Froggy Knits

I'mmmm baaaaack

2009-08-19T19:55:00.002-04:00

Sorry its been so long but the times are weird around here. Since Rob lost his job my schedule is way off. Not sure when I'll get the computer since he's always on it job searching and networking, but nothing yet. He does have an interview at the end of the month in FL with Office Depot. Not sure which way to go with this one since I've always said I wouldn't want to live in FL...ever! I don't do that kind of heat, or humidity. And the bugs down there are legendary. And my dog is smallish and could be eaten by an alligator. And I'm large-ish and don't look good in a bathing suit so what would I wear in that kind of heat. And how's a knitter suppose to live in FL, what would I knit that I could use, other that light socks I guess. But a job is a job and we gotta do what we gotta do.

Big Blue Sweater....FINISHED!

2009-05-11T10:47:00.003-04:00

I finally finished this sweater. I love it, but knitting a plus sized sweater takes forever. At least it seems like forever. I started this in October of 2008 and finished in April 2009. Not too bad considering the spring I've had but long enough. If you knit a lot of small projects, scarves, socks, and such, something this big seems HUGE! The hardest part of knitting something is getting the right size for you. It seems easy enough, just knit and measure and knit and measure some more. And if you don't have the right size, you can take it apart and have a do over. Who wants a do over except a loser? But I had to do this several times on the sleeves, the width was for a stick person. Unfortunately I am not only fluffy in the middle, but fluffy all over. It's a bit plain too, but when you are more worried about fit, you don't also want to worry about the pattern. I am celebrating the purchase of the yarn, pattern and needles and a completed project. Now what do knit next....something smallish I think.

IT'S A BOY!!!!!

2009-02-10T08:50:00.003-05:00

We adopted a new kitty this weekend. His name is Jac (like Jac Sparrow from Priates, which is my sons favorite movie). And that's the name he came with and we were "good wit it", as Captain Jack would say. He is the most affectionate cat we've ever had. And I hear male cats usually are. He's also the thinnest cat we've ever had but that's probably because he's only 3 months old. He still has his claws but hasn't used them on us or anything else yet!!! I hope to hit the lottery so we have have him declawed. Now Holly on the other hand isn't too sure of him just yet. She's hoping he just goes away. Holly tried to chase him and play but Jac just runs away for her.....for now.

Little Blue Riding Hood

2009-01-30T10:42:00.002-05:00

Finally finished something - this Little Red (blue) Riding Hood's hooded scarf. I realized that all my winter coats have no hoods and with the snow we've had I needed one. Seems like we've had snowflakes that could knock you down they're so big and without a hood your hair gets wet. This has also been a distraction from knitting my sweater that it TAKING EVAH!!!

Hello, I'm back

2008-11-06T10:22:00.002-05:00

Not that I was missed but here I am.
I just have to share the funniest thing I saw last night. We have deer running around our neighborhood. Nothing new but they are fun to see. Well, last night the family was coming home around 9pm and as we were pulling into the neighborhood, I noticed a huge deer in my neighbors front yard. Just a walkin' around like it owed the place. Ryan also noticed another deer just a bit further down crossing the street, not in a cross walk I might add. Anywho, since we were coming from a school concert, I had the video camera. Unfortunately it's new and I had no idea what I was doing. Dear hubby was whispering, rather forcefully, to just "turn it on". This thing is smaller that a wallet and loaded with buttons to push and pull and did I mention it was 9pm and dark outside. So I'm fumbling around with it, and finally get it turned on and start hanging the camera out the window because trying to video through the front window of a car, get a good shot of nothing but you. I was taping everything but the deer. Then they took off around the back of the neighbors house. So we continued pulling into our driveway and the car lights hit something rather large and weird in their backyard. I whisper, rather forcefully, for dear hubby to back up so the lights can hit it again. Here's the funny part, it's a huge deer, a buck with antlers that has a tangle of tree branched stuck in it's antles. I mean it looks like it's carrying a bush by it's antlers. Picture a deer with a boufont hair do, stacked up so high it looks like the hair on the bride of Frankenstein. It was the funniest thing. So now, we start to get out of the car to video it. Elliot, that what we've named it (from the movie Open Season) takes off. Heads into our yard and is now about 5 feet from the car with the headlights blinding it making it come to a standstill looking right at me. Ryan starts freaking out saying "it's going to charge", guess he's seen Are We There Yet too many times. It's a bit hard to be scared of something that looks like that, I was laughing myself silly. We got a small video of it but like I said it was dark and so is the video. Now we look for Elliot every night hoping he's feelings aren't hurt.

Hey Lucy!

2008-07-17T10:17:00.003-04:00

Here's Ryan with the Oopa Loopa's at the PIB Chocolate Museum. Kind of looks like a cut and pasted his pic on another pic doesn't it? How old will he be when I ask him to stick his head through one of these things and he thinks it's totally un-cool.

I don't know why, but there is a Chocolate Museum on PIB. It's more or less a store to sell chocolates and ice cream than a museum. Here I am with Lucy and Ethal in the famous scene where they try to work at a chocolate factory on the assembly line and they can't keep up so the start eating the candies. Funny stuff.

Seein' ya!

2008-07-15T15:10:00.001-04:00

Here's Kyle on top on Perry's Monument on PIB. If you look close you can seeRob and me in his glasses, cool huh?

What I did on my summer vacation

2008-07-14T15:43:00.003-04:00

Here's the fam on a golf cart in Put-In-Bay. It's the only way to see all the island, other than just the bars. Imagine my surprise to see there is more to PIB than that.

We went to a Chocolate Museum, The Perry's Monument, shopped, eat and drank a beer or two. Just Rob and I not the boys!

New Arrival!

2008-06-03T13:01:00.003-04:00

"Here she is, Miss American", that's the song I'm hearing when I look at her. She is my sister's new grandbaby - Kayleigh Michelle. I guess that makes me a great aunt, but I was a "great" aunt before. hehehe. She has a head full of jet black hair and looks just like my nephew. FINALLY, a girl to buy pink things for! YEAH!!!

Black Belt Dude

2008-05-22T13:22:00.002-04:00

Finally, after 3 broken bones, the first happened on his first day, Ryan has his black belt. It was 3 long years of twice a week classes and he stuck with it. He is taking a little time off, thank God, this is one expensive sport. He wants to take drum and trumpet lessons now. Oh Yeah!

Prom Master

2008-05-19T14:15:00.004-04:00

Yup, my little boy got asked to prom, by a Junior. Grandpa says it's those fine blue eyes that will get him into trouble - girls can't resist'em. He was very excited and looked very handsome, IMHO!!
These 12 young people all had to fit into 1 limo, thank God it was a big one. Some did double up. They're all from the band and had a really great time. With all the moms and dads there, the flashes from the cameras almost blinded them. I told them we were the paparazzi. Get used to it!

Kayleigh's bunny

2008-04-08T15:05:00.002-04:00

I can't stop knitting tiny things. It's so rewarding to start and finish a project in less than two days. Love love love it.

It's this cute. It's a Bunny Buddy. Hope Kayleigh will love it to pieces, then I can make a new one.

Honestly - I do knit!

2008-04-08T10:32:00.002-04:00

I can't believe I haven't posted in over a month. Please forgive me. Not that anyone reads this blog anyway. But it's a good log for myself. I have been busy, enjoying the weather - yahoo! Enjoying the 70s in Ohio. It must be a dream. I have also been knitting. Just finished a little project - this baby bid from One Skein. It's in a lovely purple yarn that will go to my grand-niece due in May. I have discovered I like fast, little projects, instant gratification of a finished project. Right now I am knitting a Bunny Buddy for her. I got the pattern off Ravelry. If you haven't been out to Ravelry yet - be warned it will suck up a lot of knitting time. I have amassed quite a few patterns from that sight. And that's where the bunny came from. Watch for it soon!

Fair Isle?

2008-02-21T10:43:00.003-05:00

This is my most recently completed knit project, a skull wrist warmer for Kyle. I think it's Fair Isle but not sure. Also not sure if I did it right but as long as I am consistly wrong, it's right. Right? He hasn't stopped warning it and is trying to talk me into another one. But before I do another one, maybe I should look into what I may, or may not, have done wrong.

Meet Sheldon

2008-02-15T11:50:00.002-05:00

It's he the cutest little turtle you've ever seen? I knit this little guy up for Ryan for Valentine's
day and he loves it. It was a little more fiddly than I thought it would be but I learned a few new things and it was fun. He's my first knit toy too. Ryan was surprised to know that I knit this while he was at school and I did a little right in front of him but he wasn't paying attention to whatever mom was doing. hehehe

Smile!

2008-01-28T20:24:00.000-05:00

Don't we look happy? We should, we were on a cruise when this was taken. That was before the house selling and buying and Christmas! Why didn't they photo shop out my hips??

Who's cookin' now?

2008-01-23T15:24:00.000-05:00

Yup, I hate to admit it but I kind of like cooking. Now I hate the whole go to store, buy ingredients and bring home and find a place to put the stuff until you use it part and I hate the clean up part but the slicing and dicing and creating part I love. And finding recipes to try is the best. The best way to find a good recipe is when I worked, co-workers would bring their leftovers to work and I'd smell it and want the recipe. Tried and true is always the best. My mom was a stay at home mom before there was such a thing. She always cooked, we hardly ever went out. If we did it was for lunch and not a big dinner. Dad worked the night shift so meals where somewhat odd but we had 3 meals a day and we didn't ask "What's for dinner...ewwww" back then either. You ate or went hungry. So that's the way I do it. There are very few exceptions to where I will let my boys make a PB&J sandwich but 99% of the time we eat what I cook. And they eat a wide range of foods too. Some things I eat now I'd never heard of before meeting Rob. My family are/is hill billy and we eat meat and veggies. But now we eat Mexican and Chinese and Italian foods. Where does one get hill billy food? You should have seen my dad's face when we announced where Rob and I were having our rehearsal dinner - the Kahiki. Polynesian food, whoa! I'm pretty sure he hit the McDonalds on the way home. But I digress, what we have here is my first attempt at Cajun Red Beans and Rice. With this recipe I learned what Salt Pork is. Now don't go assuming that because I cook hill billy I ought to know what that is. I know what fat back and a ham hock is but I hadn't heard of Salt Pork. Thank goodness the meat lady at Meijers knew. And it all turned out fine. Probably not as hot as it would be in New Orleans but hot enough for us. We all loved it. The boys especially loved it. Now I gotta add it to my family favorites. Don't ya want smell-a-blog?

What was I thinking??

2008-01-16T15:28:00.000-05:00

Friends told me I was crazy but that wasn't news. I've been like that for-ever! Santa brought

the boys an electric guitar and drum set. As the boys are getting older it's getting harder to buy for them at Christmas. Gone are the days when a box of legos would do. And frankly they don't need anymore clothes. So that's my reasoning for saying yes to these instruments of torture. The good thing is they play or shall I say try to play music from my era. Music I can rock to. What I should have done is asked Santa to bring me some Bose noise reducing head phones.

Let's Craft a while

2008-01-10T13:56:00.000-05:00

Finally back to blogin' and knitin' and just enjoying the new house. Spent this weekend organizing my craft area. Can't really call it a room, only has 3 sides but it's bigger than the room I used to have. Completely unpacked and only bought two new things to organize onto/into. Bought a 3 drawer plastic things and those shelves you see in the back. It was fun. And now when I need something, I know exactly where it is. If I can keep the boys out of it, that would be a miracle.

Moving Update

2007-11-14T16:25:00.000-05:00

Sorry no pictures as I am too busy, can't find the camera, can't find batteries to go in it, probably packed it and too embrassed to show you all the crap I am moving. It's pretty sad when the movers say "Boy, you have a lot of boxes!" and you'd think they have seen a lot of boxes. Maybe crafty people don't use movers. Money should be spent on crafty things, like yarn.
In trying to save money for said yarn, we tried to find some kids to help us move just our boxes. But no! No one from the high school band, the church or the hockey team. I guess $10 an hour just isn't enough for them. Boy, are we in trouble when they get older and run the country. So we decided to have a mover do it all - yahoo! And they will deliver to me all the boxes I need for .50 cents each. No more dumpster diving stories for me.
As for the new house, the HVAC people came out and it needs a new motor! Now, I don't know much, or anything, about such things other than it makes me comfortable, but a motor sounds expensive, glad we had the house inspected. And the ants are an issue and we have requested a $1000 for the rest of the little things. Now we just have to wait for the seller to get back in the COUNTRY! and we can move on/in. Still on track for closing both on 11/21. This is the season of miracles, right? I also found out there was a judgement under me. Who knew. I guess they just search my name and Lisa Richards is pretty common. I was told just to sign a paper stating it isn't/wasn't me and all is well. Stay tuned for "Lisa's Young and Restless move of our lives"

I found boxes!

2007-11-05T16:28:00.000-05:00

I believe totally in asking for other peoples advise because there are definately times that others think of things I totally wouldn't have. For example a good friend of mine (Gerry!) told me to go to dollar stores to hunt for boxes because sometimes the workers don't break them down like they should - ya know, minimum wage. So I did and boys did I hit the motherload (exactly what a motherload really is, I have no idea but that's what they say). Actually the hunt was kind of like garage saleing. I hunted behind every little plaza shopping center that I was driving by that I thought wouldn't have the a compactor like the big stores have. And there were boxes a plenty. I was soooo excited. It's kind of sad really but whatever. I even took boxes there were broken down - I have tape.

Then a few days later the dear hubby went with me to fetch more boxes, he likes free stuff too. We went to the same dumpsters (Yep, I am trailer trash that dumpster dives) except at one we had a bit of a surprise. I noticed what looked like a new sweatshirt rolled up and stuck in the corner of one of the dumpsters. Beside it was an autographed basketball that was still in it's acrylic display case thingy. Using my powers of reasoning, it looked like someone had stashed some stolen goods!!!! Whoa momma, I hadn't even thought that something sinister would be lurking around in these cardboard box dumpsters, my euphoria was gone. But I did the responsible thing and called the police. After they called me back several times for a description of what I saw they sent someone out. We left because you never know if or when they might show up but on they way home we saw the security truck from the shopping center and the police car. So far no word or what else they found if anything. You do a lot of "What if-ing" when something like that happens. Like what if there was a gun or something wrapped in the sweatshirt? What if someone was watching us? What if you are nuts? But this shall not stop me from dumpster diving (not actually diving, just reaching in) but I won't go alone.

Almost Mine!

2007-10-31T14:48:00.000-04:00

A little updating on the house selling, buying front. We have had the inspection on this house with only minor things to repair, more than half Rob can do. And yesterday the appraisal was done. We hope there isn't any issues with that but we'll know probably by the end of the week if the buyers are approved based on the appraisal. Tomorrow we have the inspection on the new house. I am nervous. There hasn't been anyone living in the house for quite some time. And I know there is carpenter ants in the office. My realtors assure me that if you have any insects, carpenter ants are the easiest to remedy. We'll see what happens. All the extra expenses, like inspections ($400) and such are adding up. It's going to be a slim Christmas this year. I also had a moving company give me an estimate today. If they move EVERYTHING, room to room with set up we are looking at $1500. They do also gave me estimates if we move the small stuff and they do just the big things. Which was more reasonable. I do have a call out to any youth groups or boy scouts that might like to make some money helping with the smaller things. Isn't a house made up of the small things? I know my craft room is. I have also been collecting boxes. We will need probably 150 according to the movers. I have heard that you can "rent" boxes for about $.50 each - might have to check that out. Or my new haunts will be all the grocery stores within a 10 mile radius of Gahanna. But it's almost mine! Is it Christmas yet??

Real Estate action!

2007-10-04T11:43:00.000-04:00

I am soooooo excited I can't take it. The #1 house on our wish list just lowered the price by $30,000 - WOW! Now we can lower ours and make a bid on this one contingent on the sale of ours of course but now we have something happening - and I am really going to be on my knees about this house. It's perfect for us with just the new things we were looking for. First floor laundry with enough room for the cat box......now I can get it out of my closet. I know that sounds yucky but she's a clean cat. It also has a den/office, yahoo no more computer in the basement and household paperwork where is should be and not all over the dinning room table. Corian countertops - love it!! And no deck - a paver brick patio and walkway and driveway. Oh yeah, and a 3 car garage. Those are the things we wanted no more, and no less. And believe me we have seen some houses with a lot more that we needed. We are meeting with our agents tonight to make the bid and lower ours enough to generate some action. At this point I will paint anything that will sell this house. Sadly this probably means no knitting or working on the demin quilt for a while but some sacrifies are worth it. Anyone like to paint????? Call me.

Nighty night

2007-09-25T16:12:00.000-04:00

I wish I could fall sleep like this. Notice his hands are still trying to turn the page but nope - out go the lights. I can remember a time when I could eat a big piece of chocolate cake and down a bottle (yup, pop used to come in bottles) of Pepsi and fall right to sleep. Now I need pills!!!! Crap, I hate getting old. When I do sleep I get up and something hurts (knees, back, feet) - exactly how do you hurt yourself while sleeping??? Certain things also cause heartburn/gas, that's pleasant. I find myself asking "What did I eat last night, don't want to have that again." As if my pants have room for bloating! I have also started not caring about what I wear in public, as long as I am clean and my bod is covered, who cares. I do care if going to Easton or someplace nice for dinner. By nice I mean doesn't have a drive through. Anyone else out there with me on this or am I all alone in bleach spotted shorts.

A rant comin' on!

2007-09-13T11:59:00.000-04:00

Yup, I feel a rant coming on. But before I do I must disclaim that I am in no way jealous of her size, tinny tininess and all because I wouldn't mind being that small at all. I have even said before that if I were as tiny at say.....Delana (nothing but love for ya girl) I would run necked (southern for naked and sounds dirtier) on Broad and High at noon. But in doing so I would expect to be noticed - both in positive ways and in negative ways. Now Miss Hot pants wasn't too happy with being noticed in a negative way. Boo Hoo Hoo!!! Shut UP and put on some big girl panties. I'm sure that you are not used to wearing those either. She has been on the Today show and yesterday it was Ellen. Knowing full well that these two shows are smack dab in the middle of the political left arena I wasn't surprised that their position was on of Miss Hot pants' freedom being trampled on. "She should be able to wear what she wants", and to quote Miss Hot pants "Why is my comfort level any different than anyone elses?" And it's not, everyone is suppose to be able to do what they want, say what they want, and wear what they want as long as it isn't hurting (physically) anyone but not today. We can do or say much of anything for fear that we might offend someone....crap crap crap. Political correctness has gone too far, just ask Don Imus, Cramer from Seinfeld, and the Columbus Policewoman who has/had the YouTube video. I thought I was allowed to do, say, wear whatever and YOU didn't have to like it. Wasn't that the freedom we were given??? Now we all have to "get along" to the point of losing our freedoms.

Cute!

2007-09-10T11:33:00.000-04:00

How cute is this dog??? So much so that she just knows she is NOT a dog at all. This is her favorite place to lay, Mom's lap on mom's arm. Makes it very difficult to knit. But that shouldn't be my first priority with a dog as cute as this. I can't believe the picture came out so well, animals usually get that evil red eye ghost look to them.

Can anyone tell me what the &@#* is up with my elbow? Looks like a nose or a huge nipple. Crap!

Now for the embrassing pictures that all parents take of their kids and that red eye ghost look too.

Let's go Campin'

2007-08-21T12:03:00.000-04:00

Some, not many, but some are asking where I've been lately. I haven't been knitting or doing much of anything social in quite some time. So here is where I have been. We have recently bought a 36 ft camper that is permanently at Charles Mills Lake. We have been cleaning and cleaning and cleaning it for about 3 weekends now and I think we are done. I KNOW I am. It's nice, with a/c and heating, microwave, fridge/freezer, potty and shower and queen size bed. Ok, it's not really camping but it is a camper and it's in a campground so it's campisque. The boys love it - Kyle calls it his home away from home. The other seasonal campers around us are all real nice we all just borrow whatever we need from each other. They are trying to get us to loosen up a bit and not lock up everything everytime we leave. They say it's not like the big city. That may be true but I've watched enough TV to know creeps are everywhere. So forgive me for locking up. Can you hear the banjo playing in the background???

Adventure camp??

2007-07-27T15:14:00.000-04:00

No need to fear - I am here! Busier than a one legged man at a butt kicking contest. That's one of those things my dad says and it really applies sometimes. Here is Ryan, my mom-in-law Rosie and myself at Adventure camp on Tuesday. This is the camp that Ryan is staying at this week in Logan Ohio and it is totally run by members of our church. I was asked about 2 weeks ago if I could fill in for the crafts person, who had to have emergency knee surgery. Not one to turn down anything crafty I said sure. So Kyle and I drove down Mon. - Thurs. and it's a hour drive but a very pretty drive too. On Monday we made bird houses, Tues it was the serving trays you see Ryan holding in the picture, Wed we made crosses out of nails and Thurs we made scrapbooks. There wasn't enough time to teach them to knit or you know I would have. Last year I remember it was a very nasty 90+ degress but thank God it has not been too hot and sticky this week. Rosie is here visiting this week and she helped us out for the day. Ryan was very surprised to see her. I think having me there everyday has made Ryan just a bit less homesick.

Cruisin'

2007-06-25T12:33:00.000-04:00

Yup, we had a great time on the cruise. Yup, we will be going again in the next couple of years. It was great fun and great food and just look at the colors of the water. Those blues and greens are real! With the invention of print shop I thought those colors didn't really exist.
My adventurous side came out and I did a few new things like I snorkeled. Sorry no pictures of that since we took them on a water camera. I ate escargo (but once is enough), I played blackjack, I ate liver pate (much better than I thought), I climbed up a waterfall in Jamica, I kissed a dolphin, almost kissed a sea turtle but he was skiddish, and I rode on an air boat in the FL Everglades. You are probably wondering if I knitted at all, NOPE, not once. That's a sign of a great vacation!

Buy this house?

2007-06-04T11:13:00.000-04:00

Help I am in overload! Going on a cruise this weekend, haven't packed a darn thing and right now don't know where my passport is. Hope I didn't pack it away. We are also putting our house up for sale. The market is saturated with houses right now so ours has to be picture perfect. Sounds like a challenge to me. Just take a look at these pictures - not making much progress as you can see. CRAP CRAP CRAP everywhere I look. Now I must confess that I thought of myself as a pretty organized, clean person but no, I am far from it. We took two loads of crap to AMvets. Good useable crap but crap none the less. And that was only from both boys rooms and my craft room. Ouch, I am a fraud. ALso I have a little word of wisdom to pass along. Do not ever, no matter what the trends are, ever, ever paint a room a dark color. I spent all day yesterday painting over grass green and sunshine yellow walls in my boys bathroom. It took 3 coats of Princess Ivory to cover the green walls. And I am so sore I can't wait for the cruise, I just might sleep the whole time.

Also can you even see the house? NO, because at the same time as the selling of the house, and getting ready to cruise, Rob is also trying to sell the camper. I say Rob is because I would just sell it to a camper dealership place and be done with it. He put an ad in the newspaper and we have had calls but no buyers. Anyone want a house with a camper in the driveway?????

Surprise!

2007-05-03T16:07:00.000-04:00

After everyone left for school and work this morning, the door bell rang. I tip toed to the window - looked out and there was a white unmarked van in the driveway. Since I was still in my jammies and I wasn't expecting anyone - or I would have been dressed, I didn't answer the door. So about 30 minutes later I checked the porch and guess what was there!!!! A box from the FTD man (or van in this case). Rob sent me these lovely tulips. I was so shocked, he has never sent me flowers. It's not that I haven't gotten flowers but in the past I had either had just given birth or had had a surgery of some sort. But not this case. And no he isn't sorry for something. Isn't he a sweetie? Think I'll keep him!

Bring on the Margarita's

2007-04-18T14:11:00.000-04:00

Why is it whenever there is a funny hat, they put it on me and snap a picture? Is it the hat makes me look better or visa versa? Anyway, we are in Blowing Rock, NC up in the mountains. It's a beautiful place with a whole street full of shops with everything you didn't know you needed. I was a good girl - I only bought yarn (surprise) and one new charm for the Pandora bracelet. Rob bought a frog water fountain. I plan on enjoying it too but he has to put it together. That smashing young man in the pic is my father-in-law. He is a master chef in the kitchen. Big breakfasts and dinners everyday and I am soo spoiled. There is no cook here. It's all me and I am losing interest in cooking. Eating but not the cooking. How rich do you have to be to hire a cook? I'm sure I can't afford it but just wondering.

What a Friend

2007-03-21T14:41:00.000-04:00

OK, so I'm sitting at home having a bowl of granola and a long list of "home wifey" type things to do when the phone rings. It does that from time to time. It was my buddy Annie. She had been talking about getting a tat (that's short for tattoo, and it's cool) for some time now and I guess today was the day. She had to have it before her cruise in 2 weeks. She admits to being very "Spur of the moment" kind of gal. She was inquiring about my tat and where I got mine. But sadly that place has closed (make me wonder why but my leg hasn't fallen off so I guess I'm good). She was in her car so I got out the old yellow pages and started the investigation process for her. Found out that they don't open until noon, guess that's to be expected in this kind of business. Go figure! But after a few calls we found a place that could do it today. And here it is in all it's glory. The guy was really nice, remember we're not to judge someone by the way they look. Annie got to explain the bible verse (John 15:5) and he knows the Lord and that was cool too. The funniest thing was, this guy was working the front station and Annie has to sit there all exposed as it where for all the world to see. That is the "tat" world so they should be used to seeing bras and such. Let's not dwell on that too much. Yes, Rich had been tattooing for 8 years now. He had quite a few also. He started getting them when he was 17, now he regrets what he got back then. One he regrets because it's was suppose to be a Chinese symbol for danger and it turns out it is for lonely. That was funny. So if you want one make sure you know what it is. I guess that why they had all those signs about not doing someone if they are drunk. Again, go figure. I got to take pictures and chat while this was happening. Now I think I am ready for a new one......

Have you hugged your Chiropractor today?

2007-03-05T11:49:00.000-05:00

It happened again - Saturday morning I awoke with numbness and tingling in my right hand. Another bout of Carpel Tunnel syndome....so back to the hand brace and no knitting. I started to get really scared thinking that what I love, I could no longer do. Those jokes about getting old and things hurting for no reason are no longer funny. While checking out some websites I discovered that some women had seen relief by seeing their chiropractor. I have a great chiropractor and I went to see him this morning. Man, do I really, really like this guy. It's like all the fun without all the undressing and general messiness of......time with your hubby. But you leaving feeling just as relaxed!!!!! So he told me I have a very mild case of CTS - can't image a stronger case. I have some arm exercises to do and apparently it's mostly in muscle below my elbow going down toward my wrist. While he was showing me how to do the exercises they really hurt - I almost cried, almost. And it's brought on my holding too tightly to things - like size 2 needles. Or maybe I need more time with Rob. The best news was when he told me I didn't have to stop knitting while this all heals ! ! ! Yahoo, I feel good, na na na na na na na!

Misc Vegas

2007-02-27T13:41:00.000-05:00

Vegas was PACKED, PACKED, PACKED - that's why we got the upgraded room. But there was also this little event called the NBA All-stars weekend, which brought out tons of people of all makes and models as well as the events for the Chinese New Year. Every casino was elaborately decorated for that. And there was also some kind of magic show convention too. When we got there it took almost 40 minutes to get to the hotel - when it should have taken maybe 10. The streets were jammed with people and cars. Where hear that on Saturday night it took people hours to get a cab, then 3 hours to get from one end of the strip to the other!!!! That's almost how long it takes to fly back to OH. We did see a few NBA stars and just missed Eva Longeria (sp). We saw Pete Rose signing autographs but whatever. Monday night we went to Emeril's steak house - Delmonico at the Venetian. It was yummy. And at the last minute Rob got us tickets for the Blue Man Group. That was really cool. Not what I thought it would be but better. If you get out there - go see it. And yes, that blue is some kind of paint and it's wet. The guy in the picture when he took pictures with kids he would touch his face and then touch the kids face and there would be a blue paint finger print on them. The kids enjoyed that. I skipped it!

SWEET suite 2

2007-02-26T14:32:00.000-05:00

Check these out - how bad to they want us to bet on things that they have to put a phone by the toilet !
This was part of our view every night - I never got tired of that. Every bathroom was outfitted with Aveda products and Cesar's cologne - men and women's. And yes, I cleaned that place out! I did restain myself and I left the robes and slippers. When I asked how much this room goes for - they said $2000 a night!!!!!!!!! YAHOO

Vegas was packed for the NBA all stars game (whatever) and that's how we got the upgrade. But that was only for one night then we moved to another great room but not a big as this one. How the rich must live......

SWEET Suite

2007-02-26T14:23:00.000-05:00

Is this a SWEET suite or what? I know this isn't the highest of high life in Vegas but it's the highest I've ever lived. Can you believe Cesar's upgraded our room to this. Just a hint for ya - when you get to your room door and it's a double door - good things are in store when you get in. Take a look - it was bigger than my first house.

There was food on the table for us to enjoy, there was robes and slippers for us both, there was 2 and 1/2 baths (one complete with bidet!!) There was 2 flat screen TV's with surround sound, a bar too. More pics to follow.

You can knit too much!

2007-02-13T12:16:00.000-05:00

Yesterday I woke up with my right hand numb and tingly - like it was asleep. This was very aggravating and it lasted all day. It wasn't until around 6:30 pm that I checked with Dr. Internet (lots cheaper than actually going to the doctor and I can self medicate very well). Well it looks like I have a issue with carpal tunnel syndome. I only knitted from about 3pm - 10pm, I guess you can reach an age where you should do anything for that long. I have never had CTS, ever! Now exactly how am I going to knit Kyle's slippers any suggestions Kay?

Here I am!

2007-02-08T16:19:00.000-05:00

Baby pic

2007-02-08T16:14:00.000-05:00

Quess who this beautiful baby is???? No, not Jennifer Aniston. ME silly. Yup cute only lasts so long. And that also goes for "baby fat". Time is slip, slip, slippin' away my friend so lets all live today like it's our last....anyone up for a trip to Vegas??

Coming Soon!

2007-01-29T16:11:00.000-05:00

Well I finally got the pink baby blanket done, doesn't it look good. You aren't suupose to block a blanket are ya! I thought, hey, it's not like it won't fit. I also had time to make a little bib, man I sure hope this baby stays female and doesn't switch at the last minute. I have a friend who was told that her baby was a girl and guess what - it changed! Yep, went democrate! hahaha No really, it was a boy. Either "it" was hiding or was tiny, tiny. Guys don't like that, for that matter neither do girls. Anyway, I also made a diaper cake. It's totally made of disposable diapers folded around a baby bottle. Then you cover it with a receiving blanket. It was really fun. So the baby shower was Saturday and there was a ton of pink baby stuff. Now girls can wear/use blue things but baby boys in pink. Yes, there is something wrong with that. I will keep you posted on the outcome. Now what to knit next....

PINK FROGS!

2007-01-04T11:57:00.000-05:00

How do ya like these sneakers??? Am I cool or what? Actually I had to ask the sales clerk if I was too old to even shop in their store and she said I was fine. I bet she was just afraid to not say I was fine. I was really sic'd about these shoes - PINK FROGS!!! I usually don't get something unless it's on sale but these didn't matter at all. This store is called Pac Sun and it's a skateboard dudes shop so imagine my surprise when then had something for me. I love love love 'em. That's just how cool I am. (if I keep telling myself this maybe it will come true)

Happy New Year !

2007-01-03T12:49:00.000-05:00

So sorry I haven't been keeping this thing up. Sometimes even the things we like to do become just another thing we have to do. Soo here we are, ready for a new year and the promises it brings. I am healing nicely from the "gall" surgery and now I have to watch what I eat. Hopefully that will mean a leaner new year for me.
Doesn't this picture look all professional like? We clean up purty good huh?

New Floor !

2006-11-13T15:14:00.000-05:00

- AFTER

- BEFORE

Here are a few shots of the new floor in the family room. Rob did this all by himself. My bro-in-law did get him started. And I helped get the carpet out, but other than that Rob did it all. Looks good huh? Now we won't have to replace the carpet again, and again and again. I hear my dad's voice saying "Can't have nothing around here with you kids!" I believe that's every parents montra.

This little froggy

2006-11-06T14:55:00.000-05:00

I would like to introduce the newest member of the Richards family. This is George and he's a native to Ohio. Actually he was created in Toledo without a pattern. A very dear friend and fellow Knitwit asked her sister to make one for me for my birthday. Isn't he the cutest thing!?
There is wire in his little tongue and little toesy. He's won my heart. Thanks Carol and sis.

Buckeye Blitz

2006-11-06T14:46:00.000-05:00

I've been too busy to blog and I am sorry, please forgive me.
This is but a few of the things I have been knitting lately. A scarlet and gray booga bag complete with little clay buckeyes on the ends of the handles. And some scarlet and gray socks. Yes it is gray and not blue like the picture above. Fun, fun - GO BUCKS!

What little flower girl?

2006-10-16T13:49:00.000-04:00

Saturday night we went to the wedding of the girl who was my flower girl. What a full circle moment. She is also the daughter of my best friend, Terry. I have known her since kindergarden. The bride is Jenny and she was beautiful. Looked like Cinderella. Oh, to be young and cute and have the world by the balls. The 3 of us, myself, Terry and Melody grew up together. It was so nice to get together again. Apparently the camera didn't have the "skinny" lense on so I look huge next to the bride. Remember the camera adds 10 pounds.

Turtle, Turtle

2006-09-17T12:41:00.000-04:00

Here is Ryan with the turtle that Rob won at Cedar Point. It's big and bulky and I have no idea where it is going to end up. Ryan likes turtles but his room isn't that big that a huge turtle can fit in it. Rob only spent $5.00 winning this. And the comments from others at Cedar Point were offending and funny. One guy wanted to buy it, another asked how he did it and when we told him he said "Oh, he's just lucky." I wanted to say "HEY, that's not luck that's talent" and countless others asked where and what game and did Rob "put a spin" on the ball. Little kids would come up and want to touch it. It was like carrying around Micky Mouse.

Where were you?

2006-09-11T19:04:00.000-04:00

As I hung out our special 9/11/01 flag I really stopped and tried to remember everything about that day. You know we all say "I will never forget...." but already some details are fuzzy. I was walking with a friend. She called me today and we vowed to call each other every 9/11 no matter where life takes us. We had walked our walk and was sitting and chatting on my porch while everything was happening. We had not a clue. Could say we were innocent. We said our goodbyes, I went in the house to check for messages before getting a shower and on with the things on my to do list. Rob had called and said something hit a building in NYC and to turn the TV on. My mind couldn't wrap itself around what I was seeing. I sat down...watched the news reports. They were coming fast and furious. Some reports were true and other not. Everything seemed to be coming apart. Planes crashing everywhere it seemed. I was home alone and started to really freak out. What was happening to our land? Is this "the end"? I reached for my bible, let it fall open to the Psalms. I had no verse in mind, just read what ever I saw. I needed supernatural comfort. My eyes fell to Psalm 37. Find a bible and read how appropriate it is for what was happening that day. I couldn't believe it. God is good and faithful to those who seek him. And I was definately seeking...an answer to this mess. I have that answer but I don't like it. They hate us. We don't care about anyone but ourselves and we spew firth from our TV shows, movies and internet. They think we are to be killed for that. I couldn't have cared less about any Taliban or Afganistan or anything that wasn't on these shores. I do care now. The world got smaller that day. I now watch a lot more TV news than I used to. My heart stops with they come on with a "Breaking News" story. What will it be the next time? Tomorrow isn't promised to anyone. Hug and kiss and tell someone you love them today. I hope they aren't surprised. The US is forever changed by that day. Are we safer???? Do we care more about the world around us????

What I'm knitting

2006-09-02T14:55:00.000-04:00

Here are 2 baby bibs and spit cloth from the Mason Dixon Knitting book. The intended is to be a baby boy hense the blue colors. Actually the baby is here and his name is Garrett Scott. Now I hope the mom uses these and doesn't "put it away" as some cute keepsake. Now I hope I can mail these off to be SPIT on!!!! But that's the way it is with knitting for someone else. You have to trust that they like it, that it fits and that they take care of it. Otherwise you will not knit them one more single thing......

Deodorant Scandle!

2006-08-30T11:37:00.000-04:00

Here is exhibit one: This deordorant was in a hit and run accident on Friday night August 25 of 2006. From what I have learned this brand is highly addictive and will cause boys around about the age or 11 to act out violently. Especially if found in the hands of their brothers. Just the thought of it being put anywhere near their brother's highly offensive arm pits is enought to incite rage. And this time it did.....

This is the owner of the above mentioned deodorant. As you can see he broke his hand trying to save his beloved deordorant from his brother arm pits. The brother blocked the owner's fist with his knee....

Here is the mug shot of the offender and his weapon, the knee cap.
Let this be an example to everyone. Please keep your deordorant away from this man.

In the good ole USA!

2006-08-26T17:25:00.000-04:00

Here is just another cool thing/animal we was in the U.P. I spotted this beautiful eagle looking out onto Lake Superior. I got a few pictures then we watched him fly out, almost out of sight, onto Lake Superior. He came back shortly after with a fish in his claws. He flew so far out we couldn't see him. So how he could see a fish is beyond me. I guess that's why we say "Eagle eye" for someone who is very observant.
The first eagle I ever saw was here in Ohio at Charles Mills lake. Then this spring there was one in Sandusky looking out over Lake Erie. The one in Sandusky was very close to a bar. In typical Ohio fashion they had built a deck onto the bar for drinking and gauging at the eagle.
It's so amazing to see one in the wild like this. They were dangerously close to extinction and now we can see them in Ohio. It's a wonderful animal that represents the great USA.

He CAN walk on water!

2006-08-23T10:54:00.000-04:00

For those of you with teenagers, you know what I mean when I say that sometimes they think they can walk on water. They get smarter and you get dumber...by the minute sometimes. Well my son now has proof that he can walk on water. Great, that's all I need. Speaking of him, he started his first day of high school this morning. He was so excited. I guess I was too since I was woke up at 5:30 and school was all I could think of. As he was walking out the door and across the court I couldn't help but remember when he did the same thing in kindergarden. Man has he grown since then. I can't believe I have tears in my eyes as I write this.....boohoo.
He was equally as excited then as he is now. I hope he doesn't get disappointed.

On Vacation in the U.P.

2006-08-19T21:41:00.000-04:00

Here we are at Munising Falls in MI. We went to 5 different falls while we where up there. And by up there I really mean UP there, in the Upper peninsula. We were 22 miles from the nearest city. But that was OK, because it was/is beautiful in this part of the country. I believe this is the falls that we hiked 1.2 miles to see. Yes, I hiked! I have never hiked before, I usually drive. But my body could use more hiking.

She Likes It!

2006-08-01T11:43:00.000-04:00

I am sooo happy, She likes it. If you have a cat you know how they can be. I knitted and felted this little bed for her. Here it does look a little small but it isn't. She likes to get in small spaces. This is actually the second bed I made for her. The first was very small and might fit a kitten. So yes, you have to knit to fit, even for a cat. That sucks. But since I had quite a bit of yarn left over I just went for, willy nilly and made up the pattern as I went along. That is very freeing.
Everyone should try that, free style knitting. That should be an Olympic sport, don't ya think.

Ice Keem !

2006-07-25T22:40:00.000-04:00

Man, is there anything better than homemade ice cream on a nice July day? If there is this little cutie wouldn't want any. This is Katie, she is a member of Rob's side of the "fam". We were at a family get together called the "First Annual Invitation Pro-Am croquet tournament". And of course eating was involved. Katie eats like a pro. Loves her veggies but when mom said she was getting some ice cream, she was very excited. It's been a long time since I had to decipher baby talk but when I got it she was saying "Ice Keem" over and over. When her mom brought out the ice cream she explained that they were going to share the cup, Katie shook her head in agreement but when the time came for mom's spoon to enter the cup - Big Problem. That's when Katie started using bigger spoon fulls. Then when she was done, she did this:
All I could say was "Enjoy doing that when you are little girl, because it's not appropriate later on!" If only we could all go back to that kind of innocence, huh?

Wedded bliss and crawdad huntin'

2006-07-06T11:51:00.000-04:00

Well this is what wedded bliss looks like?!? This is my aunt and uncle in WV. They just celebrated 50 years together. People in the hills don't like much fuss over themselves. They will fuss over you but not comfortable with you fussin' over them. Can you tell my aunt is one of those people. They have 3 kids and they put together one really nice party for them. Lots of fried chicken, cake and gifts. I enjoyed seeing cousins I haven't seen in 10-15 years. My mom is youngest of 7 kids so my cousins already have grandbabies and I have a 14 and 11 year old. Yes I looked better/younger than the rest too! HAHA! I also loved the country air. I mean we were in hollers of WV. Ryan asked if we were on a one way street because the street didn't have any lines in the middle! His first taste of a holler I guess. They also enjoyed playing in the creek. That was what my sister and I enjoyed doing when we went to mamaws house. See below:
Sorry I don't know how to rotate the picture.

Knitting Update

2006-06-26T19:58:00.000-04:00

Ok, here ya go. Here is what I have been doing lately...knitting that is. I have been scrapbooking too. I really envy people who do one craft and do it well. I have several crafts and am only moderate at them. Here are the Dublin Bay socks with a little lace on the sides. They are really cute. And the green cable looking thing will be a small purse. I do mean small. It will hold a cell phone and credit card. What else does one really need anyway? I like to do cables, do you? I thought they were hard, but they aren't. Really! You should try it.

Yarn Harlot!

2006-05-22T12:12:00.000-04:00

On Mrs. Harlot's blog for May 15, she finds out that a sweater she has knit does not fit. Now I totally understand her problem, see my big blue monster sweater, but I am really, really feeling good about my sweater now. I mean, really, if someone has advanced in knitting can also have a sweater error, why do I, a mere novice, feel bad. I feel great now! I know it's probably not right to feel good when she feels bad but TOO BAD! I am happy oh so happy! Yes, Virginia, you can knit something completely to gage and have it not fit.

Boys that knit?!

2006-05-22T11:55:00.000-04:00

Scary boys that knit! This is Kyle's first hat, he knit it all by himself. He did need some help from mom on sewing it up. I was visiting the LYS one Sunday and he came in and wanted to see some yarn that he could make into a knit cap/hat for himself. I helped him and we went home to find a very simple pattern that didn't involve any circular or double point needles. He finished this in about a week and it very happy with it. Dad on the other hand is another story. He doesn't like boys knitting but he doesn't say anything to Kyle about it. Kyle is very craft like his mom. He also likes to keep his hands busy. It's either a Gameboy or knitting needles. I'm very proud of him.

Crazy ladies at Cedar Point!

2006-05-17T14:30:00.000-04:00

Have you seen any crazier ladies?!? We resolved to have a great time at Cedar Point no matter what the weather was doing. It could have been a nicer day but we came to knit. Now don't you also think that we were the first ladies ever to come to CP and knit. We did get some interesting looks. I bet they thought we should have been in the Frontier area with the candle makers and the blacksmiths. Knitting is for old folks.....ha ha ha! We beg to differ with ya. Pass the margarita baby!

Good CHiPS!

2006-05-15T09:25:00.000-04:00

This is my bro-in-law and his family with.....yes Eric Estrada! My bro-in-law won the Officer of the Year and Eric was at the cermony. How cool is that? Who thought that Eric was the coolest CHip that ever rode a motorcycle? I loved that show. Not so much for the story lines but for the scenery! We are so very proud of my bro-in-law! He works very hard for the people of CA. I hope they appreciate it. CONGRATS BRO!

Holly wants in the Picture

2006-05-10T15:00:00.000-04:00

First Sweater

2006-05-10T14:47:00.000-04:00

Ok, here it is! My first ever knit sweater. It will be now and (probably) forever be known as my First and Last Sweater. I fully understand how to make one now and it really is easier than making socks but sizing is so much more involved. If you think that it looks big, you would be right. In fact it is really, really big. So big that I might also call it my snuggle sweater. Because several of my loved ones could also fit in it with me and we could....snuggle! For all the knitters, yes I did a gage swatch, yes it was right on but the advise that I got was not right on. I am not upset and I will wear this on my "I am fatter than fat" days but don't ask me if I am going to do another one anytime soon. You see the problem is changing a pattern, yarn and needles to make something to fit. I guess all size people have this problem but I really can't feel too sorry for the skinny people. I mean really, boo hoo they don't make patterns for size 00, let me hand you a tissue!!!!

Meet First Lady Laura Bush

2006-05-02T15:15:00.000-04:00

Can you believe this???? One of my knitting buddies works for the Republician committee here in Ohio and she was able to get me and my sister in to this fundraiser for Congresswoman Debra Pryce and quess who the speaker was.......Mrs. Laura Bush. She was sooo elegant and nice to meet. I was such a geek too. She took time to meet everyone who wanted to meet her and sign autographs and pose for pictures. That's my sis Patti and we had one cool time. We didn't even have to give to the fundraiser, just paid for the parking and that was it. You never, ever know where knitting will take you.

Welcome Spring!

2006-05-01T13:40:00.000-04:00

It looks like spring has sprung in Central Ohio. We haven't had a nice spring for several years now. I love spring with everything waking up and blooming and the smell of freshly cut grass. And grass that I didn't have to mow smells even better.
Don't you feel sorry for people that do not really have a change in their seasons? My brother-in-law lives and CA but grew up in Northern OH and he said he really misses that change in seasons. Now even though he lives 5 minutes from the Pacific ocean, I do feel sorry for him...just a little.

Look what I made!

2006-04-25T12:52:00.000-04:00

Sometimes you just gotta get your creative side moving. Now I didn't think of these crafts all by myself. I got some ideas from the Knitwits but I made these all by myself. For the non-knitters these beads are made into stitch markers and the plastic tub is for putting yarn into and pulling out through the hole in the top, that way your yarn doesn't run all over the house, get taggled in your legs, around the chair and around the dog. It's a safety device for keeping us out of the ER. Which also makes it a money saver. Have you been to the ER lately? I pray you do not. Anyway I used everything I already had and it cost me nothing. What do you think?

Another Handbag/Tote

2006-04-25T12:46:00.000-04:00

Just look at what Mitten Maven gave me. She gave this to me at the Holler and I was tickled pink. I love bags and I love frogs. What a great combo don't ya think? Now does this become a regular handbag or a knitting tote? Also when was the last time someone gave you a gift for no reason? Huh? Yeah, never. Knitters are soooo generous with the time, talents and their gifts. I am very ver lucky to be a part of this great group of knitters.

Knitting in the Holler #4?

2006-04-24T14:58:00.000-04:00

We were also getting a little beading done.

Some of us knitting in the hot tub!
Or were we knitting and felting at the same time?

We did a lot of eating!

Knitting in the holler #3

2006-04-24T13:54:00.000-04:00

Here is our happy knitters enjoying the screened in porch/deck.

Knitting in the Holler #2

2006-04-24T13:43:00.000-04:00

We had a great time in the Holler this weekend. You should have been there. We might have been in a holler but we were not roughing it. This cabin had a gas fireplace, screened in porch, digital Tv, dvd, vcr, full kitchen, and a hot tub. We were partying!! Not too mention the food we had. We had sloppy joes, seafood potatoes, lasagne, fondue, two wonderfully baked egg breakfasts, and more snacks and more snacks and wine. We could have survived a winter snow storm. We women will not be without a few snacks. This place is in the beautiful Hocking Hills area. We plan to visit the hollers again real soon.

Knitting in the Holler

2006-04-24T13:41:00.000-04:00

In case you don't know what a holler is - this is it!

Test post

2006-04-24T12:16:00.000-04:00

Testing 1 -2 -3, I have errors or I am an error!

Happy Easter

2006-04-19T13:17:00.000-04:00

Do we clean up well or what? Yes that's the loving family of mine. Yes that's TWO boys and surprisingly enough the oldest likes to knit. I have to get some pics on here to prove it.
Had the inlaws here for Easter dinner. There was chicken, turkey and ham (are we canivores or what?) and veggies and desserts a plenty. I ate my weight in dirt pudding!! Yummy, yum, yum. But unfortunately there wasn't any little kids here to hide eggs. That's the first year we haven't hid eggs. So now I have plastic eggs with chocolate in them waiting to be hid and found. Maybe I can hide them from myself.

Why? Why? Why?

2006-04-17T21:01:00.000-04:00

Why do I keep sharing my love of knitting with family members who don't care? I mean come on, it's yarn that I picked out, a pattern that I picked out and now it's a useful thing that I can use. What's not to love about that? Don't I get all geeked up when you show me something that you made? Or bought? Whichever the case may be. All I get is....and I quote..."Hum". Now not ALL my family members are like that. The ones that are crafty say things like "Did you make that?" Which at least sounds like they are interested. I wish I wasn't the only crafty one in the family. Now I have friends that are crafty but they are too hard to impress. Maybe that's it. My family isn't impressed anymore. They expect it and no longer care. I am taking a vow right now not to ever, ever show my family members what I make. I am also not showing anyone what I got at the Thrift store at a ridiculously good price. Could they be jealous??

PS - that's a premie cap on my head, not a winky cover!

Drink Up!

2006-04-12T15:07:00.000-04:00

Would you look what happens when you let the knitters

out for the night!!!! They must be unwinding!

Show us the money!

2006-04-12T15:04:00.000-04:00

Jayne gave us (silly girl, birthdays are for getting not giving) all lottery tickets to scratch off. We couldn't wait to get to scratchin' but the only winner was a $1 and Gerry won that. Hey has anyone checked their Powerball numbers?????

Happy Birthday to Jayne!

2006-04-12T15:00:00.000-04:00

Here we are at Jayne's birthday bash in Pittsburg. The cake was beautiful! Almost too purty to eat. Of course that didn't stop us for long. Just so us to where the party is and we are there!!!!!

THRIFT STORES = NEW PURSES

2006-04-05T14:26:00.000-04:00

Ok, so I got up yesterday and decided that my life was boring and I needed a new purse. Huge jump, but that's what I thought. I begrudgingly went to my own stash of purses and didn't like a thing I saw. Like who put that clear, green totally plastic (smells like a new baby doll) purse in there. I mean, really, who would carry that at my age?

So I looked at the ads and started looking for stores, possibly Kohl's who is always having a super something sale, and that's not until Thursday and I can't wait that long. So I go back to my stash, sure that I missed something and more ugly stuff was there. Someone is breaking into my house, going to my purse stash and putting ugly purses in....I hate that!

What to do, what to do.

Kyle was saying he needed a few new t-shirts so I headed off to the Thrift store. Now picture this, I was just dying my hair went this thought came to me. I had to wait the entire 45 minutes before I could leave. That's a long time! But I also remembered that going there is a bit of a gamble because there are no guarentees that there will be anything there worth having. That's probably where all those ugly purses in my stash have been coming from.

Now there are two stores near each other that I like to thrift at. So there was bound to be something at 2 stores, right?

Now is that time I start confessing. (Play some sad music right now) I found just the light colored, pastel spring purse that I was looking. And it hasn't been used either. And it was at the first store too. But did that stop me from heading to the second store? No way, I was on a roll. The second store was a gold mine. I came out of there with 4 new-ish purses. Yup, that's 5 new-ish purses. Did I mention I already had a stash of purses? I will be sporting a new purse everytime you see me.

Yes, I should be ashamed that someone out there looking for a cool purse for the summer will have to settle for my leftovers but, the early shopper gets the purses.

In my defense, I went home and purged from my stash. I am donating 5 purses to a free store that my church operates. So I am feeling better about my purse purchases already.

2006-04-03T13:30:00.000-04:00

Here she is...my little knitter. Ok so she doesn't really knit but she loves to play with mommy's knitting so much that I had to braid here a little piece that she can play with. Her name is Grizzabella and we love her so much. She loves to be wherever I am crafting. One day I will probably catch her tail in my sewing machine. If I am doing anything in my craft room she comes running. One day she climbed up into my cabinets in my craft room. Cats are crafty little animals.

Beware of this Woman

2006-03-30T12:01:00.000-05:00

Watch out for this woman, she's everywhere. You might find her at the yarn shop, bead shop, scrapbooking shop and even possibly the wine shop. She is usually armed and dangerous. She probably is carrying a few knitting needles, or a crochet hook, and again quite possibly a cork screw. She is dangerous when engaged in conversation. She will encourage you to make something, be creative. The next thing you know you are under her spell and you think you just might be. She will offer to "get you started" and even offer to go to the craft store with you. She will offer advise on this and that. But don't listen!!! The next thing you know you will have more crafts to do than you can in one lifetime. You will be poor and sleep deprived. Please heed my advise. WATCH OUT FOR THIS WOMAN! She lives in Pittsburgh but has been spotted in Columbus, OH.

Pictures

2006-03-23T14:58:00.000-05:00

Here they are!!

Knitting Update

2006-03-23T10:38:00.000-05:00

Ok, I know, it's been a while. If the taking, downloading and publishing of the pictures weren't so difficult to me I would do it more often. Kind of like exercising. HAHA! I will get the hang of this I promise. Here are a few things I recently finished. I love the warm clogs. They were so easy to knit and I learned several new knitting techniques. I plan on making more colorful ones for Christmas presents. Family members, act surprised. And the scarf is my first steps into lacey knitting. It is also the only thing I own in cashmere. I ordered the cashmere on eBay and it came from England so I feel very provincial when I wear it. It's very soft and wish I had more of it. But for now I will wear my clogs and scarf and dream of more knitting projects to come.

Pictures!

2006-02-25T11:47:00.000-05:00

2006-02-25T11:45:00.000-05:00

Carefully mismatched socks

2006-02-25T11:16:00.000-05:00

Well it looks like I started something. I was at a knitting group meeting a few weeks ago and a lady came in wearing these really cool colored socks. When you look at them they are not the same but yet they are. The colors are the same but the patterns are not. They were soo cool I had to order some. When I did I wore them to the LYS (that's blog speak for Local Yarn Store) for the Friday morning KnitWits group and everyone also loved them. It's great to see that you are not the only crazy one the block. So we all wore our socks and posed for pictures. Cause we are crazy like that....

Gauge, smage!

2006-02-23T22:55:00.001-05:00

Who said you had to check gauge before knitting? That takes all the adventure out of knitting don't ya think? Don't be concerned about my future knitting, this is a clog that has yet to be felted. It will shrink and fit just fine. That is after I make the second one. That's the problem with foot ware, you need two socks, two clogs. I might learn to knit mittens but then again, you need two of those also. I guess practice makes perfect!

Gauge, smage!

2006-02-23T22:55:00.000-05:00

Froggy! ! !

2006-02-23T22:45:00.000-05:00

Can you believe this? This is the cutest knit frog I have ever seen. It was a gift from my new knitting buddy, Gerry. She knows how I love frogs and she just knitted it up for me. Only a fellow knitter would do that. Knitters are great friends. Thanks Gerry!

2006-01-21T13:12:00.000-05:00

Here they are....aren't they pur-ty!

They're done, they're done, they're DONE!

2006-01-21T12:35:00.000-05:00

I'm here and man am I happy these socks are done. For some crazy reason I have discovered that I should not do any sock knitting while also doing Christmas stuff. I have torn these socks out so many times I think I have already worn out the yarn. This picture isn't very complimentary to the colors but believe me they are pur-ty. This is Lorna's Lace, in Black pearl. Very soft too. But now I can move on to new and exciting things. Today I am starting a cashmere lacy scarf. My very first lace project. After that I hope to start a cable scarf. It has not been a very cold winter here in Ohio but if winter does show up I will be prepared. Scarves everywhere. But it is an excellent way to try a new technique with a little yarn. I love to knit and and ready to go. Now if my "have to do" list would stop interfering with my "want to do" list I might be a more balanced person. More later...
Ps, get off my back Gerry!!!

December already?

2005-12-13T20:48:00.000-05:00

I cannot believe I haven't posted since Nov. Man time flys doesn't it. I have been one busy little (yeah, right!) elf. I scrapbook a calendar for my mom-in-law every year and getting the pics from my sis-in-laws can take some time. I also finished a scrapbook for my mom with old pics of my sis and me. I sewed together Capree Sun juice packs and made a tote for my son's teacher. And I am knitting cotton chenelle face cloths for friends and myself. Gotta have those extra presents for those dropping in with presents for you. I also found time to knit up a cool bright colored sharf from BIG prints, Lion Brands (?) on size 35 needles. That only took a few hours and I love it! As for my Christmas shopping, decorating and baking. Finished the shopping today. Most of the wrapping is done too. All the halls are decked and the baking starts next week. I refuse to not enjoy the season. Ryan was in the church play of the Fear Not Factor as Gabriel on Saturday. He did a marvelous job for his acting debute. Didn't miss a line or a stage entrance. I was so proud. Nothing like a little Christmas story reinactment to remind you what the reason for the season is. Hope you are enjoying the season. More later...

Updates!

2005-11-30T11:51:00.000-05:00

Well it's been a bit hectic around here. Don't know if I mentioned this before but we had one sick kitty here. When we got back form LV our Grizzy was very sick. I took her to he vet and $200+ later we still didn't know exactly what was wrong. Vet said best guess is Kidney failure or cancer. GREAT! We were devastated at that. But after 2 weeks of antibiotics she seems to be pulling through. Then I got a sinus infection that really wiped me out, just in time for the Thanksgiving prep. Had Rob's family over (23 in all). Had a great time visiting and eating with just a hint of gossip. That's what some people get from not being here and you know who you are! Now we are dealing with Ryan's sinus condition. Went to the ENT today and we now have a surgery scheduled for 12/19. Thank God we can get it done over Christmas break. Removing Adnoids and shrinking some nasal something or other. Doctors and their big terms, make me sick. Ryan is also practicing for a play at church. He is going to be Gabriel in the Fear Not Factor. He's a little nervous about that but he knows his lines just fine. The play is on 12/10 and that means the rehearsels are coming fast and furious. So we are busy, busy, busy. We did manage to get the decorations and tree up this weekend. That's a load. Also tossed a few old decorations that I am just sick of looking at. Well I am off to me first ever professional hair coloring appointment. Getting tired of doing it myself. Hope everything turns out all right. Wish me luck. More Later...

Family in CA!

2005-11-22T19:41:00.000-05:00

Here's the lovly family that we got to visit while in LV. This is one handsome family don't ya think. We were blessed to get to see this side of the family twice this year. Who would have thought that we see those on the west coast more than the east coast. The little guy even said my name...I was almost in tears because the last time he was afraid of strangers. Love you guys! More later...

2005-11-22T19:30:00.000-05:00

Here we are in Red rock Canyon in Las Vegas. This is one really pretty place. Went you are from OH it is very hard to imagine a place like this. People use this like we would a state park. Picnics were happening and man I wished we had some of my mom's fried chicken and potato salad. That would have been real nice there. Heck, that's real nice anywhere...But I digress. There were people rock climbing and I mean really climbing those rocks not like at Dick's Sporting Goods store. No these people were serious. Except maybe for the car with the case of Corona in the back window. Looking at this canyon gives you the same small feeling you get when you look at the ocean. Truly amazing! More later...

Sorry we're back

2005-11-16T14:06:00.000-05:00

Yes we made it to LV and are now sorry to be home. Yes, we left some money in LV but that's to be expected. We saw a few sights that are outside of the strip. Like Red Rock Canyon and Hoover Dam. That's one big Dam. But honestly four days is a bit much in LV. The weather was warmer than we thought it would be. And all that sun makes one long for the cold dreary days of OH...not! I had a wonderful roller coaster airplane ride home last night. Guess we flew right over the clouds that were making tornados in IN. Great, just what I needed. Then I get home to find one sick cat. She had pottied where she shouldn't have and that is not like her at all. Otherwise she wouldn't be here. And she wasn't eatting. I took her to the vet this morning and she might have a bladder/kidney infection. Guess we shouldn't have left any money in LV, gonna need it here. And man is it cold here. Yesterday 71 today 40 with bitter winds, gotta love OH! So much for the welcome home. More Later...

And we're off...

2005-11-11T10:15:00.000-05:00

We are making our lists and checking them twice, looks like we are going to be more naughty than nice....he he he! Calling the paper, stopping the mail. What a hassle just to go to Vegas for a long weekend. Kids have to go to grandma's. That's the 2 and 4 legged kids. Which means more to pack. What's the weather in LV in Nov.? I'd rather be a bit chilly than too warm so we are packing short sleeves. If I get cold then I will just have to buy something - darn!
Great news, talked the boys into getting hair cuts last night. Now they don't look like shaggy mutts. They also don't have any more blond highlights. They weren't too happy about that. Using the old threat that if they behaved more then I might dye it again but until I see the changes - NO! I also can't have the holidays coming with kids that look unkept, mercy no. What would the relatives think?
Wish me lots of luck in LV. I found 2 yarn shops there and can't wait to see what they have. I will keep you posted. More Later...

Voting Results are in!

2005-11-09T09:45:00.000-05:00

Well I am happy to report that after the polls closed everything/one that I voted for passed/or didn't pass as the case may be. Yahoo, no more public smoking in Gahanna. Now I know some of you know that I used to smoke and thank God I quit almost 14 years now. Rob and I were at a comedy club a few weeks ago and discovered that no one was smoking. I asked our waitress and she said that the club was in Columbus which had passed the no smoking last year. She was very thankful that she didn't have to work in a smoke zone anymore. She said that on Saturdays after 3 shows she was discusting and sick from the smokers. Now she is one happy waitress. And that's hearing it from the horses mouth so to speak. She was really a lovely girl and I am not dis-ing her. Now some smokers would say that she should find another job if smoking is a problem for her and that I should only go to smoke free resturants if I wish but I say that THEY should find smoke zones and that we aren't changing they should. AMEN! Now I really should get to the sweeping and mopping that I am putting off. Yuck! More later...

Happy Tuesday

2005-11-08T18:46:00.000-05:00

Well I have got to deal with Christmas and gifts to make. I have a scrapbook calendar to make for my mom-in-law and a scrapbook to finish for my mom. So much for reading that book I got at the library today. Sisterchicks - anybody read that series? Gathering the pics should be easier this year. I have all this years pics on the computer and I don't have to go through an entire years worth of doubles to see what I want to us. Just point and click! Yahoo. Now if I can get the pics from the two sis-in-laws I will be on my way.
Today I felted a headband I had knitted. Hope it fits my massive head. Also felted a wool sweater that someday will become a purse. Felting is Fun - sounds like a bumper sticker. And I also ripped out some rows on a sock I am knitting. That was not fun. But after about an hour the stitches are on and ready to go again. Hey I also baked a coffee cake from scratch today too. Taking it to bible study tomorrow so the house smells good but we can't have any. BooHoo
More later...

Oh NO!

2005-11-07T17:12:00.000-05:00

I think I am getting a cold. Ran to Walgreens (first time and man where are the medicines, they sell everything but meds) and bought some Zycam. Hope this NASTY stuff works. But I am not sick enough to pass up shoes at Walgreens. Ok, yes they are designer label but after paying for the Zycam that's all I could afford. They are Croc knockoffs. Those plastic, clog shoes. Love them. Wore them to Meijers and feet didn't hurt. The original Crocs are $30 and I paid $10, not a bad savings. Must get the dinner on, no rest for the ill. More Later...