My Early Valentine's Gift From Rob

Is this gorgeous or what?! Rob totally surprised me with it today, and I actually cried! It's genuine blue topaz, and tiny diamonds on a gold band. He did good didn't he?!

Free Cabled Cup Cozy Pattern

I just thought I'd post this little cutesie project. It took all of about 2 hours to make. It may have gone faster, but I wanted a nice tight gauge, so I knitted it in the round with worsted weight wool, on 4 size 2 DPN's.

Cast on 42 stitches, and the pattern is as such:

P2, K4, P2, K4, P4, K4, P2, K4, P4, K4, P2, K4, P2. Following that stitch count, I just twisted the cables after every 4 rounds. You could go every 6 rounds, or whatever you like, and it doesn't matter which direction you twist, just have fun with it. Mine is about 2 1/2 inches tall. When it was done, I lightly felted it by smooshing it around in my hands, in alternating baths of hot soapy water, and icy cold water. until it was slightly firmer than the finished knit fabric. Rinse well, roll in 3 paper towels and squeeze! Immediately put it on a 16 oz cup like the one in the picture, (available at the grocery store) fill it with boiling hot water, and let it sit until the water had cooled, and the cozy is dry.

What have I been working on?

Okay... I've had a few emails asking me where I've been and what I've been doing. No I haven't become a hermit. I've just been busy with the kids, school, and crocheting this afghan for... drumroll please... ME! Yes I finally made something for myself! I bought the yarn with the JoAnn's gift card my mom gave me for my birthday. It's made from Lion Brand WoolEase yarn, so it's soft, warm, and (very important) machine washable!! YEAY! Thanks mom! The specs are: 42 - 10 inch basic granny squares (14 squares per color) The squares are joined with black single crochet and the border, (which is also black and hard to see in this picture) is done in the granny stitch all the way around. That's my queen size bed it's laying on! After one trip through the washer & dryer, it's nice and cozy!

My 2008 Resolutions

1. I resolve to be more patient with my kids, and yell less.
2. I resolve to be less argumentative with Rob.
3. I resolve to take things less personally, and stop letting PMS get in the way of an otherwise good day.
4. I resolve to eat more salad and less fried crap.
5. I resolve to finish my studies and graduate. (So far, I've been really good at this goal, so it shouldn't be too difficult to finish since I'm almost done.)
6. I resolve to become better at Chess.
7. I resolve to finish reading all the Harry Potter books since I'm half done anyway.
8. I resolve to keep my house cleaner. (God help me!)
9. I resolve to work on my book for at least 30 minutes a day, even if that means I stare at the screen with writers block!
10. I resolve to FINISH knitting a sweater for myself!
11. I resolve to save some money.

Merry Christmas Everyone!!!

MyHotComments / HotFreeLayouts

MyHotComments / HotFreeLayouts

Christmas Weaving

Here's the blanket I'm weaving for my mom. It's what she wanted for Christmas, and since she's my mom... who am I to say no?! LOL I'm using this cream colored acrylic thread I bought for no apparent reason a couple years ago, as the warp, and some Lion Brand Wool-Ease in Cream & Burgundy for the weft. I personally would rather have used 100% wool for a blanket, but my mom's a no muss, no fuss kind of person, and wants to be able to just throw the blanket in the washer and dryer.

The best things in life...

Sometimes I remember how nice it is to be able to take a day to just sit around the house in cozy fleece p.j. pants, a baggy but soft sweatshirt, and slippers on a cold, rainy day! Today is a rare treat for me. I have actually found the time for once, to be able to sit and relax for the better part of the day. I am in my favorite p.j. pants. I am in my slippers. I am in my soft baggy sweatshirt. It is cold and rainy outside, and I am warm, and cozy inside. Life is just wonderful right now. Yes, I have homework I could be doing. Yes the house is a mess as usual. Yes I could be doing something, but that's not the point! The point is... sometimes, you just need to take that day to just relax!
Just chill out, and realize that there is more to life than flying from one place to another trying to get things done! That day is today! I may knit. I may weave. I may take a nap. Then again, maybe I'll do some of that homework. But the point is.... I will be in nice comfy, cozy p.j.'s and I will have a nice hot cup of green tea with honey in it sitting right next to me. I am going to enjoy this chance, and I hope you all get a chance to do this too! These are some of the best things in life!

What's going on

I'm so sorry, I've been really bad about the blogging, haven't I?! You know I just have such a busy life, that sometimes I forget. Summertime with 5 boys is just insane, then when school started back up, I began my classes as well, so I can go on to get my teaching credentials, (something I've always wanted to do) so I'm just loaded with homework. Of course, there's the wife/mom stuff - that always keeps me busy!

Rob and I just got back from a MUCH needed 3 day trip to Monterey, while my mom took the boys to her house! We went to Laguna Seca for the Super Sport motorcycle races, and he took me to the Monterey Bay Aquarium, Cannery Row, the beach, and we just had such a nice time! We stayed in a hotel, and ate out for every meal, so I didn't have to cook ONCE in 3 whole days!!! I'll post pics of the trip soon!

Unfortunately, I haven't been knitting as much as I'd like, and my "Tree Of Life" cardi - while nearly complete, is moving slowly because of all the activity. I'll work on getting some pictures taken this week sometime, so you can see what I've been up to, so don't give up on me! LOL :-)

Oh! One quick thing to report... I just ordered a Kromski Harp, Rigid Heddle Loom! I'm waiting as patiently as I can for the UPS guy, but with everything going on, I don't know how much time I'll be able to give the loom, much less the knitting! UGH! It's okay, it's all worth it!

A Boy Who Knits

Oh I just HAD to post this! My 10 year old, who is the most energetic, soccer playing, hill climbing, dirtbike riding, toy gun toteing, all-boy kid I have personally ever laid eyes on, takes time to relax and actually LET me snap these pics! I could not believe he let me get these, because he's usually a little reserved about letting the world know he knits. However... he is getting a bit looser about that rule, and even knows I'm posting this :-) Here he is, knitting himself a pair of slippers.

Caterpillers

Apparently my 8 year old needed a Caterpiller! He came to me today, with my "Knitted Toys" book, a pair of needles, some yarn and said, "make me a caterpiller, mom!" Soooo... Here's Kyle with his caterpiller finger pupet! BTW... in the interest of good manners, I did remind him to say "please" :-)