas Cookies and Sunday we attempted Candy (but, it was snowing so the candy did not turn out:()

Knitting, nothing, I didn't even pick up needles!

This week I have to finish the gifts for the daycare parents and wrap them all and mail out my Christmas Cards and knit Hannah's mittens!

A funny present

2008-12-09T11:40:00.005-07:00

I tired to knit this once before with some super skinny DK yarn. Obviously, I frogged it, 1 skein only got me 3 sheets of TP:) So, I went and got some yucky Acrylic and knit this up over the last couple of days. I think Larry will love it!

Larry's Slippers

2008-12-03T20:49:00.004-07:00

I knit Larry's Christmas Slippers this week. I made it until tonight in secret -- Larry had not asked any questions about what I was knitting until they were finished, then "are those for you?" I had to answer no and then he asked who they were for -- I answered "uhhhhhhh" and he figured it out! So, I had him try them on -- super loose in the heel and way to long -- he has small feet -- I had thought we were about the same size and knit them to fit me -- but, alas his feet are smaller than mine. So I threw them in the washer to see if they will felt. We will see in a few minutes:)

If they felt too much -- they will fit Hannah and I am back to the drawing board for a pair of men's slippers:)

ETA: one quick wash cycle and they are a much better fit -- felted just enough to tighten up:)

Secret Pal 13 Question of the Week #1

2008-12-02T12:11:00.002-07:00

So, the first question of the week -- what are you Thankful for?

I am thankful for so many things, My family, friends, the ability I have to knit and how crafty I am. Thankful for my house and the ability to buy groceries. I think of all others do not have and how much I have and I am so thankful.

Thankgiving was awesome!

2008-12-01T11:36:00.003-07:00

This weekend was great -- Thanksgiving came off beautifully! My Dad said that the only better Thanksgiving he had was when HIS grandmother used to make it. That just makes me so glad and it makes me the permanent host of Thanksgiving for our family!

Friday, my Mom and I went shopping, what else is there to do on Friday and I am officially done purchasing all of my Christmas Presents. Knitting all of them on the other hand -- not quite so done:)

Saturday brought decorating the inside of the house for Christmas and Sunday was for outside lights:)

All in all a great weekend and I can't wait for Christmas now:)

Knitting wise, I think I knit about 5 rows on Larry's Slippers this weekend. Seems to be in pause mode.

One More down!

2008-11-26T18:18:00.003-07:00

I finished my SIL's Slippers today, they are super cute! I used the Fireside Footsies Pattern from Ravelry. Last time I knit this pattern I used Noro -- Not a fan of how Noro felts. This time I used Pations SWS. The slippers turned out so cute and they felted wonderfully! They are a nice sturdy fabric!

Now, I just Have Larry's Slippers and Mittens for both the kiddos left! Yeah! Then I can knit something I want:)

I am all ready for tomorrow too! The giblets are cooking as we speak and The turkey is defrosted and I have everything else I need:) Once I got all my groceries I felt a lot less anxious about cooking Thanksgiving.

Speaking of Thanksgiving, Hannah had a feast today at school and her teacher said they could dress up as Pilgrims or Indians. This is what we came up with for Pilgrim Hannah!
Behind Hannah you can kind of see the new wall color! The house is almost finished being painted -- only the bathroom is left:)

Thanksgiving is next Thursday!

2008-11-21T14:52:00.004-07:00

I know this is most obvious to people, but, next Thursday is Thanksgiving -- I am hosting it at my house for the very first time! I wasn't nervous, but, now I am. I only have to make the Turkey and trimmings -- my Mom is bringing the Pies and rolls and my Aunt is bringing Jello Salad and veggies. So really, nothing to be stressing about. My big fear -- I forget to make something important, like stuffing!

Anyway, stress always brings out the knitting bug.

This week so far I have finished A and H's hats for Christmas. H's Flare Ribbed Scarf -- cute, the hat -- cute, but, when you put it on, you can't tell that there is a flare:( Oh Well! I think I will try and make a skirt pattern using decreasing ribs -- the hat 1/2 way done looked like a cute little doll skirt.

This morning I started the slippers for my SIL. They are turning out so cute.

I just finished knitting the first one and onto the second! That means, most of my knitting I have to mail, can go out right after Thanksgiving. If only I could finish making my Christmas Cards and I could be ahead this year;)

I was going to knit my MIL and FIL some slippers too, but, they are having a hard time moving around and most of their house is smooth floors -- I would feel horrible if something I made them caused them to slip and fall down stairs! So, no slippers! They will have to be content with Hats and Scarves and other not foot sized items:)

Hope everyone is doing great!

Some More Christmas Presents

2008-11-17T14:41:00.003-07:00

Not much is going on here, Anders and Larry were away this weekend for the big BSU v. Vandal Game. They drove up to Moscow with some friends and stayed the weekend. It was Anders first ever Live Vandal game, he was super excited:)

While they were gone Hannah and I had a girls weekend. We scrap booked and worked on some Christmas Presents. I finished Hannah's flare ribbed scarf

and Anders ribbed scarf.

I have always thought of ribbing as a masculine stitch, not sure why, but, I do! So the flare at each end of Hannah's scarf makes it look very feminine, yet still with some very pretty ribbing:)

This morning I started Anders hat to match the scarf and will probably finish at swimming lessons tonight. I hope everyone is having wonderful cool fall days!

Christmas Presents.....

2008-11-11T07:31:00.003-07:00

So, Last minute, for me at least, I decided to knit several things for Christmas -- normally I would start in August. Think weekend I finished a few of the presents. I knit some coasters for my SIL and some slipper socks for Anders. Today I started a scarf for Hannah (see previous post:).

The Coasters are based on the One Car Ride Coaster pattern. I made mine about 50% bigger, I had started knitting the pattern and realized than after felting, they would be tiny, so I just did them a little bigger and they turned out the perfect size. I used Manos in a beautiful navy and got 7 coasters from 1 skein:)

The Sipper socks for Anders are a free pattern from Plymouth Yarns. Knit in Bernat Camo yarn -- they are super soft (I have knit him stuff before that is too itchy, so I went with an acrylic that felt really soft to see if he is just picky or is really sensitive to wool!)

The kids are both getting scarf, Hat and mitten sets for Christmas -- Hannah's will be pink of course and is knit in Caron Simply soft (I made the mistake of knitting her a wool scarf once-- never again -- it was ruined in the first week and I can't get it clean!) The flare ribbed pattern is so cute and if I can get he hat and mittens to work out, I will post the patterns for all to enjoy!

On the SP13 front, I am so excited for it to start and am waiting anxiously to see who my partner is.

Frustration

2008-11-10T19:40:00.004-07:00

I found a pattern somewhere, yesterday and I can't find it again! Agh! It was for a ribbed scarf that started out with K3P3 rib and then decreased down to a K2P2 rib. it gave a little flare to each end of the scarf and I was going to adapt it for Hannah's Christmas Scarf, Hat and Mittens set, using the flare idea on all three things, but, I cannot find the pattern anymore and I can't remember if I saw it in a book, magazine or online! AGH!

Just had to let the frustration out, and if you have seen such a pattern, please let me know where!

ETA 11/11/08 -- I found the pattern in my Knit2Together Book -- it is the scarf part of the Grownup Bonnet! Yeah!

Yeah! It's Done!

2008-11-09T16:04:00.002-07:00

I finished the River and Woods Afghan today. I elected not to put the tassels on since it is for a man and the tassels are a little girly:) It will be flying it's way to Hawaii this week!

It looks so beautiful!

I also went to Michaels today -- they are having a HUGE Yarn Sale! The best thing -- Patons SWS for 1.50 a ball! WOW! I got a bunch of yarn for Christmas gifts. Now, since I have all this yarn, I have 5 pairs of slippers, 2 hats, 2 scarves and 2 pairs of mittens to knit:)

I would love this new pattern!

2008-11-08T14:15:00.002-07:00

This is such a cute fingerless mitt pattern!

Secret Pal 13 Questionnaire!

2008-11-08T14:13:00.005-07:00

1. What is/are your favorite yarn/s to knit with? What fibers do you absolutely *not* like? I love natural fibers, wool mostly. I mostly use worsted weight or larger right now, but I do love sock yarns. I have been looking for a good cotton sock yarn that I could use to make my son some socks -- he thinks wool is too itchy.

2. What do you use to store your needles/hooks in? I have this great set of pillar candle holders that hold my straight needles. My circulars I hang in a circular needle holder and my DPN's are in a fabric roll.

3. How long have you been knitting & how did you learn? Would you consider your skill level to be beginner, intermediate or advanced? I have been knitting for 5 yearsish, a friend taught me the basics and then after a few years of not knitting much I rediscovered knitting and taught myself pretty much everything I could find! I am advanced intermediate -- I can knit most things, socks, cables, lace (as long as it is not in lace weight yarn!) etc.

4. Do you have an Amazon or other online wish list? Yep, here is the link.

5. What's your favorite scent? Vanilla and Cinnamon, I don't like flowery scents.

6. Do you have a sweet tooth? Favorite candy? Yep, Chocolate with Almonds.

7. What other crafts or Do-It-Yourself things do you like to do? Do you spin? I scrapbook and make cards and like to alter objects and I also sew. I do not spin, yet.

8. What kind of music do you like? Can your computer/stereo play MP3s? (if your buddy wants to make you a CD) Mostly Alternative. Switchfoot is my favorite band. Yes, I can play MP3's

9. What's your favorite color(s)? Any colors you just can't stand? I love Pink, Red, Black, Blue, Green etc. I am not a big NEON or Primary color person -- I like muted tones more.

10. What is your family situation? Do you have any pets? Husband, 2 kids Boy and Girl 8 and 6. No Pets.

11. Do you wear scarves, hats, mittens or ponchos? Yes to all:)

12. What is/are your favorite item/s to knit? I have been loving fingerless mitts lately, I do want to venture into mittens and maybe gloves.

13. What are you knitting right now? An Afghan and then I have some Christmas Gifts to knit.

14. Do you like to receive handmade gifts? Yep, who doesn't.

15. Do you prefer straight or circular needles? Bamboo, aluminum, plastic? I like Circulars and I prefer Addi Turbos.

16. Do you own a yarn winder and/or swift? Yes to Both!

17. How old is your oldest UFO? a week:)

18. What is your favorite holiday? What winter holiday do you observe? Christmas is my favorite Holiday and obviously the Winter Holiday I observe.

19. Is there anything that you collect? Not really unless you count yarn.

20. Any books, yarns, needles or patterns out there you are dying to get your hands on? What knitting magazine subscriptions do you have? My amazon wish list has a bunch of books I would love to have. Yarn wise -- some Malabrigo, I can't get it locally and want to try a small amount before I order a bunch! I don't have any magazine subscriptions right now. But, I do buy most of the knitting magazines when they come out!

21. Are there any new techniques you'd like to learn? I have been having a hard time with lace and lace charts, so maybe if you know a great resourse for those I would love to learn.

22. Are you a sock knitter? What are your foot measurements? Yep I knit socks, when I find the perfect pattern! 9"around and 9" long!

23. When is your birthday? July 10th!

24. Are you on Ravelry? If so, what's your ID? Yep, tami-knits is me

River and Woods Afghan

2008-11-05T14:14:00.003-07:00

I started knitting this afghan for my Grandpa on Sunday and I am almost 75% done with it. I was super worried I would not finish it while he was still alive, but, I have almost this uncontrollable urge to knit the afghan. I cannot seem to put it down! I knit for 4 hours straight last night -- I never sit and knit for that long. As soon as dinner was done, I sat and watched the election returns (Yeah) and knit and knit and knit. This morning when I got up, my back hurt so bad from sitting hunched over the afghan -- it is too heavy to lift very far.

I guess I think this is weird -- I have never before had this compulsion to knit something, ever!

Knitting Craziness:)

2008-11-03T19:08:00.003-07:00

I was getting ready to post and looked at what I posted last -- I have knit a TON since the 29th:) So, here is a quick rundown of projects over the past few days. Quant, Calorimetry, Vermont Felted Bag, Ribbed Hat are all projects I finished over the past few days. Quant is for my MIL for Christmas, and the Ribbed Hat is for my FIL for Christmas. Quant is my first enterlac project -- a lot easier than I thought it would be and so much fun! Quant is made with Noro Aurora from my stash and the Ribbed hat with some Stash Cascade 220. Calorimetry was to use up a ball of Cascade Fixation (Which I surprisingly Loved). The Vermont Felted Bag was to use up more stash -- Louet Riverstone -- and will probably be given to Hannah for Christmas.

Yesterday I started my first Knitted Afghan -- I have been wanting to make one for my grandpa, but, I am a little worried about the tendency I have to not finish large projects for years. But, then I found the River and Woods Afghan in the New Holiday edition of Interweave Knits. I love this afghan -- knit on super big needles and with cables and enterlac:)
So far it is keeping me interested and going pretty fast -- I am about 30% done with it already! It is being knit with Red Heart Soft Yarn, and, I have to admit, I like the yarn. It is soft and looks beautiful in this pattern. I know, I just admitted to liking an acrylic -- EEK!-- but, for an afghan, I guess acrylic makes the most sense:)

Ok, so I am in the middle of typing and I hear the words "I am making a flood of Root Beer" come out of my sons mouth from the dining room. Thankfully he didn't have root beer, but a flood of Sprite is just as bad. Why oh why do boys do things like make floods of soda all over the table in the dining room?

Anyway, while on the subject of frustration, I will bring up another -- LACE. Right now that is a four letter word in my house. You should hear me say it, it totally sounds like a swear word. I have been trying to knit some lace projects -- I tried the branching out scarf -- UGH! I tried the Brighton Bag -- UGH! And on Friday I tried Juno Regina -- UGH! I would really love to knit some beautiful lace, but, for some reason, I can't! I have knit lace patterns in worsted just fine, but anything smaller and I screw it up! UGH! So Lace is on the back burner for a while and maybe someday I will master that:)

Of course Friday was Halloween and the kids were so cute:) Hannah was Cinderella (princess again!) and Anders was Obie Wan Kanobie. We went down Harrison Blvd trick or treating. In Boise Harrison is the place to go -- there are so many trick or treaters and the whole experience is like they portray Halloween in the movies -- tons of kids, candy, beautiful fall foliage, houses decorated to the nines and even the adults wear costumes. It was so much fun and a little crazy at the same time. I do have to say that there is just something about walking around and hearing the crunch of leaves under your feet. I love Fall!

More Knitting and Some Pumpkins

2008-10-29T07:16:00.004-06:00

Last night Larry and the Kiddos and I carved our pumpkins! They turned out so cute and we all had so much fun:)

After the carving festivities I knit a Natty Hat! Love this pattern -- so FAST, super cute and FREE:)

Irish Hiking Scarf

2008-10-28T12:45:00.002-06:00

I finished my Irish Hiking Scarf today and it is lovely! I used come Grey Cascade 220 Heathers from my stash and it looks like a cloud -- so soft and pretty.

A Scarf, A Hat and Some Gloves!

2008-10-25T14:09:00.003-06:00

This week has been crazy -- I have been sick all week and still am, stupid asthma! Anyway, I have been essentially working and as soon as that is done, going to bed and watching TV. After about an hour of that I was bored:) So I grabbed some knitting and sat in bed, knitting while watching TV!

I got so much done, I guess that is the good thing about being sick. First I used up the last of my novelty yarn! Yeah! and made a plain old scarf, not much to it, garter stitch and some Berroco Optik Yarn. I used up the 2 skeins I had and have a pretty cute scarf.

Next I started some Fingerless Gloves with some Debbie Bliss Merino Aran. This yarn is super soft and these gloves are super warm!

And last, so far at least, I knit Larry a Reasonably Hip Hat with some Cascade 220 I had in the stash. Actually everything I have knitted is made with yarn from my stash!

I have also started an Irish Hiking Scarf -- to be done soon I am sure!

Finally Some Knitting

2008-10-21T10:37:00.003-06:00

Another dishcloth Frenzy while I try and catch up with some KAL's:) From bottom to top, Elvish Leaves, Woven Cable, Schoolhouse, and Frankenstein Monster.

We have also finished the add on and are all moved in yeah! I think my most favorite thing in our office is my punch storage that Larry made for me! I love it and it is so easy to find my punches -- They used to be in baskets and I had to dig to find the one I wanted:) All we did was get cafe curtain hardware from Home Depot and then hang dowels across like curtain rods. Then the punches just stay up by leaning against the wall. Love it!

Eagle Trip with Hannah

2008-10-19T11:35:00.003-06:00

Yesterday Hannah and I went and hung out in Downtown Eagle for a little bit. I have been wanting to check out Handmade. After Handmade we saw a cute little furniture store -- ReDesign -- and then we went for drinks at Rembrandts Coffee House!

Handmade was AWESOME! LOVE IT!!! The people that work there were super friendly and the yarns they have there are so beautiful -- almost too many to make up my mind. I ended up with some Lousia Harding to use to make Hannah some fancy Barbie Dresses and a copy of Interweaves Holiday 2008. Handmade has the entire lines of Rowan, Debbie Bliss and Louisa Harding. They also have an entire room of SOCK YARN:) I will have to make sure I go there more often. I have not seen some of the yarn they carry since my fav LYS -- Drop a Stitch -- went out of business:( I am excited to have found a new LYS to go to.

Knitting Related Meme

2008-10-17T17:39:00.004-06:00

I was killing some time on Ravelry and found a RAK group -- very cool idea -- and one member wanted people to check out her blog and comment. I did, and she had this great meme posted.

It is a list of knitting techniques, you are supposed to bold the ones you have tried, italicise the ones you want to try and leave the rest in plain text. After I published, I realized that my blog shows the same for bold and plain text! ACK! So, the things I have tried will be green and the things I want to try will be red and the rest will be black!

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
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
Cable stitch patterns
Lace patterns
Publishing a knitting book
Participate in an exchange
Scarf
Teaching a child/teenager to knit -- I have tried to teach Hannah, but no go! Anders can do it, just doesn't like it:)
American/English knitting -- I learned this way first and then switched to continental knitting.
Knitting to make money
Buttonholes
Knitting with alpaca
Fair Isle knitting
Norwegian knitting
Dying with plant colors
Knitting items for a wedding
Household items
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 -- Larry Knitting! I would pay to see this:)
Bobbles
Knitting for a living
Knitting with cotton
Knitting smocking
Dying yarn
Steeks -- I am afraid
Knitting art
Knitting two socks on two circulars simultaneously
Felting
Knitting with wool
Textured knitting
Kitchener stitch
Knitted flowers
Purses/bags
Knitting with beads
Swatching
Long Tail CO
Entrelac
Knitting 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
Hair accessories
Knitting in public

So fun -- but some of the things on the list, I am not sure what they are! And, why would you want to knit backwards?

Oh My Goodness:)

2008-10-11T16:28:00.003-06:00

My SP12 final package arrived! I am so excited -- I thought it would be fun to blog as I opened it:)

So far I have found out my spoiler is Dani:) Hi! And she lives pretty close to me -- on the way to my brothers house in fact. She sent me some fun postcards from UT.

My box is filled with red and blue wrapped goodies!

Bernat Cottontots in Very Berry!

Gorgous Plymouth Yarn Rockin' Sox in a red/purple/orange colorway -- love it. It is super soft too a superwash wool with some bamboo.

Stephen's Mint Chocolate Marsmallow Hot Cocoa! Yummy:)

A knitting motions box with some stitch markers, tape measure, sissors and chibi needles. And, some hand knitted tags to ad to my gifts I give. This little box is so cute -- love it and I needed a new tape measure:)

And, some sisters gourmet just Like Mom's cookie mix. Triple Chocolate Fudge.

Yeah! This was such a great package. Thank you so much Dani!

Snow!!!

2008-10-11T14:58:00.003-06:00

Yes, it snowed last night! This is the earliest we have gotten snow since I have lived in Boise (20 years!) I remember trick r treating one year while there was snow coming down, but, that was the earliest of my memory! The most shocking thing, it was 90 out last Friday!

The kids were super excited -- Anders built a snowman and Hannah wanted to throw snow balls at everyone. Of course, we had some hot chocolate after we came inside:)

They are done!

2008-10-06T14:47:00.003-06:00

I finished Hannah's Knee High's! Yeah! They look so cute too:) I have a baby modeling them in the picture since Hannah is at school. I just improvised a toe up sock and then added a ruffle at the top. The yarn is a Regia Stripe. The left overs of Bob's Party Socks.

3 Days in a row!

2008-10-04T21:03:00.003-06:00

I have blogged for the last 3 days in a row! WOW! I really am getting back into the hang of things. The last few days have been a little frustrating business wise. People are getting laid off, which means, they don't need childcare! ACK!

I am on my way to work on Hannah's knee highs, hopefully they will be done soon -- I tend to knit more and faster when I am frustrated. Time to go knit and catch up on a little Tivo:)

Ode to eggs, cookies and pancakes.

2008-10-03T13:15:00.004-06:00

One of the things that has happened over the last month is a surprise! I found out I am allergic to egg whites! I have never had a food allergy and then suddenly I do. I was super shocked. Over the past few weeks I have been cutting eggs out of my diet. It is shocking to me the amount of things that I love to eat that have eggs. I figured cookies and other fun things like that would, but did you know Snickers have eggs in them! Of course deviled eggs and eggnog (2 of my favorite foods) are out. Also, pancakes have eggs in them too! I love pancakes. I think that is what I miss the most, pancakes. In fact, I ate some this morning and now I am not feeling so great, In fact, I don't like pancakes anymore!

On the plus side, I have lost 20lbs since we found out about the allergy -- not eating all the yummy things will do that to you!

I know that I can find egg free pancakes, cookie recipes, mayo and more, I am just a little scared to try them. I have a jar of canola-oil-based-vegan-egg-free-mayo in the pantry that I am too scared to open and try! I don't know what it will taste like and I know it won't be as good as regular mayo.

Love 2 knit Dishcloths Fall Exchange

2008-10-02T21:38:00.005-06:00

I was in another dishcloth exchange, only this time I made a major boo boo. I wrote the mailing day as September 30th -- but is was supposed to be the 20th! EEK! Opening day was October 1st. My pal got her box a day late, thankfully it was delivered today! Yeah! So, I opened mine tonight too. My pal Sandra sent a wonderful box full of goodies. The guidelines were something orange, something boo, something yummy and a dishcloth too! She sent me some orange sugar and cream cotton yarn for the something orange, a cute Halloween Notepad for the something boo and tons of yummy treats for the something yummy. I have to list all the goodies -- they are so fun -- I have never seen most of these things:) Ok, Sandra sent Orange Hot Chocolate, a Witch Pez Dispenser, a Jolly Rancher Lolly Pop (with tattoo), Mini Halloween Oreos, a Reese's Peanut Butter Pumpkin (My Fav) , a candy apple and Pumpkin Peeps (Which Hannah is trying to steal already!). I feel like I have already gone trick or treating!

The dishcloth is a green Trick or Treat dishcloth in a little Trick or treat box! So cute:)

She also sent 2 beautiful stitch markers that I LOVE!

THANK YOU SANDRA!!!!!!

Bad Blogger

2008-10-02T13:41:00.003-06:00

Bad Blogger!! No No! That is me!!!!

So a quick update is in order, SP12 is almost over, I am awaiting a reveal package from my upstream partner and the my reveal package is on its way to my downstream partner! Yeah!

The add-on is DONE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! That has been a major time sucker for the last year and especially the last few weeks -- hence the bad blogger. I will post some pics as soon as everything is all put away, right now it looks like craziness.

The kiddos are doing great at school and started swimming lessons this last week.

I have done a bunch of scrapbooking -- all caught up through August 2008! Knitting - I made a dishcloth for an exchange, that is all. As soon as the office/craft room in the add-on is all put together I will be finishing Hannah's Knee Highs.

I think that is all -- sorry for the sporadic and sometimes prolonged absences from the blog world:)

I had some fun

2008-09-10T17:22:00.003-06:00

I got some scrapbooking done -- it was so nice to get out of the house and I am almost caught up with all my scrapbooking, I got behind spending so much time with my knitting, but I am now ready to scrapbook some more. For those of you out there scratching your heads - I have an advanced case of crafting ADD. I normally pick up a craft for about a year or maybe 2, when I get to the point where I am super comfortable with it and have learned most of the techniques, I tend to stop doing it, for awhile at least. I can do lots of crafty things -- knitting, scrapbooking, card making, sewing and more and more and more. I always have a few things that stick around forever, knitting will be on of these things. I do keep knitting, just not on the scale I was a year ago, when every waking moment I had knitting needles in my hands:) That may change with Christmas coming up, I am sure I will have a lot of gifts to knit.

That is all I have to say, oh, wait, the addon got painted on the inside yesterday! YEAH!!! Only a few more things and it will be done! I just have to find some storage cabinets for the playroom:)

I'm So excited!

2008-09-05T06:51:00.002-06:00

I get to go out by myself tonight:) If you have kids, you understand! I am only going scrapbooking, but, I get to have a few hours of kid free time and hang out with some other friends having a few hours of kid free time -- what is better that that:)

a Long update

2008-09-03T16:43:00.003-06:00

This summer has been so busy and super fun! I have not gotten a lot of knitting done, but, I have a bunch of scrapbooking done and the kids and Larry and I had so much fun:)

Last weekend we went to visit my brother and his family in Salt Lake City. Anders Birthday was on Saturday while we were there and we went to the Zoo and then Bowling for his Birthday. The trip was also part of his birthday, I asked Anders if he wanted to visit his cousin Kalleb or go to Raoring Springs for his Birthday and he picked Kalleb! So, after a super fun Birthday, Sunday we spent the morning at IKEA -- My new love!-- Then we went to the Childrens Mesuem at the Gateway Mall! The Childrens Meusem was so much fun, the kids love all the exibits and there was even some fun things for the grown ups too. I can say a lot more about IKEA, I love IKEA, Love IKEA LOVE IKEA. This was my first chance to visit the store, I have always bought online, but we spent 3 hours at IKEA on Sunday and there was still stuff I never looked at! It was a great weekend, even though I missed going to any yarn shops, we still had a lot of fun!

Secrep Pal Question of the Week #12

2008-09-03T07:46:00.003-06:00

I’m sure most of us have a proudest moment when it comes to knitting. A project or technique that you’ve tackled and completed beautifully. What is your proudest knitting moment??

I remember the very first project I finished! I look back now and see a very ugly misshapen scarf. But, I remember at the time how proud I was that I even finished it:) Since then, I made a poncho for my daughter that was my first time doing stranded color work and it turned out wonderful and that was pretty awesome!

And on the flip side? What is the one thing that you can’t get right? What is that one project that you’ve never been able to complete? Or that you did complete but then hid away instantly because it was too embarrassing?

I did complete it -- Larry's Sweater and when it was all done it was HUGE!!! It is in a box in my closet right now -- Larry normally wears a L or XL so I knit an XL thinking he could layer it in the winter -- well the pattern sized it wrong and I was not paying enough attention to the measurements! I think this sweater is actually a 4x size:) and I hate it!

Secret Pal 12 Question of the Week #11

2008-08-22T20:58:00.002-06:00

What is the best thing you've ever received in the mail/post?

I would have to say the best thing I have ever gotten in the mail is something I was not expecting! I love to open little packages that someone took the time to put together for no reason!

Hannah's Knee Highs!

2008-08-20T13:53:00.002-06:00

These socks! I started them to use up some left over yarn from Bob's Party Socks. I don't really like the color way, it looked a lot different in the ball of yarn then it knitted up -- but, Hannah loves it! So, with the left overs I am making her a pair of knee highs. I started doing 2 socks at the same time using the Magic Loop Method -- it went achingly slow!!!

So on Sunday I switched to only one sock, put the other one on some stitch holders and went to town! The knee high number 1 is done, the 2nd one is almost to the point where I turn the heel! Yeah! I guess 2 socks at a time is just not for me:)

Dishcloth Craziness

2008-08-13T16:12:00.003-06:00

I went on a dishcloth spree for the past few days. I had some catchup to do in the monthly dishcloth KAL.
Things are going pretty good right now, and I actually have had time to knit! I think I have come to realize that I do not have to entertain Larry when he is home at night:) For the past few weeks that is what I have felt like I was doing. Spending a lot of time entertaining Larry, doing the things he wants to do, now I am past that! Yeah for me!

And, the Secret Pal Question of the week!

What Olympic event would best describe you knitting/knitting style?
I asked my husband this question because I couldn't come up with an event. My favorite is Gymnastics, I was little in the Mary Lou Retton age and Loved to watch her perform! But, gymnastics totally does not describe my knitting style. My husband says the 100 meter dash, because, I like my knitting to be short and quick! Which is sooooo true!

Oh my Gosh! OH MY GOSH!!!!

2008-08-10T19:04:00.005-06:00

I finished something!!!!

Yesterday, I flew to Seattle and rode a Bus to Bellingham to meet Larry and the kiddos, they have been gone all week. Then today, I rode a bus to Seattle and flew home! So, what that means, I had several uninterrupted hours of knitting time! I cannot think of the last time I have been able to sit for hours and knit, and then actually finish something:)

What did I finish, well the candle flame scarf! LOVE IT! This scrumptious scarf is knit with size 8 needles on a worsted soy/wool blend! The yarn is a very pretty variegated purple explosion! The yarn came from ebay, and the ball wrappers were blank. The seller told me she got it at SWTC's outlet store and it was a prototype that they did not like:) I now know why they did not mass produce this baby -- the fiber is super weak, I had a ton ton ton of breakage, a little frustrating, and also the reason it took forever to knit. I just kept putting it down when the yarn would break.

So here are some pics of this scarf that got all my blood, sweat and tears! And, now onto bigger and better things:)

A Close-up for the texture

And, the whole shebang!

and the secret pal 12 Question of the Week!
Have you ever entered your knitting (or anything else) in the fair? Would you ever consider it?
Nope and Nope. That was an easy question!

And, I forgot in the last post, my secret pal also sent me 2 books a few days ago! She sent 101 Designer One skein wonders and 101 one skein wonders! Thank YOU Secret Pal!!!

Yummy Yarn from my secret pal!

2008-08-04T14:38:00.003-06:00

My Secret Pal sent me a care package the other day with some cotton yarn her last secret pal makes and some homemade soap! Thank you so much secret pal -- whoever you are!

Secret Pal Update

2008-08-01T08:11:00.003-06:00

Here are some more "Questions of the Week!"

Question of the Week #5:

1) Where is your favorite place to go for vacation/holiday?
Anywhere close to home! I am not much of a traveler, but, I do like to get away. The most favorite place I have been to is Virginia, such a fun state! My favorite local trip would be camping in the idaho forests:)
2) Where is one place you’d like to go?
Even not being a traveler, I would love to go see the UK and Ireland.

Question of the Week #6:

What is your favorite type of project to take along on holiday/vacation?
Anything I can fit in my carry on! Last time I went away I took socks and a scarf. I also bring a ton of books when I travel -- I guess I think all I will be doing when I am on vacation is reading and knitting!

Question of the Week #7

What is(are) your favorite place(s) to knit?
At home in my bed in front of the TV. I also like to knit at the park while my kiddos are playing.

What supplies (besides yarn & needles) make the setting perfect for knitting?
Dr. Pepper to drink and hopefully I have not lost the pattern to what I am knitting!

Question of the Week #8

What is your favorite supper for a hot summer evening?

Anything BBQ. I love to BBQ steaks and corn on the cob and hamburgers and chicken and shrimp and vegi's. I recently discovered rubs for BBQing with -- so fun!

Happy 4th of July

2008-07-04T15:59:00.003-06:00

While I am waiting on my Parents and Aunt Jo, I thought I would take a moment and blog for a bit.

I just wanted to shoot out a happy Independance Day to everyone! We are having a fun day, ending, of course, with fireworks later tonight. We went and saw Speed Racer with the kids this morning, they loved it and surprisingly, Larry and I were entertained. Not exactly what we expected, it was goofy, but still a fun movie.

The market bag is almost done, it would have been done sooner, but, it is quite the boring knit! I am getting to the point where I need to have some excitement in my knitting. Read "excitement" as cables, lace, color, etc. But, I will get it done this weekend! I have to -- It has to go out on Friday!

I hope everyone has a wonderful weekend and I will talk to you all later!

Secret Pal 12 Questions of the week!

2008-07-02T10:38:00.003-06:00

Since I have not been posting, I am behind on the Questions of the Week!

So here is week 3:
What would you consider the perfect amount of stash?
I feel that as long as I can keep my stash to the 4 huge rubbermaid containers I am doing good -- If I start to overflow from those containers I definitely feel like I have too much!

And week 4:

1) What yarn (that you don’t have/haven’t used) would make your stash “complete”?
I would loooooooove some Malabrigo, any kind, no one close to me carries this line and I hate buying yarn online I have never felt -- I am a very tactile person.
2) What yarn do you never want to be without?
I think, cotton, I can always use cotton, dishcloths, towels, tank tops, light weight jackets, market bags, scarves, summer time wrist warmers, the list goes on!

Now I feel better! I am all caught up -- now off to pay a little attention to my secret pal:)

I have been bad

2008-07-02T06:52:00.003-06:00

my posting has gotten horrible -- knitting is not happening, only a market bag I have to get done is moving along, and a super slow pace at that.

Larry is done working, yeah! now we can move on with the plans for the childcare business and grow that!

The kids are having a fun summer so far, Karate, Ballet, Storytimes and playing in the pool! Nothing much better to them!

My Aunt is coming to visit this weekend, and we have a party to go to on Friday! Next weekend we get to go camping, my Mom's side of the family is having a reunion (a fun one!). they do every year, I look forward to seeing all my aunts and uncles!

Well, that is all, I think! Just busy with the addon, childcare and the kiddos!

Sepcret Pal 12 Week 2 Question

2008-06-19T21:45:00.003-06:00

As a kid, what did you look forward to most about summer vacation/break/holiday?

When I was a kiddo, I loves the freedom of summer. Both of my parents worked full time, so I had a blast during the summer. I could pretty much do whatever I wanted, as long as my chores got done. My most favorite thing to do, lay outside in the sunshine with a good book!

On another topic, I could really use a pick me up -- this whole lay off thing has got me down. I know we will be fine (The severance is pretty good), but, it is still stressful. I am not sure how to handle this -- I have never had to deal with a layoff involving the major bread winner in the family. We have a plan -- we will run the childcare business together and make the same amount of money, but still, I am stressed. you know, the whole best laid plans of mice and men:) Larry is no help at all -- He keeps telling me that I am choosing to feel the way I do and there is nothing to be stressed about -- he obviously is not a woman! Darn Men! Thanks for listening to me gripe and complain, I just keep trying to think of all the positives -- Larry will be home at night now:), we will not be destitute, the kids will not have a "single" mom anymore and on and on -- I know I have a lot of blessings!

Have a joyous day:)

It's exciting!

2008-06-17T15:10:00.003-06:00

The little dress I designed has been favorited 95 times on Ravelry! I am so excited. I am glad other people like the pattern:) I cannot wait to get 100 favorites!

So

2008-06-16T19:27:00.003-06:00

Larry was laid off today! A bit of a stressful day to say the least. I know we will be fine, but, I still want to go curl up in a ball and cry!

Some FO's and more yarn!!!

2008-06-14T22:06:00.004-06:00

I finished 2 dishcloths and started a market bag! Yeah, no more stalling on the knitting!

I also hit Michaels again and bought more Cotton -- like I need anymore, but $1! Who can pass that up:)

The kids and I had a blast today! We planned a really fun day since Larry is out of town. First, Karate for Anders, then a Birthday Party at a friends house. Then, we went to WWKIP day at Puffy Mondaes! Yeah! That was a blast. We knit a little and talked a lot and bought some yarn too:) I picked up some Louet Riverstone and some Cotton Fleece (they didn't carry the cotton fleece last time I made it out to Nampa, so I am super excited that I can find it somewhat close to me). After WWKIP, the kids and I had to stop by Ewephoria, since we were in Nampa, we had to, I'm serious, really. I didn't find much there, just the Holiday issue of Vogue Knitting, no yarn that just screamed, buy me. Oh Well!

Also, Secret Pal 12, the first question of the week! They asked: What is your favorite summertime drink? I say, I love sun tea. My mom and I used to take this HUGE jar and fill it with water and then put a ton of tea bags in it and set it in the sun for a few hours. It makes the yummiest tea ever! I don't like to sweeten the tea, but, I love my tea nice and strong. We have always used just pain old Lipton tea, but nothing tastes better on a hot day than a nice icy cold glass of sun tea!

WOW!

2008-06-10T19:52:00.003-06:00

I told you I had a lot to post about, so here we go:)

Hannah had a super busy week last week, she graduated Kindergarten and turned 6! Her graduation ceremony was so cute! Class of 2020 -- I bet there is some sort of cute slogan to go with that! For her birthday we took her and a few friends to see Kung Fu Panda, which was a super cute movie! She got to open presents 4 different times -- At our house, when Aunt Lauries came, at Grandma and Pops and with her friends! She thought her Birthday was for the weekend and not just on Saturday!

I was busy this last week too, so busy in fact I didn't have any time to knit! None at all! I got all the PTO stuff handed off to the new president! Thank you! The PTO gave me a parting gift:) A 1 night stay at a Hampton Inn and $50 to P.F. Chang's! That was so sweet of them, and Larry and I cannot wait to use it:)

While I did not get any knitting time in, I did manage to have a little stash enhancement time! I stopped by Fuzz and got some yummy sock yarn. And, after I saw the sale flyer for Michaels, I had to go stock up on Cotton. $1 each! I have this thing, if it is a dollar, it is really hard to pass up! The only sad thing, I wanted solids and all they had left were ombres, which I have a ton of, but, they may get more in by the end of the week, so I will stop by again!

Larry is leaving town for the Sawtooth Relay this weekend and the kids and I are going to relax and have some fun, without too much driving:) There is a thing called Eagle Fun Days this weekend -- but the gas, AH! So, I think we will have a lot of fun close to home -- maybe movie night with banana splits:)

I am still alive...

2008-06-10T15:19:00.003-06:00

just busy! I have some updates on knitting and kiddos and more when I have more than a minute to sit down at the computer:)

Have a wonderful day!

I have found it!

2008-05-31T19:29:00.004-06:00

The Project that will make me learn all about crochet, I must make this! It is so cute. Now I just need to figure out the pattern. The Strawberry is even cuter -- scroll down a little -- and I can envision those for little girly purses! So I am off, to crochet! Ack! I think I will use a little acrylic for this, I need to use up some from the stash anyway!

Secret Pal 12 Questionnaire!

2008-05-31T11:27:00.003-06:00

Secret Pal is starting again! I have been wanting to be in a secret pal swap for ever, but, I always miss the sign ups! I found them in time this time! Yeah! So here is the questionnaire!

1. What is/are your favorite yarn/s to knit with? What fibers do you absolutely *not* like?
I love to knit with natural fibers, cotton, wool, silk, bamboo, etc! I do not like anything that is novelty.

2. What do you use to store your needles/hooks in?
My straight needles are in a pillar candle holder, my DPN's are in a roll up fabric holder and my circulars are in a thing that hangs on a hanger on the back of my door. I do not use DPN's very often at all, in fact I cannot think of a time in the last few months I have used them since I figured out magic loop!

3. How long have you been knitting & how did you learn? Would you consider your skill level to be beginner, intermediate or advanced? A friend taught me to knit the knit and purl stitches and then I learned the rest through trial and error and from books. Recently I taught myself to knit the continental way of knitting. I have been knitting for about 5 years and I would say I am intermediate/advanced. I can do all the fancy stuff -- it just takes me way longer to do it!

4. Do you have an Amazon or other online wish list? I do have an Amazon Wish List Here.

5. What's your favorite scent? Vanilla

6. Do you have a sweet tooth? Favorite candy? Yes, a big one. I love chocolate, especially mint chocolate or anything with almonds!

7. What other crafts or Do-It-Yourself things do you like to do? Do you spin? I like to scrapbook, papercraft, sew, quilt etc! I have tried most everything, except spinning, I am afraid of the spinning.

8. What kind of music do you like? Can your computer/stereo play MP3s? (if your buddy wants to make you a CD) I like most kinds of music and I do have the ability to play MP3's. My genre I buy from most on iTunes is called Post-Grunge.

9. What's your favorite color(s)? Any colors you just can't stand? I love black, Pink and Red. I do not like Orange at all or neon colors.

10. What is your family situation? Do you have any pets? I am married, have 2 kiddos ages 6 and 7. I do not have any pets.

11. Do you wear scarves, hats, mittens or ponchos? I wear scarves hats and Mittens, not Ponchos.

12. What is/are your favorite item/s to knit? I love to knit anything with cables and I am learning to love lace. Socks are fun, but I only knit from the toe up!

13. What are you knitting right now? I have a Candle Flame Scarf and a pair of socks for Hannah OTN.

14. Do you like to receive handmade gifts? yes, handmade gifts that are made for me are fun to get!

15. Do you prefer straight or circular needles? Bamboo, aluminum, plastic? I use straight bamboo needles for dishcloths and other small items, and I use Addi Turbo Circular Needles for everything else. I do not use DPN's.

16. Do you own a yarn winder and/or swift? Yes, I do!

17. How old is your oldest UFO? I think I have been working on the candle flame scarf for several months, I just keep putting it down for other stuff!

18. What is your favorite holiday? Christmas

19. Is there anything that you collect? Yarn, seriously, I have yarn I will never knit with, it is too pretty!

20. Any books, yarns, needles or patterns out there you are dying to get your hands on? What knitting magazine subscriptions do you have? My Amazon wish list has my books I want, but I mostly want the Harmony Guides on there:) I currently have a subscription to Creative Knitting and would love one to Interweave Knits

21. Are there any new techniques you'd like to learn? I would love to more proficient at lace and color work.

22. Are you a sock knitter? What are your foot measurements? Yes, big feet I have:) 9 in Circumference and 10 in length.

23. When is your birthday? July 10th

24. Are you on Ravelry? If so, what's your ID? Yes, tami-knits

Ballet

2008-05-30T08:09:00.004-06:00

Hannah had her first ever Dance Recital on Wednesday! It was so cute, the girls were all adorable in their little pink tutu's! Hannah had a ton of fun, and after all my worries about stage fright, Hannah is a total stage hog. She kept trying to get back up on stage during the intermissions and after the performances were all over! Once, she even said she had to go on stage during another performance to help them:)

Knitting is stalled

2008-05-29T09:17:00.003-06:00

I seem to be at a point where my knitting is stalled, I know how to finish all the WIP's I have, I just cannot seem to make myself finish them! I don't want too! I am not sure if I need to start a new project or just sit down and work on a WIP. I seem to be in a knitting Funk.

What is the best way to get out of the knitting funk?

Vegas!

2008-05-20T09:25:00.003-06:00

Over the weekend the hubby and I went to Vegas. We had some fun and some realizations (we are not the kind of people that like hanging out in Vegas on a Saturday Night with all the "Beautiful People"). The opulence of the strip was almost too much for me! I just kept thinking, that the people that built these casinos could support an entire country with what their casino cost! After I realized I was slightly overwhelmed with the extravagance, we headed down to Freemont Street. That was a lot more fun. The people were friendly and the crowd was fun. I think Freemont Street was more what I expected from Las Vegas.

We saw a lot of sights, The Flamingos at the Flamingo, The Lions at MGM Grand, The Conservatory at the Bellagio, the Shark Reef at Mandalay Bay are the pics below!

We also saw the Circus at Circus-Circus and The Fountains at the Bellagio!

So Much to See, So Much Walking, So Little Sleep!

Yeah! It's Done!

2008-05-14T07:55:00.003-06:00

I finished the Mystery Jacket KAL last night! The Jacket is already in a box being shipped to my MIL too:) I am so excited to get this done, now I just need to finish my other WIP's! Yeah!
So here is a picture!

Another thing done!

2008-05-08T10:03:00.002-06:00

I think I am avoiding my other projects! I did another dishcloth:) This one is the May KAL from the Monthly Dishcloth Group on yahoo. the concept is that two hearts become one when they are married. The picture is kind of bad, I couldn't get it to show up very well! It is knit in Bumblebee Cotton from Patons (the only solid I had that was not really bright, plus, If I give this to a bride, she can use it as the something blue as a hankie maybe.

Where have I been?

2008-05-07T10:42:00.003-06:00

Well, I have been planning a Fundraiser for the kiddos school! It was over on Friday! Thank YOU!!! I am the first PTO President at their school to make it through the Spring Fundraiser without having a mental/nervous breakdown! And, we raised $12,000!!! YEAH! now that it is all over and in a few weeks I will no longer be president -- elections are next Thursday! I can have my life back:) That means, more knitting and more scrapbooking and more just fun times with the kids, instead of running from one thing to the other! And more time to Blog! I have missed writing to all of you guys.

One thing I did manage to get done was read Kate Jacobs newest book! It came out yesterday, May 6th. I loved it even more that I liked Friday Night Knitting Club. Comfort Food is great, the characters are great and I would recommend this book to anyone, especially if you watch the Food Network! The Main character is a middle aged Cooking Channel Star. The book is about how she moves through a big disappointment onto something that was better than what she had before! Anyways, check the book out! defiantly worth the time:) I think I might just give it 4 1/2 stars!

Onto Knitting: I do have a FO, just a dishcloth, but something! It is the dots within Stripes dishcloth from the Monthly Dishcloth KAL group! Knit in Navy and White Peaches and Cream Worsted weight cotton with size 7 needles! I just need to get the mystery jacket done now and the scarves I have been working on:) I then I am not sure what to do, maybe a sweater for me, or this tank top for Hannah!

Talk to you all later, off to read the blogs I read, but am wayyy behind on! Darn Fundraiser:)

Baby Ribbon Dress

2008-04-29T17:05:00.007-06:00

Yeah the Dress is finished, on time even:)! I am super happy with it and the pattern turned out pretty good as well! So, for your knitting pleasure I give you the Baby Ribbon Dress!

Materials Needed:
2 skeins Kollage Yarns Hope, or another DK weight 100% Cotton Yarn approx 320 yds. You can make both the dress and the hat out of the 2 skeins of yarn!
Size 6 16" Circular Needle
Organdy Ribbon
Tapestry Needle
Crochet Hook the same size as your needle

Gauge: 5 stitches and 7 rows to 1"

Size: Newborn

Cast On 106 stitches. Join in the round, PM, being careful not to twist!
Round 1: *K1,P1* Repeat Around
Round 2: *P1,K1* Repeat Around

Knit 10 rounds, on the last round place a different marker at 53 stitches, this is for the decreases.

Begin Decreases:
Decrease Round: K1, SSK, K to 3 stitches before marker, K2tog, K1, slip marker, K1, SSK, Knit to 3 stitches before marker, K2tog, K1

Knit 5 Rounds.

Repeat the above decrease pattern with Decrease Row and Knitting 5 rounds 8 times.

Eyelet Round: *YO, K2tog* Repeat Around
K 2 rounds

Divide for front and back. You will work the back first and then the front. You will work the front and back in stockinette stitch, Knitting the RS and Purling the WS.

Back:
Row 1: BO 4 stitches, Knit till end of row
Row 2: BO 4 stitches, Purl till end of row
Row 3: BO 3 Stitches, Knit till end of row
Row 4: BO 3 Stitches, Purl till end of row
Row 5: K2tog, knit till last 2 stitches, K2tog

Continue in Stockinette Stitch until piece measure 3" from eyelet row.

Straps:
*You will be using 2 balls of yarn, 1 for each strap!
Row1: K5, attach yarn from new ball, Bo till 5 stitches left, K5
Continue in Stockinette until straps are 2" long. Place stitches on Stitch holders, you will be using the 3 needle Bind off to hook the shoulders together!

Front:

Row 1: BO 2, Knit till end of row
Row 2: BO 2, purl till end of row
Row 3: K2tog, Knit to last 2 stitches, K2tog
Row 4: Purl
Row 5: K2tog, knit to last 2 stitches, K2tog

Continue in Stockinette Stitch until piece measures 3" from eyelet Row.

Straps:
Row1 : K8, BO stitches till 8 remain for second strap, K8.
Row 2: Purl
Row 3: Knit, decreasing 1 on the neck edge
Row 4: Purl
Row 5: Knit, decreasing 1 on the neck edge
Row 6: Purl
Row 7: Knit, decreasing 1 on the neck edge (5 stitches for each strap)

Continue in Stockinette Stitch till straps measure 2". using 3 needle Bind Off, BO the back and front shoulder stitches.

Finishing:

Using the Crochet hook, single crochet around the armholes and neck edge.

Weave in all ends and thread ribbon through the eyelet row.

I think this is my all time favortie blog post ever!

2008-04-25T17:22:00.002-06:00

Check this out:)

Ribbon Baby Hat

2008-04-24T21:21:00.001-06:00

I have a friend having a baby next month and I wanted to find a cute little outfit for her. I could not find a pattern I liked anywhere:) So, I made my own! The first installment is Ribbon Baby Hat. Coming soon will be a dress and maybe some little booties to match!

Ribbon Baby Hat

Needed: 1 skein of Hope Cotton in Purple, 170 yds, DK weight you will use about 1/2 the skein. About 20 inches of organdy ribbon, I used a plum purple. Size 6 needles, 40" for Magic Loop. You can also use DPN's
Gauge: 4.5 sts to 1"
Sizes: Baby

Cast on 72 stitches onto the needle. Divide for Magic loop. Join in the round
Row 1: *K1, P1* Repeat till end of round
Row 2: *P1, K1* Repeat till end of round
Row 3: *K2tog, YO* Repeat till end of round

After those 3 rows are completed, work in stockinette stitch until the piece measures 3 1/4 inches from the cast on edge.
Then, begin decreases.

Row 1: *K7, K2tog* Repeat till end of round
All Even rows: Knit
Row 3: *k6, K2tog* Repeat till end of round
Row 5: *K5, K2tog* Repeat till end of round
Row 7: *K4, K2tog* Repeat till end of round
Row 9:* K4, K2tog* Repeat till end of round
Row 11: *K3, K2tog* Repeat till end of round
Row 13: *K3, K2tog* Repeat till end of round
Row 15: *K2, K2tog* Repeat till end of round
Row 17: *K1, K2tog* Repeat till end of round; 16 stitches left
Row 18: K2tog around; 8 stitches left

Break yarn, leaving a 6 inch tail. Thread yarn into tapestry needle and weave through stitches on needles, close hole in top of head and weave in all ends on the wrong side of the hat. Using the ribbon, weave it through the eyelet row and tie a bow off the center of the front.

FO: Bob's Party Socks

2008-04-24T07:06:00.003-06:00

I finished Bob's Party Socks! Yeah! I have enough of the yarn to knit Hannah some socks now:) She is very excited!