Life can be strange and fleeting...

Well, I was going to post about the progress on the mitts that I am making my mother that are almost finished. I was also going to post the pictures of the gorgeous yarn from blue moon that I received in the raven series. However, all of that seems ridiculous, pointless and who gives a shit about yarn right now? I am at a loss for words. One of the associates that worked in our office died suddenly on Sunday. He was running on a treadmill at the gym. He collapsed, his heart stopped and he is dead. He was 50 years old and in seemingly perfect health. I just do not know what to say about it. His wife is, of course, devastated. He is survived by three children, one in college and two in grade school. I can't imagine having to tell my children that their father is dead and they will never talk to him or get hugs from him again. I just do not know what to say. The funeral is Thursday at 11:00 am. The firm will shut down and we will all attend the furneral. My thoughts are with his family right now.

Hello All!

I had a great thanksgiving as I hope all of you did as well! A couple of weeks ago we went to Flamingo Gardens during our "cold front". You can see how cold it was here, seriously, it got down into the low 70's! I have also been working diligently on my mother's gift and it is coming out great! I am so happy that I chose the green beads with this, it really brings out the bits of green in the colorway of this yarn. I also ordered some of the RAVEN from blue moon. It has shipped so I should have it in a few days. I can't wait to get it and show all of you. The colorway is Rook-y in the seduction yarn, YUM! YUM! I just could not resist, but I have actually been really good as far as yarn goes and I think that I can make it till the end of the year without getting anymore! On Sunday, Zachary went to a classmate's birthday party. I was so worried that Zachary would not be happy there or not have a good time, but he was so well behaved! I was so very impressed. He is maturing so quickly. I just wish that his speech would improve more, but that is all part of the disorder. Well, I better go as it has been busy at work and I need to get back to it. Love to all. By the way, don't tell my husband but I am getting him something for Christmas whether we have the money or not. Guess what it is!

Hopping to the frog pond!

I have decided to frog the sock that I started with the Killer Bees colorway from the booty club with the glitter yarn mix. I just do not like the top of the sock and I wanted these socks to be longer than my usual and the top of the sock is so tight (as you can see) that I can't get it that far up my leg, so I am frogging it. It is not going to be easy so I am going to start working on my mother's christmas gift instead and will frog when I am in the right frame of mind. I am looking forward to her gift. The pattern is from heartstrings (beaded hand warmers)! She is an avid, wonderful, amazing, knitter, but would never knit something like this for herself so I am thrilled to make it knowing she is not making one and would never make one. She thinks that knitting with beads is too much trouble, but I on the other hand love to do it. I have to start now or else I will never finish it. The yarn is from Whitewillow on etsy in the colorway "Alice's Garden" which has pinks, light green and russet purple and the beads are a light rainbow green. It is going to look amazing! I will keep you updated. Oh, and work totally sucks! Why do I have to work??

Miss Babs Color Contest

Winner #2: BelindaYarn Name: Pookie – Dark chocolate brown/cream/olive

Description: "I call him Pookie. My son’s eyes have always reminded me of the teddy bear that the comic strip/cartoon character Garfield has so I have called my son Pookie from the day that he was born (not his real name!). When you look in my son’s eyes they are so dark brown (almost black) like a teddy bear, deep, deep brown, with no flecks of any other color, but they have a lightness to them that radiates from within like a creamy olive when the light catches them the right way. Quite spectacular, actually."

I can't believe that I was a winner in the color contest! I always enter these online contests be they guessing games or any other type of game and I never win! I am so excited! My son is such a sweet boy and his eyes really do look like Pookie's eyes. He is always happy, no matter what is going on, he always has a smile on his face. I love him to pieces! Above is a picture of him with his equally handsome father! That picture was taken at Flamingo Gardens this past weekend. The weather here has been just gorgeous, sunny (75%) and humidity free. On the knitting front: I am working on the grinchy, grouchy sock pattern, but I am using the last yarn pirate club colorway in Killer Bees with some fingering glitter yarn that I am carrying along until I get to the heel (or until I run out), then I will stop using it. I am not sure that I like how it looks. Will post pics tomorrow so you can see what I mean. I may rip it back, but would hate to do that as the glitter/mohair will not like that at all. Well, I must get back to work. Talk to you tomorrow.

Argh! Bye Bye Booty Club!

Oh well, sometimes you need a kick in the ass to realize that you are spending too much money. I love the Yarn Pirate Booty Club, however, it is slashing into my budget. My husband pointed out to me this morning that he is worried that I am spending too much money. He is absolutely right. I have been spending more than I should. I have so much sock yarn it is coming out of my ears, really I have a lot! The booty club is really not that expensive, however, it represents a charge coming out of our account every month on yarn that I don't really need. You yarn girls (and guys) out there know exactly what I am talking about. It would be fine if I just had the booty club and only spend the $30.00 a month, however, I don't stop there. So, in a show of good faith to my husband and to show myself that I have some type of control over my yarn addiction, I have let the booty club go. I had really been thinking about it for a while, but I just couldn't bring myself to do it, but I finally did it! I do actually feel a lot better. As a further show of good faith to myself mostly, I did not renew my membership to the rockin sock club for 2008. See, I was really in too many sock clubs anyway I just was not ready to admit it. Now, on to more pleasant things. I finished my mother in law's socks and they look great, but took way too long so everyone else is getting heart shaped mitered sachels! I also finally got a chance to wear a sweater that I finished some time ago. Our weather has finally dipped down into the 70's, yeah! This is my favorite sweater (yarn is Gedifra chandra and the pattern is slow striping mama). I want to make another one, maybe next year. Check out the birds that I saw this morning on my way to work having fun in a puddle by an intersection. Have a great knitting day, everyone.

Happy Halloween!

Zachary was a vampire for Halloween at school. Tonight he will be Spongebob Squarepants. South Florida is in for some bad weather with Tropical Storm/Hurricane Noel just south of us. It is projected to head out to the Atlantic, hopefully that will take place. I am about 1/2 inch away from starting the toe decreases for two socks at once. It seems to have taken forever. My mother made a hooded sweater and a pair of men's socks during the time that I have been working on the two socks at once. I am just not that quick at knitting. Pictures of knitting tomorrow. I am in love with some sock yarn at Blue Moon (who isn't). It is called Count Cluckula. I am thinking of getting it...will have to wait though...bummer!

Wedding Bells, Hangovers and Fun Times

My brother-in-law, Anthony got married yesterday. It was a beautiful wedding at the Signature Grand in Davie, Florida (near the Nova Southeastern University campus). The bride was completely calm, until the moment arrived for her to walk out to the ceremony room, then she just couldn't stop crying. We (the bridesmaids) waited a few minutes, then she composed herself and we went to the ceremony hall. Everything was just gorgeous. Her dress was stunning and the bridesmaids dresses were beautiful on everyone. The color was a blush pink, which I thought would wash some of the girls out, including me. However, the color looked good on everyone. Anthony was very happy, a bit too happy. Apparently, he had some controlled substances before the ceremony and during the reception. He did seem a bit loopy to me, but I just assumed it was wedding day jitters. I should have known. He has never smiled that much in his life! He is a bit high strung and moody. He is the complete opposite of his brother. My hubby Rob is very easy going and calm, generally. I hope everyone is having a great Monday. I should have taken today off, but I just took time off last week since my mother was down here to visit so today was not going to happen. Oh well. I have had some Tylenol, so I am feeling much better.

Where has the past two weeks gone??

I am so sorry for not blogging sooner, but I have been just crazy busy! First, my mother comes into town. The pictures above show where she slept in the guest room with all of the yarn, which is her favorite place in the house, of course! Second, our brand new (finished in July, 2007!) $10,000.00 roof started leaking. Third, I have to get fitted for my braidsmaid dress for a wedding that is happening this Sunday (I can't believe that my brother in law will be married!). I had a great time with my mother. We went yarn shopping at local LYS, make up shopping at Sephora and book shopping (knitting books, of course!) at Borders. I also had some progress on the two socks at once and had some beautiful sock yarn come in. Have I mentioned how much I love the yarn pirate? Her latest installment (Killer Bees) is just gorgeous and it came with two needles! She is the best! I normally would never pick these colors, but dyed together they are just stunning! I also got some amazing yarn to go with it from Cherry Tree Hill at the local LYS, it is a small skein of fingering weight alpaca and glitter in the same colorway (minus the black). I am going to make socks with glitter cuffs! I don't have a picture yet of the CTH yarn, but will show it later this week. I also received some sport weight yarn from Zen Strings, which is another amazing dyer in the Pumpkin King colorway. Just gorgeous! I have so many gifts to make and it has taken me three weeks to get halfway with my mother in law's socks, so my mother suggested that I make smaller stuff, which is a great idea. So, I decided to make heart shaped satchels and put lavender and vanilla in them for lingerie drawers or just for hanging. The pattern (from daily knitting) uses fingering weight yarn so I have plenty of that. Well, that about wraps it up. I am going to take my camera with me to the wedding so there will be lots of pictures going up. By the way, Rob's cousin loved the cardigan! I also got my future sister-in-law knitting. Her first project, a baby sock (her sister is pregnant)! I know, pretty bold, but I think that she is doing great. I have her using sport weight, which is easier than fingering weight. She is actually doing pretty well, actually great really considering knitting in the round on double pointed needles, heel flap, picking up stitches, turning of the heel and the decreases for the toe. After that, I will show her how to kitchner stitch and she can start the next one.

Emergency room visit, vacation day and knitting

Does that look like a child that needs to go to the emergency room? My son's school called on Tuesday and said that he had been crying and touching his throat and stomach. Later on in the day at school, I had called the school back and they said that he was fine, playing, etc. Rob took him to therapy and he did terrible in therapy, crying most of the time. I called the urgent care center, got Zach an appointment for 7:45 pm that night, called my boss and told him what was going on. Luckily for me, I have a very understanding boss! Anyway, here are pictures of Zachary waiting for the on call doctor to come in and...guess what....he has strep throat. This seemingly happy child has strep throat! Kids are so resilient! He was highly contagious so he got a free day out of school and I used up one of only two vacation days that I have for the rest of the year! At least yesterday was not a total loss, I was able to start on one of my many christmas gifts (socks for Valerie, my mom in law). I decided that I have too much trouble trying to make sure that both socks match so I am trying two socks at once on two circular needles. I would not recommend trying this unless you have at least two hours to kill (just to set up the yarn, needles, etc.) It was very confusing and until I got the hang of what I was doing, it just looked like a jumbled mess! It looks a lot better now and more pictures tomorrow of that. The only problem is that I think that I might have my socks inside out. The right side is on the inside which happens to me occasionally and I just flip them inside out, however, with two on the same needles, can I do that? I have to also say that I love working with this yarn - STR seduction - colorway love in idleness. It is so beautiful to look at and the touch of it is amazing and it is knitting up beautifully! I want to get some more (perhaps in the jingle bell rock coloway?) We shall see. Yippee, tomorrow is Friday!

Monday, Monday

Today is casual day in the office and of course, I forgot. So, I am dressed in office attire and everyone else is in jeans. At least I am wearing dress pants and not a skirt with pantyhose or I would feel really stupid. My hubby is coming home today (yeah!). I missed him very much. He is my rock, my everything. I realized this weekend how much I need him and I can't imagine my life without him. Over the weekend, I finished the baby cardigan. It is so cute! I really worked hard on it and I hope that Kimmi likes it. I have never put buttons on a garment before so I went to look through some of my knitting finishing books for help. They gave me NO HELP WHATSOEVER! What is up with that shit? Just because I can knit, doesn't mean that I know how to sew a button on!? I went through 12 books before I gave up and just winged it. The books show you how to create a buttonhole, button band, different size holes, etc. Then when comes down to putting them, they all say "sew button". I realize that the books are knitting books and not sewing books, but couldn't they give instruction on how to sew a button onto knitted material? Hello! Has anyone else been frustrated by instructional books assuming too much? In any event, the buttons came out fine, but it took me over an hour just to sew them on. By the way, Happy Columbus Day to the US! and Happy Thanksgiving to Canada!

Happy lonely Friday!

My husband left this morning before 7:00 am to go away with his relatives for the weekend to the Disney World Wine and Food Festival. If you haven't gone, I would highly recommend it! It is at Epcot in the countries section. They have small booths set up where you can taste different food from around the world, along with wine and beer for about $1.50 to 3.00 a plate or glass. It is a lot of fun and it is not terribly humid this time of year, but it is still hot, especially in the Disney area (Orlando). Orlando is located about 2 1/2 hours north of Fort Lauderdale. It is more in the center of the State, meaning there is no ocean or gulf of mexico breeze to speak of. I will be home with Zach all weekend, but we will have fun. He and I are going to go to Flamingo Gardens. Flamingo Gardens is a few miles from us. It is a non-profit park that showcases a natural habitat of everglades, with animals, reptiles and overgrown parts that have been untouched to show Florida as it was hundreds of years ago. It is alot of fun. Here are some pictures from the last time that we were there. My husband, his parents, his brother and finance and Zach were all there. Have a wonderful weekend everyone!

Hello All!

It has been so hectic and busy at work that I haven't really had the chance to post anything. I have finished the Dream in Color shrug. It is very soft and warm (great for the office)! I tried to take a picture of me wearing it. I didn't do a great job at it. My next project is a baby cardigan, which I have made some progress. I have to finish it before next weekend so I am working my hands to the bone to get it done. I should be able to finish it. On the house front, our brand new $10,000.00 roof started to leak (in two different places- UNFREAKINBELIEVABLE!). We have had a lot of rain here, but that is no excuse! It is so frustrating! The maintenance department in our development came by and patched it up, hopefully, it wil not leak anymore! Tomorrow is Friday and my hubby is going away for the weekend. I should be happy, but I will miss him terribly! Oh well, maybe some retail therapy will make me feel better (shush, don't tell the hubby!)

Finally, it is Friday!

Happy Friday to all. I am so dead tired from work last night! I had to prepare three sets of closing documents for a closing to help an attorney that I don't even work for! It was quite hectic as he was heading for the airport to catch a flight that night to close the three deals the next morning at 9:00 am. I had to be very detail oriented and very conscious of each part of the deal because if I messed anything up, he would have no one with him to assist in fixing it. No pressure or anything! I also had to run to fed ex by 8:00 p.m., then come back to work to finish up. Luckily, he called and everything is fine, so that makes me happy. Of course, my boss is a little annoyed because I couldn't get the work done that I need to work on for his closing today, but I was able to finish it first thing this morning. I hope everyone has a great weekend. I will be finishing up on the socks for Kimmie's bun in the oven and starting to work on the cardigan. My husband will be going away to Disney next weekend. I am happy for him, but I will miss him terribly. He is a great guy and I really don't deserve him! I have no new knitting pictures, but will leave you with some pictures of me, Zach and my wonderful hubby!

Pictures of prize yarn

Happy Tuesday everyone! Yesterday was quite a day at work! It was so busy and I missed the sneak up from the Loopy Ewe! Oh, well. I am sure that my husband is happy that we missed it, especially since we really don't have the money for it and I have plenty of sock yarn! Anyway, here are the pictures of the yarn that I am giving away and there are progress pictures of the Dream in Color shrug (which I seamed up last night). You can really see how beautiful the colors are in these pictures! Also, there is a picture of my father with Zachary. Zachary was very happy to see his grandfather. I haven't heard from the winners yet, but no biggie, I am sure that I will hear from them soon. Maybe I should email them? Here are the names again: Jana from White Oak Studio - with a correct guess!, Pam with a very close guess of 187 and Anna with another very close guess of 198. As soon as I have your mailing addresses, I will send out your yarn. Oh, by the way, did anyone check out the new and returning colorways from blue moon! Rocktober and Panzanite are my favorites and may end up in my stash! Count Cluckula, Hard Rock and Pirates Booty are also on my radar!