OOOOOOOOOOOO-klahoma

First, I give you an obligatory birdie shot:I have come to adopt these little birdies, seeing as I don't really have to take care of them! It still amazes me that a bird made a nest and laid eggs in one of my hanging plants. My bonus: free fertilizer for my plant. So far, it is still contained in the pot, but we will see how long that lasts.

Okay, back on topic. I spent the last several days at my parents house in Oklahoma, hence the title, but I must give some background. Growing up, we moved up and down the Midwest and at one point, spent 6 months living in Oklahoma. For me, that was 7 months too long. Oklahoma and I severely dislike eachother. Many things happened between us and at this point it's just a given.....until recently.

My parents go to Tulsa quite often and what does a knitter do in a new city? Find a yarn shop. Enter Oklahoma's peace offering to me: Loops, a yarn store. It is a wonderful shop on Utica square, which is a wonderful setup of shopping and dining...I recommend The Wild Fork, but I digress.

Back to Loops...I walked in and immediately knew I would like this place. They have beautiful yarn displays and a great amount of seating. Upon closer inspection, I saw all kinds of lovely yarns like Alchemy, Debbie Bliss, Rowan, Blue Sky Alpaca....and Koigu. Okay, you must understand something. I have never seen Koigu in a shop, only online and I have a lone skein that Momma Monkey lovingly gifted me. I seriously thought I was going to hyperventlate. So...much....pretty....yarn!!!

As my Mommy and I walked around and I began to check things out, she kept seeing things, and petty things and saying "Oohh, that's soft" and "Ah that's pretty!" Folks, this place will even effect the non-knitters. We almost left with some Panda Cotton that she picked out, but decided against it since she thought that I already had too much on my list, including her Clessedria socks. Practicality won out.

Unfortunately, I did not buy anything, but that is only because of my employment status. I guarentee you that had I a job, I would have done some SERIOUS damage. But don't worry, Loops folks, I will return.

WIP-it Wednesday


Yeah, okay, I changed by Wednesday's a bit....I got to reading too slow. But I will hit you with a double-wammy of what I've been.....


Reading....for the 7 billionth time; the series is just SO GOOD!


Watching.....again, for the 7 billionth time; same reason


Drinking (Muscat Canelli).....okay, slight divergence.


Every year, I attend a family reunion in Fredericksburg, TX in July. We visit, do some shopping, and some of us have begun to do a hike up Enchanted Rock. We also do all of the wineries and I usually come home with 6-8 bottles of wine. I usually try to save it for a nice get-together or when I have had an especially good day. Since these tend to be far and inbetween, most of it is drank in May-July, usually the first one on my birthday. And then we start with a whole new batch of wine in August. So, there you go....


....and a WIP (work-in-progress)


During all of this West Wing watching (say that ten times fast), I did complete 5 of my 12 squares for my Larger than Life Bag.I am horribly off-gauge (adding about 3" length and width-wise), but it's a bag. Plus, by the time I figured it out, the square was already done with ends woven in. That just means I get to carry more crap!


P.S. My last birdie hatched, so all is well on that front. I haven't heard them that often, but I can hear just about as well as I can see. :-P

New birdies!!

Well, most of my birdies have hatched.It may be hard to see, but I have it detailed here. You can only see two heads, but I have seen all four and then there is the late comer still in the egg. It is really cool to be able to really see then up close. The momma bird still comes around. I think it may be a finch.

Not much knitting to report. I have been spinning alot, with the rainy weather. I actually sat out on the porch today with a book. It was a nice rain that was calming. I can't do more than 2-4 rows of my Ene's scarf at one time, I have learned. Of coure, that ranges from 600-1200 stitches. I am still working out some math on the Clessedira socks, so those are still at the cuff.

My SnB and I are working on the Larger Than Life Bag from Interweave Crochet.

We are doing a bit of an acrylic swap for our squares. I have also put up my services as a sewer and zipper attachement expert for the lining. But I think it will be a great bag and wonderful project. It doesn't get much easier than a granny-ish-square.

Birthday Blog!!

I have offically entered the second quarter of my existance (26).

Okay, my birthday was Tuesday, but I procrastinate....you know this. I also waited, hoping that the birdies would hatch, but then I wanted to get a picture of my Columbine plant flowering:

I spent my birthday with my brother (aka MovieMan). He took me out for dinner and a few movies. We had to wait for a while for the movie so we chatted. In plain sight, I had a bag 'o wool, which was for a felted bag I was working on. The bag had about 10 skeins of worsted weight that I was using double for said bag. He comments, "That's quite a bit of yarn there."

I laughed...well, on the inside. Then I took him to my bedroom and showed him my "real" stash.....well, the most used part that is:You can click here to see details.But I digress.....

We went to go see Shrek the Third and Spiderman 3. My reviews? Shrek was entertaining, but doesn't live up to the first two and could be rented with the same result. I will disclaim that I am not a comic reader, so I like Spiderman. It was good, but kind of long, but I think that they used it to tie everything up and therefore will be surprised if there is a fourth. It will be nice if they just leave it as is, but we will see if that actually happens.

I also received Charmed Knits from my super friend, Kerry. Being a knitter and big HP fan, it was a must have. My thoughts....I like having this book. It's kindof like Interweave's 25 Favorite Socks: I could look through all back issues of IK, but it is awfully nice having them all in one place. After much searching of the internet, I could probably found everything in CK. However, I will pose a question to those reading: Which Molly Weasley Sleeves to you prefer? The CK or Fruitcats'? I have been leaning toward the Friutcats pattern, but I haven't really found anyone who has done the CK one. I would appreciate any comments since if I get a job at a bookstore (akaBN), I will probably make this to wear July 21. Plus, I have loved it since the second I saw it in the theater.

I also received a wonderful subscription to IK and VK from my Mommy and Daddy. Saves me from having to stalk my B&N for them to put it out. BTW, Daddy had Lasik today. He's doing okay so far, but I haven't heard how well he is seeing. He had trifocals and couldn't ever get the script right. I feel I am headed that way myself. I got bifocals at 16 and was surprised I didn't get trifocals at my last visit.

Allright, I'll quit rambling....for now......:-)

Home, home on the range......

All knitters have said it at least 100 times in their lifetime - "I wish I had more time to knit." I probably said it everyday during school, but I will share a quick story. You guys know I ramble.....

When I got Kerry knitting, we made it a habit to bring our knitting to Friday seminar and we would sit in the back and knit. This is where guest speakers, and some professors, would come to talk about their research and what not. This was perfectly acceptable, as long as we were quiet knida thing. Hey, at least we weren't snoring like Tom. :-P Anyway, we got to our seats and got sitchiated (that's Texan) and got clickin' away when one of our profs, who we currently had a class with, commented that we never come and knit in his class. Now, being the smart-ass I am and knowing sarcasm when I hear it, I made the comment along the lines of, "well, I would if you would let me." But, I digress.....

Since I have been home, when I am not job hunting that is, I figured, hey, I will get a TON of knitting done. And I have....too much. I have gotten to the hand cramping point of knitting. It REALLY SUCKS!!! I have gone through the project progression of my lacy Ene's Shawl, to patterned socks, to plain socks, to scarves on a US6, and finally to a felted bag pattern on 10.5. Oh woe is me....

And now, because you don't know how REALLY weird I am, I submit the circulating meme....

7 Weird Things About ME!

1. I cannot sleep with any door open in my bedroom. The main door, bathroom door, and closet door must all be shut. It just bugs me, I don't know why.

2. Where I am going to graduate school is the 20th school I have attended in my life. We moved around a bit. Went from Texas to Kansas to Nebraska to Oklahoma and (thankfully) back to Texas.

3. I have a "thing" for pajamas. I think it comes from living in the coed dorms for 3 years (yes, I lived in a girl dorm for a year. (shudder) WAY too much concentrated estrogen). In a five drawer chest, two drawers contain just PJs - one for tops, one for bottoms.

4. I learned to walk on my toes and did it consistantly until I was about 13, when they threatened that they were going to have to cut my Achilles tendon so I could walk flat-footed. GENERALLY speaking, I finally stopped 2-3 years ago, but I still do it from time to time. Don't ever, EVER let your kids do it....gets painful later on.

5. I didn't have (much less SEE) a Starbucks until I was 18. I remember going to college and everyone being amazed that I had never had Starbucks. I came from a little West Texas town that didn't mave much, but two years later, a town about 45 miles away got one and it was exciting.

6. The first poker tournement I played in I got 2nd place. My dad was excited for me, until I asked him the order of the hands again. He was bewildered on how I got second place without knowing the order of the hands. I know them now....I think. :-P

7. I have never seen any of the Godfather movies and I am a movie freak. It's not that I am against them, I have just never had the opprotunity.

A little birdie told me......

Guess what I found when watering my plants today

My lovely patio....in my first hanging basket (a purple Wandering Jew, if interested) was this..........a bird's nest with five eggs. I am not sure what kind they are....the eggs are white with black spots. If anyone has a clue of the kind of bird they are, I would be interested. I haven't been able to see the momma bird; she is usually hidden by the plant or flies away when I open the patio door.

I have never had a nest in a hanging basket before. I will now be careful in my watering, but I am guessing if it hasn't bothered the bird by now....I am just amazed....like on American Idol tonight....I am speechless......

Swap Goodies!!

My lovely SnB (aka knitting group), DFW Chicks With Sticks, is having a nice dishcloth/stitchmarker swap. Yesterday, I received and lovely bunch of goodies.

Enclosed was a lovely dragonfly washcloth, two Tribbles (which were immediately used to wash Dirty Roomie's dishes), a fun pen, magnetic notepad (immediately used to tell said Roomie to clean her own freakin' dishes), some yummy chamomile tea (needed after dish incident), a super cute notions bag, and said stitch markers.

When the box came, I noticed the return addy (DFW CWS) and excitedly knew what it was. What puzzled me, however, was the FRAGILE marking on the box. I got intrigued. I opened the box to find two layers of bubble wrap (yes, I popped them and yes, I have the pleasability of a five year old) and a multitude of very pretty tissue paper (yes, I saved it! It was perfectly good!).....and this......

.......a lovely wind chime. It is gorgeous to look at and sounds wonderful. It has been appropriately displayed here and will hopefully ward off drunken college students....or at least annoy their hangover!

Super big THANK YOU to my secret person!!!

Fin!

He is done........-ish. He still needs buttons, but that is a minor detail. He is knitted, blocked, seamed, and buttonbanded. I love making up words. Here's some specs:

Pattern: Knit Toddler Hoodie by Bernat
Yarn: Bernat CottonTots in Blue
Needles: US6
Notes: I made the 12 month size. It says you need 3 skeins for all sizes. I used only about 1/4 of the third, mainly for the buttonband and 1/3 of the hood. I did use another yarn (#3 crochet cotton in blue) to sew it up because I didn't want to add bulk. I really liked the way it turned out that way. I think the seams were much prettier than they would have been.

I would also like to wish everyone a Happy Mommy Day!! Here are some Mommies........well, except for me that is. This is my mom, my mom's mom, my mom's mom's mom, and me. Okay, me, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother. This was taken Christmas '05 and I am sure there will be one taken in '07...we are a picture family. There is the old adage that you always end up like your mother. Well, we have all ended up that way: none of us can see, we all gamble, drink wine, and live forever.

My lovely Granny still gambles and celebrated her 92nd birthday in March and is still as fiesty as ever. She makes the best kolaches EVER!!

My wonderful Memaw is wonderfully spirited and is still quite sane after having the four childeren that she did. My aunt still believe that there are leapruchans that live in the carpet and will eat your toes if you get out of bed. My mom and my aunt were so mean.....

Which brings in my Mommy who puts up with alot from my brother and I. She was always the greatest mom whether she was staying at home or working. She makes the best peanut brittle (it's really more art than science). She will always be remembered for Sigourney Weaver...you had to be there.

Yes, we are all our mother's daughters.

Happy Mother's Day!

My To-Do List

We all have it. The big, long list of projects that we want to do. It usually ends up being a very scarey and daunting list. I have a PostIt program on my computer and I created a "post-it" of my knitting projects that I wanted to do. I thought it would be a good reminder, especially to reference when I would be yarn shopping online. After five minutes of listing, I am surprise that the program didn't crash.

A few have yarn already purchased for them, but most of them are still only in my head. Some are quite outside the price range, but those have been specially earmarked as "sale seekers." Some have come from fellow blogger's creation and some have just inspired me.

Here are some of the projects closer to the top of the list (in no particular order)

Hourglass Sweater from LMKG - Check out Leigh's
Scarlet Woman Sleeveless Tank
Icarus Shawl - From IK; It will someday come out of severe timeout
Fetching for ME!!!
Josephine Jacket - I loved it the minute I saw it
Tubey - Ditto, plus a nice little something for us big sholdered gals out there.
Molly Weasley Sleeves - Yes, I will have them done for the movie, book, and I am that big a nerd.
Ene's Scarf - Cast on, but Kerry has kidnapped my book! j/k, I just left it.
Chevron Scarf - Yes, I have been carried by Manda and Tasha
Katheryn Hepburn Cardigan - From Lace Style

...And, my current Holy Grail Sweater.....drool......

This is just a tiny sampling mind you....oh, what's that you say??? No sock patterns??? Oh, yeah, that's only because I want to make them all. There is a reason I have a Lorna's Only drawer in my stash storage.

As to the knitting front, Jayson's hoodie is almost done knitting. I think it is going to be really cute and his mom is going to have to bring him from Virginia so I can see him! All of everyone's children is enjoying their handknits, which makes Auntie Jen very happy. My biggest customer?? My second cousin, once removed.

I have alot of family...ALOT....on both sides. I have always considered everyone aunts/uncles and cousins....and when my cousins had babies they were "little cousins". My "aunt" did a little research on who is technically what and I though I would share it. (all is in reference to me)

My Dad's first cousin (his aunt's daughter) - my first cousin, once removed "S"
Daughter of "S" - my second cousin "J"
Son of "J" - my second cousin, once removed "N"

Get it? Get a glass of wine, it helps.

Have a great weekend everyone and Happy Mommy Day!!

All the time in the world to knit....

So, I have come to a conclusion. If you wait a while between bloggings, you have a ton to talk about. Needless to say, this will be a long post, so grab a glass of wine, a comfy chair, and join me in my ramblings.

First of all, I want to give a WOO HOO to Bezzie for getting a job up there is Jersey. Congrats! Now, if you are done with it, send that job mojo over this way. Speaking of moving away from the great state of Texas, we wish farewell to Manda, whose in my SnB. We met via the RSC and she pointed me to my SnB, to which I will be eternally grateful.

This past weekend, we celebrated my Memaw's birthday. She and her daughter drove up from San Angelo, picked up another daughter and granddaughter (me!) in DFW, and we drove up to my parent's house in OK. For those of you who know my family won't find this odd. My mother sent us a wonderful itenerary containing mostly casinos and winerys. It was nice.

For those interested, I'm gonna talk a bit about OK wine. I have gone to quite a few winerys in TX and there is the grocery store wines. Yes, I would tell a difference between the two, but I never realizes how different wine could be until I went to OK. In all fairness, we think that they didn't "legalize" the selling of state whine until 2000 because that's when everyone said they started selling.

Of the four winerys we went to, they were all very light bodied, compared to TX wines. In general, the wines were much more fruity, where TX wines are more "oakey". I am also curious about the alcohol content of the wines. I know that all beer has a lower alcohol content than all the other states. Yes, Coors Light in OK has less alcohol that Coors Light in TX. I have been known to drink port and no one had a port wine. In TX at least, it is actually considered a liquor (which cannot be sold on Sunday) because it has a much higher alcohol content than regular wine. In OK, I was offered a couple of "port-like" wines, but no port.

KNITTING KNITTING KNITTING....okay, we have relatively gotten past the wine part and are progressing to the knitting portion of the entertainment for the evening. Almost, because when I was checking out the winerys, I noticed that one of them had sheep.....SHEEP!!! My mind raced with the possibilities of handspun and roving. Check'em out!

And here we have the Hospitality Mule:

He checked my knitting credentials and made sure that I was certified to take sheep pictures. We had a nice conversation. Sadly, these were not "wool" sheep. They are bred specifically for meat. So sad....

n the knitting progress, I have drastically updated my progress column. I have deleted projects that have gone to the wayside or the frog pond...but I promise to show pics when/if I finish.

I have added Jayden's Hoodie which is a Bernat pattern that I have fallen in love with (search for Knitted Hoodie). I love it because it just falls off the needles and the only thing that requires concentration are the sleeves (but a sticky helps that). I recommend this to anyone who knits for the young ones. This is being knit for Jayden, who was born this weekend at an almost 9 lbs, which is normal for our family. Because of this, I tend to knit a 12 month size for our babies. If it doesn't fit now, it will eventually, probably in 3 months. Anyway, I was waiting to post until this was done, however, the sleeve has hit the black hole of knitting. I didn't want to tempt fate.

In the car this weekend, I finished a stripe and a half on my HP scarf. I am determined to have this done in time for the movie/book. It will probably be my focus after the hoodie is done (1.5 sleeves, hood, and seeming left). Lucky have I so much time to knit....