Downfall

Like everyone else in the country that is battling this H1N1 swine flu epidemic I have finally succumbed. There’s been snotty noses, vomitting, Kleenex balls, Halls cough drops (citrus flavored only), sneezing fits, hacking up a lung type coughing…

Shawn and I cut our night short yesterday. Instead of dinner we did lunch that I thoroughly was delighted with. We don’t go out to dinner, at least not just the two of us. The best we can do for the four of us is Souplantation. But instead we went to one of my favorite Italian restaurants, Buca di Beppo.  And then we spent some time at the R/C racetrack where Shawn races his truck. I fell asleep in the car, the iPod still in my mittened hans.

So instead of bowling we ordered a pizza (and a Cinnapie) from Papa John’s and spent the rest of the night home. We watched movies under a blanket and ate the pizza right from the box. All of that seemed fine.

Until it hit me.

I’ve slept most of the day. The other part of the day has been spent wrapped up in my King size microfleece blanket, sitting as comfortably as possible, watching “Perry Mason” movies, and trying to focus on the little tweedy stitches of a new yarn (and a new pattern).

And that’s all she wrote.

As for the giveaway the winner is: Raina. And just because I decided to give out another owl. The second winner is: Abby! Will both of you please email me at iknit (dot) ipurl (at) yahoo (dot) com. I need your mailing addresses and your color preference. Thanks for playing along everyone!

twenty.nine.goals

So now that I’m 29 I figured I’d make a list of 29 goals that I’d like to accomplish by the much dreaded 30th birthday. I think my 29th has been my last milestone. I do not wish to be “officially” a 30 something. Not quite for some time. I still want to play in my 20′s. Time. Le sigh.

1. Return to college Spring 09.
2. Decide on my major: English or History.
3. Buy and ride a bicycle. (I’m looking at a baby blue beach cruiser.)
4. Join a gym. (My target goal is to lose 80 pounds.)
5. Open a new Etsy which will include quilted projects.
6. Go to Magic Mountain with Shawn for Valentine’s Day, I’ll even go on all the rides.
7. Get a new hair cut color. (This is going to be a suprise.)
8. Get a new tattoo.
9. Replace our old loveseat with a recliner.
10. Upgrade the computer with Windows 7 and Photoshop.
11. Train for a marathon. (Marathon is in October I believe.)
12. Read all the books in my 2010 challenge.
13. Knit something for my grandmother.
14. Knit a pair of socks, “that don’t slouch”, for my mom.
15. Sew Scout’s Easter dress.
16. Paint the living room.
17. Put together all of the art work that we want to hang in the living room, hall way and master bedroom.
18. Finish the blouse I started six months ago.
19. Go back to Chicago with my mom.
20. Learn to eat healthy.
21. Complete the NaKniSweMoDo sweaters within the year.
22. Make a quilt for our bedroom. (Teal and dark brown.)
23. Learn how to crochet, beyond single crochet.
24. Write a book.
25. Make new friends.
26. Get the entire house organized.
27. Buy a new bed. (We really need a box spring and frame.)
28. Buy a new Blythe, either Urban Cowgirl or Ice Rune.
29. Enjoy the year before I’ll have to say that I’m. thirty. years. old.

Twenty Nine Years

Some days it seems like they have been a long twenty nine years. Other days it’s hard to comprehend that I’ve been on this Earth for 10, 585 days (give or take a Leap Year). Twenty nine years.

It all happened twenty nine years ago. It was Thursday and by mid morning I had been kicking up a storm. I was born when the meal should have been getting on to the table. Mom never lets me forget, “I didn’t get my pie.”

We had pie this year. And then out of nowhere in comes Shawn with a chocolate bundt cake with candles dripping wax onto the icing.

Today I’ve been filled with phlegm and congestion. I’ve also been filled with a lot of kind wishes from friends and family. Tomorrow is the day we will celebrate it. Out to dinner and a night of Cosmic bowling.

I’ve lived through -

eight surgeries * one funeral *two births * seventeen apartments/houses *ten jobs * one wagon ride through the Death Valley *three dogs *eleven tattoos * one marriage * two children * six years of playing softball * twenty seven years of riding horses * the Northridge earthquake * five white Christmases * saving my babysitter’s life * two cavities * winning a college scholarship * one AA degree * learning three languages * three broken ankles * being top cookie seller in my Girl Scout troop for three years * eleven states * seeing the remake of  “Halloween” * sleeping on my stomach * learning how to sew *

I suppose I could go on. Twenty nine years of busy-ness. Doing stuff. Going places. Learning things. Meeting people. Asking questions.

Here’s to a few more!

Thanksgiving is a Hoot

Today is the day that we give thanks. But why do we minimize our gratefulness to just one day out of the year? We should be giving thanks every day. We really should. And I believe today will be the first of many days in which I will embark on my journey.

Sometimes by the end of the day I’m so exhausted that I don’t even say my prayers. Sometimes I get so upset that not only do I dwell on the negative but I can’t even foresee the positive. Some days I don’t want to make three meals a day, plus snacks, and yet I don’t even think of how lucky we truly are to have the resources for three meals let alone one.

But today is different. It’s not just a day where we remember the Pilgrims and Indians, but a day to make peace within ourselves. I think highly of Thanksgiving. Maybe because I was born on Thanksgiving in 1980 and I figure that somewhere in the scheme of things that there was some kind of reason I was born on that day. (My birthday doesn’t fall on T-day this year, but tomorrow.)

Today will be filled with smiles.

Today there will be much to be grateful for.

• My husband and my children.

• The good health of my family. Recently I called both my grandmothers, who live in Illinois, who I haven’t spoken to for nearly 12 years since my grandpa died. They are doing excellent as is the rest of the family. I miss them so much and I wish them well.

• My friends. This means you. I don’t have many in real life friends but my blogging buddies, all of you, are like my best friends.

• I’m grateful for my new best friend, Rogue. Ever since having to give up Scarlett it’s been very hard for me. But Rogue has come here to replace her in some ways and for that I’m truly thankful.

• For the gifts that have been bestowed upon me. I’m thankful that I’m smart, knowledgable, and talented. What I’d do without my knitting or sewing I really don’t know.

And because I am feeling so grateful, I’m feeling a bit generous and I have a give away.

{Owl felt kit by Paper and String.}

I absolutely love this kit and have a feeling that I will be purchasing many more of her patterns in the future. They are all just. too. cute. I made this second one for Scout because you know if I make one then I really need to make two.

So as a give away prize I will be naming one winner and gifting them an owl in the color of their choice. Just leave a comment and tell me what you are grateful for. I will choose a winner on Saturday, November 28th at 5 p.m. PST.

Have a Happy Thanksgiving!

Paper and Glue

Every year, since I started to scrapbook, I have always gotten creative and made our Christmas cards. And since I only make them for family and close friends I don’t have to worry about making dozens of them for people who might only look at them and then store them away. I try to avoid thinking about my pretty little cards in the trash amongst an abundance of wrapping paper, tape, or fruitcakes.

But this year I wanted to keep it simple because, really, do I need to make two dozen? I certainly don’t. While Scout was painting with her new Crayola washable paints I started making a mess with some scrapbook paper, brads, buttons, glue, distress ink, stamps…

and came up with this.

So even if I can’t afford forty four cents for every person who comments or for every person whose blog I read, I’m giving you holiday wishes via my blog. You may not get it in your mail but you can always look at it on your computer. I think that’s just as good. Don’t you?

Cute, You Want Cute?

I got it for you.

Oh yes.

You.

Can’t.

Resist.

You couldn’t, could you?

Her name is Rogue. She’s a blue nose pitbull from a Purple Ribbon line. She has beautiful gray blue eyes. She’s about 9 weeks old. And she’s my 29th birthday gift, from Shawn. (My b-day is Friday.)

I told you that you’d get cute.

Done, Done, Done

Done.

Wrapping things up feels so good. I feel so accomplished. I should be received a Gold Medal any day now.

I’ve made some adjustments in my life.

• Spend less time on the computer. Check.
• Watch less television. Check.
• Spend more time reading the books in my library queue. Check.
• Stick to my Slim Fast diet. Check.
• Go outside more often. Check.
• Write in my journal more often. Check.
• Finish up all those WIP’s. Almost check.

Yes. Almost.

Project #1: Slow going. (No pun intended.)

Sheldon the Turtle

Yarn: KnitPicks Green Apple and Grass

Needles: US 3′s and 4′s, Crochet Hook US C

Notions: 8mm black safety eyes

Project #2: The stashbuster.

Feather Cable Cowl

Yarn: Karabella Margrite, I only had one skein of this but wanted to use it for something. I ended up doing 6 repeats of the pattern instead of 8 repeats.

Project #3: A gift.

Pattern: Baby Chalice Blanket

Yarn: Red Heart Eco Ways in Aquarium, took about three skeins to get a blanket that measures approximately 34 x 38.

Now I can get back to my regularly sheduled program. Cause I am done.

One Weekend

In one weekend you can…

…go to the park twice.

…decorate the house with paper garlands and glittered snowflakes.

…organize my stash of felt.

…go out to eat at one of our favorite burger joints.

…tickle each other and make funny faces.

…finish one book and start a new one.

…clean out my wardrobe.

…put up 150 Christmas lights.

…watch the kids make a creative mess.

…fall asleep to the sounds of the gusting winds.

…go out to dinner with the family.

…knit 5 repeats on a blanket that will be cherished forever.

…try a new recipe with a new twist.

In one weekend you can just be.

Something

There’s something about waking up at six in the morning.

There’s something about letting my hair go curly today.

There’s something about the mottled white clouds in a tern gray sky.

There’s somethingabout the scalding hot water while washing last night’s dishes.

There’s something about Scout’s laugh when she’s watching “Snoopy”.

There’s something about folding the laundry, piece by piece.

There’s something about catching a glance at the fresh flowers Shawn brought home.

There’s something about the way Scout turns a stuffed white bunny into a “kitty cat”.

There’s something about reading a book that just won’t end.

There’s something about simplicity.

There’s something about making a gift for a loved one.

There’s always something.

Phoncible

Last week, while perusing yarn stashes on Ravelry, I found two skeins of Noro for a new hat, Phoncible to be exact. I’m not really a hat wearing type of gal. I don’t look too great in hats except maybe a cowboy hat. No, really. I look great wearing cowboy hats. But there was something about the playful colors and striping that snared me. And having a wool hat for the cold weather wasn’t a bad reason to start this either, know what I mean? (Anything to justify casting on something new.)

So without further ado,

Phoncible by Presentsknits

Yarn: Noro Kureyon, 2 skeins (dye lot numbers 152 and 184)

Needles: US 7 (16″ circulars and DPN’s)

Mods: I cast on 112 instead of 100  (to fit a 23″ circumference). I also started decreasing over 110 sts instead of starting at 100. This makes for a roomier hat, especially if you have a big head or lots of hair.

Personally, I think Scout looks much cuter trying it on.

Then again I think she’s cute no matter what she does. Don’t you?