Thankful Thursday

Happy Birthday Mom!

I have finished up a number of projects in the past week. I was going to post today about them, but I decided to put that off to another day.

I decided to cast on January STR shipment which is "Dragon Dance". As I was winding the color way, I decided that I would knit this for my son. Joshua loves reds, has a thing about dragons and January is his birthday.

In curiosity I checked the ball band for the associated word they print inside. Mine is Puff.

Do you remember Puff? "Puff The Magic Dragon" was popular when I was just a small child and I absolutely love the song!

So, I sat down and checked YouTube. Sure enough, its there. So I wandered down memory lane, actually cried myself down memory lane.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3OiOlnoyljk

So, Thankful Thursday is dedicated to childhood, the subsequent loss thereof and everything that falls in between. Appropriate for my little man who is teetering on the brink.

Karrie

(p.s. I tried the little linky thingy... no luck yet - K)

You Make My Day

A few days back Hanna from Hasbu's hideaway http://hasbu.blogspot.com (Carrie, I will figure this out yet) nominated me for You Make My Day.

Thank You Hanna

I appreciate all those that I do visit (and you know who you are cause I comment, frequently). I enjoy all your postings and checking in with my "friends". I appreciate those that I've gotten to know better, and those that are across the pond (Hanna / Elf) that otherwise I would never have encountered.

I appreciate the times you all let me whine. The advice and suggestions given. The support that comes without fear of derision. A group of cheerleaders that I can check in with anytime, anywhere.

So to all of you my blog buddies - "You Make My Day"

Karrie

A Little Of This And That & Thankful Thursday

In my past post (3 down) I was asked about the miniature socks I was making.

Pattern is a combination of one that comes with the Sock Blocker Key Chain http://www.thebellwether.biz/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=19_34&products_id=57 with a short row heel added.

Cast on 16 stitches in round
Work 5/6 or your choice rows of ribbing
Change to stockinette and work leg to desired length
Work 1/2 stitches (8) for short-row-heel
Continue in round until foot desired length
Decrease for toe
Bind Off

Basic pattern. If you require more info -- let me know.

I was also talking about making a Yarn Themed Christmas Tree next year. If you are a Rockin Socker, we received those tiny little yarn skeins "emergency" yarn. Wouldn't they be cute also on a tree as an ornament? So, for next Christmas I plan on gathering my little skeins, knitting miniature socks and hopefully miniature sweaters.

(I apologize to whomever I got the miniature sweater idea from. I tried to trace back and find your post so I could link to you but I couldn't find it. Please accept my apologies and if you let me know whose blog I saw the miniature sweaters in, I will link. Thank you)

By-the-by if someone could instruct me on how to hide an address when I link, that would be appreciated.

Oh, and is there any sheep/fiber festival in the Michigan/Ohio area that anyone knows of coming up?

On the Thankful Side...... the sun is shining, and January is almost over. Spring is only 2 months away!!

Happy Thursday - Karrie

Scavernger Hunt Questionaire

1) Do you knit, crochet or both? How long have you been doing it?

Now Both. My grandma taught me to crochet when I was little, which my mother reinforced. Grandma provided many gifts over the years that I still cherish.

Two years ago I read "A Good Yarn" and "A Shop on Blossom Street" by Debbie McComber and I HAD to learn to knit socks. Two years later I am an avid knitter who's other love (quilting) has dropped by the wayside.

2) What is on your needles/hook right now?

EZ Baby Surprise Jacket - currently just one thing as I completed all "hanging out" projects for Xmas and haven't had a chance to refill the bags/needles with projects. One of the top things on my to do list.

3) What is the most frequently used tool in your knitting bag?

Tape Measure.

4) What are your 3 favorite yarns (fiber type or brand)? What are your 3 least favorite?

Favs - Wool ! - Blue Moon Fiber Arts - Soft! ???? I really haven't used much else to "Love" it

Not So Much :( .... 100% Acrylic .... Scratchy .....

5) What is your favorite color?

Blues

6) If you had a 5 minute shopping spree in your LYS, how would you plan your attack?

Sock Yarn, bulky's

7) What is your favorite FO and why? (post a pic if you have it!)

Wow... fav FO... I can't think of anything that just GRABS me, but I love my socks.

8) What are your favorite things to knit/crochet?

Socks and "quick knits" I like the feeling of satisfaction of finishing a project. I have not knit a sweater cause it takes to long (ok, yet). And what's better than hand-knit socks?

9) Do you collect anything?

Not much, I don't like to dust. I have the entire collection of Jude Deveraux books & August Moon Collectibles.

10) What are your five favorite things (not necessarily knitting related)?

1. My Children; 2. Sock yarn; 3. Bags to carry my yarn; 4.

11) Are you on Ravelry? What is your ID?

No

12) Do you drink tea/coffee/cocoa?

Tea preferably. Than cocoa

13) Favorite Sweets?

Lindalt Milk Choc Truffels

14) Any allergies?

None

15) Do you have pets? kids?

1 Dog

2 Birds

3 Cats

2 Children (14, 11)

1 Husband

Too Many! (of which depends on the day)

Thankful Thursday (a little late)

This week I am thanking God for all the ways he uses us to bless other people.

It was one year ago this week that God ...

made me a little late for work
made a springtime January day
encouraged me to park a little further out in the parking lot
encouraged me to smile at the lady sitting in her van
used me to take the little baby
used me to delivery her safely
gave baby a chance at a wonderful life
gave 2 childless people the wish of their hearts.

Here's to all the ways God uses us to bless other people.

Karrie

Happy 2008

And a right good one its going to be too.

I woke up Monday morning and as I was laying there thought that if I still had that 2nd job I would be getting to go in and that extra $200 would come in really handy right now to pay for Lissa's drivers training (yes, driver's training... but we'll discuss that another day) and as I lay there I got this upset knotted stomache at the thought. That was confirmation enough that I made the right decision by quitting. I love being free of that albatross.

The last couple of days are the first ones that I have had off this new year without children, thus why I'm just now getting around to a holiday review and knitting update.

My biggest resolution for the New Year was more of a revelation. Currently in MI there are only 2 grocery stores at which to shop. Kroger and Meijer. I have shopped so long at M that I can't find anything at K and they are much higher priced. However, M's customer service has going to the toliet. This has been getting my goat for some time now. I made a concious decision that since M wasn't going to change and I didn't like K that MY ATTITUDE had to change and what a difference it made.

I applied this same perspective to the "In-Law Holiday Gathering". Those elements that irritated the bajeevers out of me, I tried to remove. I provided all the food and drink and made it an open house so they were free to arrive whenever and I wasn't waiting on them for any part of the meal. Ended up being a very nice day, all things considered.

So, I am resolving to not let things in life that I have no control over get to me. That it is up to me to change my attitude towards the situation and thus move forward. No one cares how I feel about this or that and if I don't have the power to change the situation than I do have the power to change how I respond and feel about it. Once changed, the whatever doesn't have any power anymore. I'll let you know how this works throughout the year.... and feel free to remind me when I'm crabbing about something.

Christmas did me in for awhile on my sock knitting. I have several pairs I need to work on but I had interst in nothing that was time consuming. So I've knitting up a 1/2 dozen so far of these cuties. I'm hoping to have a tree next year with a knitting theme, even if its just a little one. One of the blogs I visit (please forgive me, I can't remember which one right now) had some miniture sweaters and provided me with the link. I'm hoping to add a few to this new tree as well.

Before Christmas I had purchased yarn to make myself a hat and mittens for the early mornings I'm leaving work and don't care about what it does to my hair. I've finnished the hat and one mitten. Hopefully will have a 2nd done here before March.

I also purchased EZ "Baby Surprise Jacket" pattern and yarn. I found out at xmas that a cousin-in-law is having their first baby in April so that was slated for them. I have a baby outfit in light green (pants/top) that I don't like the way the top came out at all. I had started a 2nd pair of pants (same pattern) but didn't want to repeat the icky top. So... I'm pairing the BSJ green and beige with the 2nd pants (which are 1/2 done).

The kit came with yarn that is somewhat scratchy (green and grey). One of my co-workers is due in February so I thought I would use it for her. If she doesn't use it I'll never know if she washes it and it shrinks I'll never know that either so its a perfect fit. BSJ #2 is 3/4 done - hoping to have it finnished before I go back to work Thursday. I know you've heard this before, but I absolutely LOVE this pattern. It is so quick and cute and makes the nicest jacket. So I am going to tear out the top to light green pants/top and mix the light green with some varigated baby yarn to make jacket #3. That one is in the wings.

I am also making a real effort to get back to my quilting this year. Yes I quilt too. I know you haven't heard much about that, but I do. I currently have 2 Block of the Months that need to be finnished (have finnishing kits). Another BOM that I need to finnish the blocks on, join, quilt that I know who I want to give it to. My Graduation Quilt (what I bought with grad money so I have something to show for it. Right now I have 10 squares, 2 patterned squares and a finnishing kit). I'm going to start small though and try to get a couple of small wall hangings done for the time being.

And finally I've joined another swap. The Knitting Scavenger Hunt is my first swap of the year. I really enjoyed ISE 5 so I've been looking for another to join. So, you'll be seeing posts for this shortly. If anyone is interested, International Scarf Exchange 6 will be opening in the beginning of February.

Hello To All My Friends!

I feel like I've been gone an eternity, though I haven't gone anywhere. Between the kids being home (absolutely loved it but we were all ready to return to a schedule) and work being wacky because of the holidays, I feel very disjointed.

I would like to take the time to post a nice long update with photos... but I'm suppose to be sleeping as I have to work again tonight. Than Thursday, Friday, and Saturday are packed so it will probably be next week before I have time to say much more.

I am hoping that I will catch up with life again here soon (do I say that in every post, sure feels like it). I have been knitting.... just finished a Baby Surprise Jacket which I absolutely love both the finished item and the pattern! I have been listening to Knit Pics Podcasts (got an IPod for xmas) and want to purchase a bunch of books now. I need to find the time to get a project together (yarn, pattern, needles) so that I can start on something else, but can't find that time either... UGH!!!

So, here's hoping your finding your balance. Chat Soon K

Thankful Thursday

Thank you God for a new slate

... the promise of tomorrow
... the promise of what might be
... the knowledge that "all things are possible through Christ who Strengthens me"

Happy New Year all - Karrie