George the Girl

Papaw Spainhour

2011-03-12T16:40:00.001-05:00

SPAINHOUR WINSTON-SALEM - Wendell Holten Spainhour, Sr., 87, of Winston-Salem, passed away Sunday, December 26, 2010 at his home. He was born December 13, 1923 in Forsyth County to Leroy and Glennie Roberson Spainhour. He served in the U.S. Navy during WWII. He graduated from Piedmont Bible College and was a member of Century Park Baptist Church where he taught Sunday School. He also taught Sunday School at Edgewood Baptist Church and helped start Edgewood Meals on Wheels. Mr. Spainhour retired from McLean Trucking Company as a Diesel Mechanic. He is preceded in death by his wife, Doris Wheeler Spainhour and a daughter, Lisa Spainhour Lauck. Surviving are two daughters, Sue Spainhour of Winston-Salem, Diane S. Beeson (Terry) of Lewisville; a son, Wendell Spainhour, Jr. (Aludia) of Kernersville; four grandchildren, Brian Beeson, Elizabeth Turney, James Lauck, and Jay Lauck; four great grandchildren. A funeral service will be held 11:00 a.m. Wednesday, December 29, 2010 at Century Park Baptist Church with Rev. Glen O. Murphy officiating. Interment will follow at Gardens of Memory in Walkertown. The family will receive friends from 6:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. Tuesday, at Hayworth-Miller Silas Creek Chapel.

We'll always miss you Papaw!

Christmas 2010

2011-03-12T16:27:00.003-05:00

Kaia's first Christmas, and the first one Kane's shown so much excitement for!

Fall Photo Shoot

2011-03-12T12:11:00.002-05:00

We got together with my sister Kristin the day after Thanksgiving, and headed to Old Salem for a photo shoot with the kids...
It was amazing, her pics are amazing, and they were more than I could ever ask for...I am so lucky to have her! My kids are so damn cute!

Kaia's First Birthday!

2011-03-12T11:53:00.004-05:00

I knew I had to have that ONE big party for the first...you know, invite everyone and their brother...Kane's have calmed down a lot, and started being geared more for him and his friends, but I did the same for his first. Of course, I would have to make her cake...I have, for better or worse, always made the cakes, and would feel really lame if I stopped now. It would either be, Kane: "Mommy, why does Kaia get pretty store bought cakes" or Kaia in the future :"Mommy, why didn't you make my cake!" So yeah, Pink Elephant Cake here I come...

And I decided on fondant, marshmallow fondant...it was a huge, messy pain in my ass, but it turned out better than I could have asked for a first try with that stuff, and with almost no fondant experience...even if you did have to peel the fondant off or OD on sugar, it looked pretty!

We held it at the fellowship hall for our church, since I didn't want to cram that many people into my house...and it was a nice easy to find location, and I live slightly in the boonies...

Almost everyone came, so that was fun! Kaia had her own little cake of course, with no fondant hehe...

It was apparently rather nom-mi-licious!

Would you like a bite Grandpa Bill?

Who, Me???

Kane was feeling a tad under the weather, he was very pathetic...so the Bennett's helped Kaia with her presents!

She was much more interested in the paper wrapping them though...the presents, not as much...

Katie got her a Caterpillar lovey, and it must snuggle her in the crib to this day, and Sue and Diane got her a rocking horse, which she loved, but Logan wanted for his own! So cute!

And none of these amazing pics would be possible without my fabulous sister Kristin and her photography skills!

Fall is here!

2011-01-26T08:36:00.002-05:00

And that means...PUMPKINS!
Did you know that pumpkins are nom nom good?

Did you know that pumpkins are "ewwww slimy inside"?

OBLIGATORY PARENT PHOTOS hehehe! We are never as cute as our kids...

Good Job Kane!

And fall also means... the Dixie Classic Fair!
Oh, that means food, and rides, and food, and games, and food...

Halloween 2010

2011-01-26T08:25:00.005-05:00

Have I mentioned before that my kids are really friggin cute? Kane likes to be the same thing for Halloween, and since he was Optimus Prime last year, we told him he should switch it up and choose a new costume. He chose Bumblebee. Technically it is different, but it's still a transformer, and the costume was pretty much the same except yellow. But hey, it's his costume right?

And of course, Kaia could be nothing else but a Pink Elephant. Now I looked for costumes, and found one on amazon. If I wanted her to be a super pink elephant on steroids, or crack. And pay way to much for it. So I say, I'll make her costume! And I do!

So out we go with my Bumblebee and my Pink Elephant!

Daddy was a fabulous Ghostbuster!

Why Some Kids (or parents!) Should Be Beaten...

2010-10-12T07:59:00.003-04:00

Now I am not promoting child abuse...but really! We see all kinds of parents and kids at the shop where I work, and some are great and we really like seeing them come in. But then there are the kids that run over their parents, and the parents who not only allow their children to act that way (a way that wouldn't be acceptable in the privacy of home, much less in public) and then reward them for their fiendish behavior with sweet treats! The kids Sunday night really won though for the worst kids we've seen in quite a while.

They come in as a very large group. So at least I don't think all 4 kids belonged to one set of parents. There were two girls about 8-ish, one a little younger looking, and a little one that couldn't have been more than about 4. The rude sullen kids are given generous sized cups and allowed to choose their seats. They decide to take up our taller cafe style tables by the window. This of course also involves them climbing up and down out of the chairs every few seconds and playing in the window sill. Now, as a parent, I wouldn't have allowed this simply because I typically prefer my child not to fall and crack his skull.

Both Saedi and myself need to make a fast break for the bathroom, but we're rather busy. So we are going to run between customers inside. Saedi tries, but the girls are in the bathroom. Although the door keeps opening and closing, there is at least one of the 4 in the bathroom for the next 30 minutes! Finally giving up, Saedi just goes into the men's room. She comes storming out a few seconds later complaining that the soap dispenser is missing. This is sadly not an uncommon occurrence, since for some reason people get a thrill from stealing things, like soap dispensers. For just that reason we have a stash of extras in our utility closet. I go out there, fill a new one, and put it in the men's room. As I am coming out I see a couple of the girls running out of the bathroom, so I decide I should go check it.

Opening the door, I am overwhelmed by the scent of air freshener, but all I see is the youngest, who looks to be drying her hands. I close the door in apology, and wait, thinking she should be out soon if she was drying her hands. Oh, no. After several minutes I hear the "Pssst" of the air freshener. Then again. And again. I am not sure what to do, because I don't really know where the line is drawn as to what's acceptable discipline wise for a customer's child. But after several
"Psssssstt's" I don't actually care anymore. Opening the door I ask the little girl to go back to her seat.

Oh, the Carnage! As I open the door, a billowing cloud of Sunshine Citrus fumes come visibly rolling out. It is so thick I can taste it from the hallway, and I start sneezing. I leave the door open, and let some of it dissipate before grabbing my last clean breath and heading in. Between fantasies of whopping the kids upside their heads I take in that almost every surface is nicely greased with the sheen of air freshener. And what is that in the sink? Oh, bubbles...and empty soap dispensers. Yes, that was plural dispensers because since apparently failing to make a big enough mess with the mostly full women's dispenser, they were the thieves who took the men's as well. Both are open, and floating empty in a sea of sink bubbles and a river of soap slime all over the sides of the sink and the handles.

There were 2 and a partial rolls of toilet paper, and a mostly full roll plus backup of paper towels when we did our last bathroom check. Since then it was almost exclusively those girls in their, so there was no excuse for there to only be a half roll of paper towels and one roll of toilet paper left. Most of the rumpled towels were in the sink, on the purse ledge, and spilling from the overflowing trash can.

I propped the door open, and stormed to the front counter, directly in front of the table where the adults where sitting and called to Kayla.
"Hey Kayla, will you hand me the cleaner and several dry towels? The bathroom is TRASHED!" and I stomp of to the bathroom, banging thing as I put them back where they go. I call out over the counter to Saedi, "At least I found the men's soap! It was in the women's bathroom, since the women's dispenser apparently wasn't full enough to make enough bubbles!" It legitimately takes me about 10 minutes to put the bathroom back together and as I am almost done one of the parents drags only one of the kids to the bathroom.

"She has something she'd like to tell you" Damn right she does.
"I'm sorry I sprayed a little air freshener" The heathen child says insincerely. The mother then looks so pleased with her self and her daughter and saunters out before I can respond with anything that resembles words. The group leaves a moment later, leaving 4 tables (that would have seated 14 people, although they only had 8 in their group) completely dirty, rearranged, and trashed.

Beach Trip 2010

2010-09-12T22:33:00.004-04:00

It was time for another trip to NC's Outer Banks!
View Larger Map
We all met up at Bojangles to caravan out there! We had 18 of us total...including plenty of kids!
My brother with my nephew Logan!
He was a blast this week...I really don't get to see enough of him...
We spent one evening having drinks...my husband caught this fabulous shot of me...

We headed to Ocracoke Island again...this time I got to check out the ponies...
Kane and his Daddy make such cute photo ops...

We headed out to swim in the sound...It was scary. We took an old empty trail to get out there and half way through, we hit a puddle...and it was so deep I didn't think the jeep would make it... then, over the hill was another one! Even worse and deeper! I'm screaming "STOP!" but he couldn't stop, because there was no where to turn around, and he couldn't back up through the last one, so we just had to go for it! And the jeep made it, so we had a great little beach all to ourselves...

My daughter loved the water...she cried when we took her out...

Please don't eat the sand, Kaia...
Mommmmyyy...no more pics!
Theses are from the actual ocean...

When we weren't at the beach, there was still plenty to do...
Like eat Sting Rays...
And swim in the house's private pool...
http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/tfXTSjdR1MM06yFKiJNJw6AiNtqnxEhuhT-GZ79OCo0?feat=directlink
Then we headed to the Currituck Lighthouse...
Yeah, that's my kid in the lighthouse...meaning that was me in the lighthouse too...He wanted to climb to the top...that meant, that, yep, I got to climb to the top...oh thrill... And I told you Derrick and Kane made good photo ops...

Drums of Autumn Swap

2010-09-12T22:31:00.001-04:00

Oh the goodies I received! I was completely overwhelmed...

See the handmade slippers! So in love with those! And all the local hand made goodies!
And she sent me hand dyed roving and the matching handspun yarn! Isn't it amazing!

Oh, what was that? My kids are cute, thanks!

2010-09-12T21:51:00.001-04:00

Mountains 2009

2010-09-12T21:45:00.002-04:00

So for Memorial Day we wanted to head to the Mountains. We rented a cabin with Sue and Papaw and off we went. We stayed a few miles outside of Bryson City, the cutest little town, and our cabin was really on the side of a mountain. As in, leave the highway for 10 min of circling through back roads, to have it end in a gravel road that starts to head uphill, then to the driveway, which was so steep I couldn't see the pavement over the nose of my car...

Derrick smashed baked Alaska cake all over my face...

Kane was so glad that Jay was able to go...

Sue and Papaw at the Ripley's Aquarium

Excuse me Mr. Octopus...

Spring 2010

2010-09-12T21:30:00.002-04:00

We decided to get a zoo membership...it only cost as much as 2 visits would have, so we thought it was totally worth it.
Kaia is becoming quite the little ham...she loves having her picture taken already!

From Spring 2010

Thought this was a rather pretty picture... It was in an area with all these birds running around free...one jumped down and made me scream...scarred the crap out of me, but the bird was unphased...
There were so many things for Kane to do...this was one of his favorites of course...
Then Easter hit...and of course, the Easter Bunny came...

We went to Church, all dressed up and pretty, but I didn't get any good pictures of us all dressed up. Even Kaia had the cutest little dress...
A couple days later, we decided we wanted to hop in the car and head to the beach... just for the day, but boy we had a blast!
Doesn't he always look so happy hehe

Just for fun...

Winter 2010 And Kane's 5th!

2010-09-12T21:15:00.004-04:00

Ok...so I obviously have been completely slack in updating this...here's a little update...
So after Kaia was born, there was snow... and then for good measure, there was even more snow!

And my baby kept getting bigger!

And then there was Kane's 5th Birthday! Whoa where did time go!

I made his cake...like always...he picked out the style and flavors of course...
Gammy and Pop-Pop with baby Kaia

Big Boy!

It could never be a party without the Bennett kids!

And here we have Kane and Ella riding on his big present, a Power Wheels 4 Wheeler!

Give Away

2010-08-11T19:13:00.002-04:00

Here you go! Go win some goodies!

http://icelandicgardener.blogspot.com/

Holidays!

2010-05-18T12:50:00.002-04:00

We started with A Christmas get together at the Bennetts!

Then we headed to a Brunch with Derrick's Mom's side of the family!
Granny and baby Kaia!

Then we headed over to Derrick's Mom and Dad's!

Then we headed to Aunt Diane's apartments for Christmas with my family.
I will admit that at this point, I was exhausted and so beyond ready to just go home!
But it was nice to get to see everyone, and show off the baby hehe!
Cousin Brian and his wife Susan and their son Jacob

Notice Derrick in the back looking at me like I am crazy...

Here's Cousin Rena and Tony!

Lots of food....so much food...what is it with my family and food hehe!

I love this one!

And Presents!

Then it was time to head home to get ready for Santa....
He brought Kane lots of goodies, like a Train Table and Train!

We had Dad to thank for these...

Then James and Charity came over with Logan!

Look at how big Little Logan has gotten!

Presents are for eating, didn't you know?

Finally, we had Christmas at Derrick's Dad's family.
Great Papa, Aunt Karen and Cousin Elizabeth

Home with Baby Kaia!

2010-05-18T12:42:00.003-04:00

I was so tired by the time we got home...and Kane was rather unsure of what to do with the Baby!

I left the kids with Derrick while I took a bath and a much needed nap! Sneaky man stole this pic...

Kane got a little more comfortable with Kaia though.

Katie came to see us!

And the fabulous Alex!

I took her to see Mal!

Baby Kaia!

2010-05-18T12:05:00.002-04:00

So I had decided that I wanted to have a natural birth...no meds...and I wanted everything to go smoothly even though I was diagnosed with Gestational Diabetes...so I really took care to watch what I ate, and not gain to much weight...

I was due on Dec 13th, 2009. On Dec 18th I had a Dr's Appointment and she still had not come. When I went to the Dr I was 4 cm dilated, and they were calling for a huge snow storm, so the Dr in the office sent me on over to the hospital to be induced.

By the time we got there it was snowing, A LOT for around here!

But there wasn't much to do but wait. I was there hours before a Dr even came in, so I argued with the nurses plenty. I wasn't in labor, or on any meds so why did I have to be strapped to the bed and a bunch of monitors when I wanted to walk around?
They finally came in at about 4 to break my water... but still not much was happening...
Then around 6 they came in to start my Pictocin.... still didn't think much was happening...contractions still weren't that close or bad... but one came that had me writhing and crawling onto my knees, and my MIL freaked out and went to ask for some pain meds, when as she's walking out the door I yelled that No, I was ready to push! The nurse comes in to check, and as my MIL is walking back in the nurse yells for her to leave the door open and starts calling for people in the hall to come in, NOW! At this point my body has taken over...I am not trying to push, it's just doing it! The Dr barely got in on time, and after a total of 6 pushes, the baby was out! At about 6:20! So only 2 and a half hours after they broke my water, with no drugs! I was rather pleased with that! So I might have screamed a couple times when she was coming out... it was a worthwhile trade to be able to stand up and be completely coherent the whole time!
It was funny, because Saedi was going to be in the room...as they were putting in my IV for the pictocin she headed out to grab some food, we all figured it would be a couple hours at least...nope....she had just gotten down to the cafeteria when Sue was calling her telling her to come back! She got back up in time to see them cleaning the baby!
Sue was there, and so was Lisa, my MIL, and of course Derrick!

Isn't she lovely!

Everyone had to come see her too!

Swaps

2010-05-18T01:15:00.003-04:00

Oh I was so slack...I want to share the goodies (way to late of course) from my last couple swaps!
From my Books and More Swap

From my Vampy Halloween swap (check out the awesome baby sweater!)

And from my much loved Voyager swap! Note the awesome Jayne Hat that I rocked this winter and the hand made yarn bowl...

Beach Trip 2009

2010-05-18T00:45:00.002-04:00

Had a blast at the beach! We stayed in a rented house in a little place on the NC Outer Banks called Salvo! We had a blast! It rained on us A LOT and flooded our little neighborhood so we headed to the Aquarium for the day. The kids loved it! That's Kane with his cousin Logan. We took a ferry to the Ocracoke Island and headed to the lighthouse...what a cute place it was! The sun came out eventually so we decided to HIKE to the beach! But the waves were so rough we didn't stay out long... Since our house had a private pool, we spent most of our time there!
Fat Pappy thought it would be funny to tell Kane to go pee on the fence...you should watch what you tell a 4 year old to do...

Me and Derrick headed out to this cute little restaurant called Kaia's Kitchen...we thought it was so cool that there was a place with the name we had chosen for our future daughter! The food was great too!
It was so much fun staying with everyone!
We spent one day checking out the Wright Brother's Memorial...it was chilly and windy though...
We also spent an afternoon playing at the Elizabethan site... still cold and rainy...don't I look thrilled! They had a neat hands on museum that Derrick and Kane had fun playing in...
Being about 6 1/2 months pregnant, I, of course, bought fudge at every shop...
And for our last day on the beach...still rough and windy!

Derrick refuses to go to the beach without Mini Golf!

Sadly good things must end...

But before we left town we headed to see the Hatteras Lighthouse

and to lunch at Big Al's.

Southerners Practice This Religiously!

2009-06-29T23:53:00.001-04:00

 “That's something I've noticed about food: whenever
there's a crisis if you can get people to eating normally
things get better.”

Madeleine L'Engle.

I'm a Pepper, you're a Pepper...

2009-06-04T01:19:00.000-04:00

I love Elizabeth Barrett Browning

2009-05-27T18:19:00.002-04:00

I have always loved Elizabeth Barrett Browning. How can you not?
From

Sonnets from the Portuguese

If thou must love me, let it be for nought
Except for love's sake only.  Do not say
"I love her for her smile--her look--her way
Of speaking gently,--for a trick of thought
That falls in well with mine, and certes brought
A sense of pleasant ease on such a day"--
For these things in themselves, Beloved, may
Be changed, or change for thee,--and love, so wrought,
May be unwrought so.  Neither love me for
Thine own dear pity's wiping my cheeks dry,--
A creature might forget to weep, who bore
Thy comfort long, and lose thy love thereby!
But love me for love's sake, that evermore


Say over again, and yet once over again,
That thou dost love me.  Though the word repeated
Should seem a "cuckoo-song," as thou dost treat it,
Remember, never to the hill or plain,
Valley and wood, without her cuckoo-strain
Comes the fresh Spring in all her green completed.
Beloved, I, amid the darkness greeted
By a doubtful spirit-voice, in that doubt's pain
Cry, "Speak once more--thou lovest!"  Who can fear
Too many stars, though each in heaven shall roll,
Too many flowers, though each shall crown the year?
Say thou dost love me, love me, love me--toll
The silver iterance!--only minding, Dear,
To love me also in silence with thy soul.




If I leave all for thee, wilt thou exchange
And be all to me?  Shall I never miss
Home-talk and blessing and the common kiss
That comes to each in turn, nor count it strange,
When I look up, to drop on a new range
Of walls and floors, another home than this?
Nay, wilt thou fill that place by me which is
Filled by dead eyes too tender to know change
That's hardest.  If to conquer love, has tried,
To conquer grief, tries more, as all things prove,
For grief indeed is love and grief beside.
Alas, I have grieved so I am hard to love.
Yet love me--wilt thou?  Open thy heart wide,
And fold within, the wet wings of thy dove.


How do I love thee?  Let me count the ways.
I love thee to the depth and breadth and height
My soul can reach, when feeling out of sight
For the ends of Being and ideal Grace.
I love thee to the level of everyday's
Most quiet need, by sun and candlelight.
I love thee freely, as men strive for Right;
I love thee purely, as they turn from Praise.
I love thee with the passion put to use
In my old griefs, and with my childhood's faith.
I love thee with a love I seemed to lose
With my lost saints,--I love thee with the breath,
Smiles, tears, of all my life!--and, if God choose,
I shall but love thee better after death.

What Would YOU Do to Win a Kindle 2 Contest!

2009-05-19T23:20:00.001-04:00

What Would YOU Do to Win a Kindle 2 Contest!

Posted using ShareThis

Bruschetta Chicken

2009-05-11T17:25:00.003-04:00

Thought I would share tonight's recipe! Bruschetta Chicken! I didn't invent this... I copied it down from someone else...who copied it from someone else...But I do cook it alot!

2 Cans Diced Tomatoes (the Italian kind with garlic and herbss, etc)
1 60z stuffing mix
A few chicken breasts thawed and cut into bite sized pieces
1 cup shredded Mozzerezla cheese

Preheat oven to 400
Mix tomatoes and stuffing in a bowl.
Lay chicken pieces out across a 9x13 baking dish
Cover with cheese
Sprinkle salt, pepper, herbs if desired
Top with evenly spread stuffing tomato mix
Bake for 30-45 min.

Yum!

Baby Time!

2009-05-11T16:34:00.001-04:00

I went for my first scan today, and am officially due Dec 13th! yay!

For My Mother

2009-05-05T00:45:00.003-04:00

I wrote this for my mother almost a year after she died...I just found it again... wanted to share.

You are in everything I do, your memory consumes my life
You are the motivation in my housekeeping
Keep the toilets clean, vacuum up the dog hair
You’re even in the food I cook, my spaghetti sauce
The red velvet cake with drizzle icing
You knew I hated the cream cheese kind
You’re in my clothes, you always liked me in those colors
And those hippy loose shirts and bellbottom jeans
You’re blue jacket and shoulder purse
And those sandals, always sandals
I’m cold all the time and I always by real cheese
No cheap coffee here
Sometimes you get what you pay for
Cut the bacon in half, eat real dinners
Everyone at the table like it or not
Or go without simple as that
Candles everywhere and stealing moments
With woman’s day and romance novels
A sappy movie and daytime talk shows
Dance to a song because the Bitch is Back
And after I Cry Like A Rainstorm and those
Black Waters keep on rolling
I just might take a walk with Ole Red
And life goes on and the laundry gets done
Only one way to fold the towels
In half, in half and then in thirds
But make sure you use them twice
They wear out you know….
Patch a hole and sew a button
Plan the quilt I’ll sew on the machine for baby
And maybe the picture I’ll crosstitch…
Bake for Christmas and everyone every time of year
And go pick the apples to make pie filling
I can mow the yard myself, don’t need no man
I rather like to mow you know….
It’s great having a dishwasher but you gotta get those dishes done
And wipe off the sink after you wash them…
Keep the tub clean and plant some flowers
They may not live but you’ve gotta have them
Love the cat, little princess
And snuggle babe always yours
Be understanding because everyone is different
And never give a flying fuck
What the neighbors think anyways
If it makes me happy and I am content
Hell that’s all that matters
Don’t let people tell you who to love
Or whether or not to leave or stay
They don’t know what happens behind closed doors
And school doesn’t matter as long as I make it somehow
Steal moments for yourself wherever you can find them
And enjoy the sun rise…
Gin and tonics are a girl’s best friend
And so are dogs and daughters and makeup
And jewelry and satellite TV
But the things that really count are family
And getting along and making up
Don’t choose sides and never hold a grudge
Life is to damn short
It’s all gonna work out soon
Money isn’t everything and you can
Feed a family on practically nothing
If you can make a 4 course meal
Out of beans and cornbread and some meatloaf
If you only know what spices to use
Garlic is good in almost everything
And you should always have baking goods around the house
Let the animals in and sneak them on the couch
When the men aren’t home
They don’t understand anyways…
Do what you can for other people
They love you
And take naps…
Working is the most important thing to build character
Oversleep occasionally
Never go to the doctor it’s a waste of money
But Tylenol sinus is our friend
Teach your children the ways of the world
Don’t shelter them they’ll learn it somewhere
You taught me to grow up and grow out
On my own and you said
You raised me to leave you and
You would always miss me but that my leaving made you proud
I wanted to make you proud, you always believed in me
No matter what
I wanted to show you I could make it like you taught me
I could make it on my own make you proud
And I have… I just hope you can see….

In Loving Memory

2009-04-28T14:08:00.001-04:00

Dragonfly in Amber Swap

2009-04-20T22:21:00.003-04:00

I was super excited to see a box by my door today! It was my swap package from Jen!
Love the friendly face peeking out! It had a lovely skein of sock yarn in some of my favorite colors! And see the pretty dragonfly shawl pin? There are some fun dragonfly rub on transfers, a yummy smelling wax tart…Really yummy…a cute tin dragonfly (see it hanging off the yarn) some lindt truffles (my weakness) a box of yummy looking dilettante truffles (make me drool) and a whole box of See’s candies…and I now pronounce them mine…except for the ones I begrudgingly share with my hubby and kid…oh and m very own bottle of homemade lemoncello… I feel extra pampered by that…and as if all this weren’t enough, there’s a whole bag of Coffee and my little lamb…I am so pampered!
Oh and the hand trying to gank my truffles?

Belongs to this monster :)

Easter!

2009-04-18T11:33:00.003-04:00

Last Sunday was Easter and Kane sadly told me that the Easter Bunny could not come see him cause he had been bad at Saedi's on Thursday. I told him that I was pretty sure he wasn't in that much trouble and sent him to bed. And the Easter Bunny did come! Kane put out his "basket" the night before and it was full in the morning!

Mommy! He Did Come!!!

This was Mommy's favorite as a little girl!

That is one big bunny!

I can really eat candy before breakfast?

Ok! No Problem!

2009-04-04T09:29:00.002-04:00

I got an amazing swap from Mary Ann! So great!

Cherry Tree Hill Yarn to go with the ankle sock pattern!

And yummy sock yarn...

And who doesn't love good coffee?

Who though eating mice would be so yummy?

On another note...delicious hand dyed alpaca! From Julie's...

Flash Your Stash

2009-04-04T09:26:00.002-04:00

I missed it on the 1st...oh well...I seriously need to organize...especially since my office turned yarn/book room will have to be the baby's room...OH Dear...

A shop I like...

2009-03-19T01:05:00.003-04:00

You should go check out this shop... it's full of amazing things...and I can say the yarn I bought from her was so yummy...Odd-ish Creations and once you've drooled a little, go check out her blog, where she's having a nifty giveaway...
it's exciting...look at this...I am rather smitten...
The scarf I made in my last post was from her yarn too...

Knitting Break

2009-03-12T22:53:00.002-04:00

Hmmm...So many things...first, last night I decided I had to taste the lace yarn from www.kataish.etsy.com .... It was absolutely delicious...I present my mermaid kerchief

I finally broke down and made the yummiest shawlette out of my alpaca...it just covers my shoulders and I am in love...

A yummy-ish scarf I sent out in a swap

Excuse me please while I am a sock hoo-oor

Oh and my kid is super cute...oh yeah...

Kane's Birthday

2009-03-03T13:24:00.002-05:00

I'm such a picture whore...but I just finished getting all the photos of Kane's birthday so here we go....

We had it at Zack's so there would be plenty of room for everyone...

4 Years Old1
He wanted a Buzz Lightyear Cake so that's what I made...came out looking a little demonic...

Quite the crowd...Ella looked extra cute as always...

The day wouldn't have been complete without an appearance by Baby Logan

The kids are so cute together...make a wish!

White cake, cotton candy frozen yogurt...confetti whipped icing...

Presents!

Go Speed Racer, Go Speed Racer...Go Speed Racer Go!!

Selfish here, but our kids are adorable....

Then, Papaw with Great Grandson Logan!

Oh, and Rowdy got his head stuck in my little desk trashcan..serves him right, really...He drug trash everywhere

Books and More swap

2009-03-01T21:37:00.001-05:00

Yay my box from swknitsmn was waiting for me today. Everyone was so excited!
Yay Goodies!
Twinkles Big City Knits which I have been wanting... an awesome yarn traveler that I have been coveting... Yay chocolate! And bath fizzys....(I have a new book screaming for a hot bubble bath) a cute little notepad, the prettiest stitchmarkers....which are handmade and Cleckheaton Country Silk Such an awesome package!

LOVE this

2009-02-20T21:43:00.000-05:00

Swap!

2009-02-20T21:17:00.002-05:00

I got the most fabulous package ever today from Theresia today! I was giddy! I got 2 packs of coffee which I can't wait to try...chili chocolate bars...I've been dying to try that...truffle bars (truffles are my weakness) and an assorted box of chocolates...An adorable sheep mug...the pattern for the dayflower camisole that I'm ready to pick out yarn for...and the loveliest yarn... handgefaerbte sockenwolle and schoppel-wolle zauberball both of which I have been petting ever since because they are so soft and pretty... I am in love...and I can't forget the bar of honeysuckle soap... I really feel pampered...THANK YOU!!

My Vampy Valentine!

2009-02-05T13:32:00.001-05:00

I just spent 2 days home from work with this lovely bug...blehhh! I was sitting there feeling sorry for myself when the mail man dropped THISon my front porch! I opened it and everything was wrapped so pretty! My kid was rather excited too!
And here's what I found! All with little notes! Lindt Truffles "For you and Jean Claude to enjoy afterwards" Kit-Kats and Blood Pops "just because"
A lantern style candle "to light the way when you're out searching for vamps" Check out the picture in that frame "for your sparkly loved ones (vamp or otherwise)" and a candle "to get you in the mood for your sexy midnight tryst with Jean Claude"
BUT WAIT there's more!

"The Yarn!!!" amazing Lorna's Laces Shepherd Worsted that sang sweetly to me as I pulled it out to remind me of how I was waiting for JUST the right worsted yarn for a pattern... oh wait, the pattern calls for one skein of THAT EXACT YARN! SQUEE!
And the handmade needle organzer! "To safely tuck away all those pointy wooden sticks..." Did you make it? I proudly show it off here so everyone can be appropriately envious hehe :) And a fabulous set of needles...in a case... why didn't I ever think of that? "They're harder to lose this way..."
So yes, knittothebottom I do LOVE boys who sparkle! And twilight swag buttons! "Who doesn't"
THANK YOU!!!!!
Really truly amazing package!

Snow!

2009-01-27T22:58:00.002-05:00

Well, it was a week ago, but still so exciting.
We had to hurry because it was gone by noon. Kane woke me up before dawn to tell me about the snow... I told him to go back to sleep and wait for the sun to come up. So at sunrise he came into my room announcing the sun's up! So out we went!

My neighbor has four of the cutest puppies...The mom is golden retriever, I suspect the dad was a lab they're rather large... they're quite the escape artists though since they never stay in the fence... that's ok we enjoyed playing with them!

Here's what I found when I opened my back door a couple days later!

And I keep my dogs food right inside the door, so here's what happened when I tried to let my dogs in...

On another note, here's my latest knitting adventure!

A sweater for my new nephew Logan!

Me

2009-01-24T00:30:00.000-05:00

Took this test and it was very me...

ENFP - "Journalist". Uncanny sense of the motivations of others. Life is an exciting drama. 8.1% of total population.

Take Free Myers-Briggs Personality Test

More Knitty Goodness!

2009-01-13T12:03:00.002-05:00

So riding on the success of the first capelet I made, I decided Katie my friend and coworker needed one too...but it got pushed aside to finish desperate Christmas knitting...finished it late but I think it turned out super cute...

Then there was Kayla's birthday...I had had the yarn for her a pair of mitts laying around forever...finally got off my ass...
Ta-da...Fetchings!
Modeled by my co-worker Mal!
And I made several more mug wraps...

Then I found time somewhere to make my first pair of 2 at one time socks...Loved the method! Got the book and needles (and some super yummy tofutsies yarn from Sue for Christmas!

Yes they are different colors...they were my practice pair!
And here's the scarf I made for my co-worker and friend Kim I was her secret santa!

Well, that should cover it for awhile...

Lunch with the Bennetts

2009-01-13T12:00:00.002-05:00

The day after Christmas we headed out to lunch with the Bennetts!
Yay Pizza! Kane and Ella chowing

Jimmy, Saedi, Ethan, Elliott

Cheese!

Finally Christmas Day

2009-01-13T11:37:00.002-05:00

And here we go...
Oh my wasn't santa good to Kane!

The cats just couldn't get enough of the twirly bows!

Rowdy says good morning!

Ohhh what did I get?

Indiana Jones!

WALL-E!!

Aren't we just a ray of sunshine!

Santa knows his chocolate
Now off to my dad's house!

Dad and Grandpa JW

How do these things work again?

My brother Jay

Woohoo

More Christmas!

2009-01-09T14:40:00.002-05:00

Christmas Eve we headed over to Derrick's family's house.. .
Gammy and Pop-pop's!

Oh Boy, OpiPrime!
Hello Pop-Pop

Gammy
Uncle Devin
Daddy

KAYLA!

Big Wheel Baby1

This is my family's idea of a few finger foods!

Cousin Rena

Love this pic of Charity

Good man, got me a needle organizer and a gift certificate to my favorite yarn shop!

and a DS!!
That's it for Christmas Eve

Christmas Picture Time!

2009-01-08T12:06:00.002-05:00

First, my brother's and concert!

Then off to Granny's

Grandma and Papa's

Everyone wanted to hold the new baby!

Dawson's big sister was tooo cute

A few gifts at home

Derrick gave me a wrapped present!

It was a cute orange keyboard...and a new cell phone!
More to come! It's not even Christmas Eve yet!

Laugh at this Bitch

2009-01-08T11:26:00.001-05:00

2008-12-16T01:52:00.002-05:00

So much Christmas knitting...so little time... here's what we've got...
For Diane, Ludi, Rena...Instant Gratification Scarves...

For the men, I'm finishing up the mug wraps and some soap sweaters...
I made blankies for Derricks granparents, and his granny...
These were old pics...much bigger now...
a Capelet for Derrick's cousin Cara...

I was super pleased with how that turned out... I bought her another pin to with a butterfly so she could switch them around...
and I finally finished Sue's cable scarf... bout damn time...

Sorry, I had a super cute kid moment,,.
then his turn with the camera... most were blurs, this one came out cute...

Oh, that lovely roving I got in the big bag swap a while back? Here's what it became...

Best Ever

2008-12-05T00:34:00.000-05:00

Coffee and Chocolate swap

2008-12-01T23:03:00.003-05:00

Oh boy...Knit-hexe sure spoiled me...

Oh yeah... 3 skeins of yarn...
a Bartlettyarns fisherman 2 ply
, one
New England Highland
and elegant ewe custom spun

it's so yummy... and a great pattern to help me start getting colorful :) Colorful Swing Bag
chocolate...
yummy chocolate... and a hand painted mug full of goodies
like neat little coffee candies and a choco spoon... then the coffee, a lovely bag from Village Bean of the Village blend, and a little bag of raspberry chocolate...oh and there was hand lotion Bunnysoft Handcream that I am loving...and little goodies like the sheep card and post its...

This amused me

2008-12-01T22:55:00.003-05:00

made with fd's flickr toys
If you want to play:

a. Type your answer to each of the questions below into Flickr Search.
b. Using only the first page, pick an image.
c. Copy and paste each of the URLs for the images into fd’s mosaic maker.

The Questions:

1. What is your first name?
2. What is your favorite food?
3. What high school did you go to?
4. What is your favorite color?
5. Who is your celebrity crush?
6. Favorite drink?
7. Dream vacation?
8. Favorite dessert?
9. What you want to be when you grow up?
10. What do you love most in life?
11. One Word to describe you.
12. Your flickr name. (kid version: favorite animal?)

Riding Horses and Knitting

2008-11-28T22:26:00.002-05:00

Went riding with cousin Rena...I'm on Ginger, she's on Lily... I try to get out there as often as I can...we ride for hours and miles :) once in the yadkin river, now that was a blast... but it usually only happens once every few months...

I was trying to eat a poptart, but Ginger wanted to share

Here's Rena and Lily

Inspired by the one I got,

then the slippers

Charity's Showe-

2008-11-28T22:21:00.002-05:00

It was a couple weeks ago but I was pleased with how the table turned out... Pam and I did the food...

Ducky Punch

The blankie I made her

2008-11-28T22:08:00.001-05:00

I got the loveliest box today... first...

Then...

and then the opening began... there were so many goodies :)

2 skeins of Nashua Handknits Geologie in perfect earthy colors...I had never seen this yarn before, can't wait to turn it into something soft and wearable... a skein of Berroco Comfort that's super soft and yummy...

the perfect book, Luxury Yarn One-skein wonders and 3 mags, Interweave Knits Holiday 2008, crochet today 2008 and knit simple holiday 2008 and we can't forget the neat page a day calender Never Not Knitting from Stephanie Pearl-McPhee...

and lots of yummies... a variety of teas, chocolates already tasted and approved, coffee (NEVER have enough coffee hehe) and for those dry knitters hands, some handmade lotions, by Good Scents yummy...
Thank you sooo much Mari

My Twilight Swap Goodies (little late posting this)

2008-11-22T16:13:00.003-05:00

Check out the most fabulous package ever :) There was a mug in a knitted wrap, hot cocoa (a weakness of mine, the raspberry chocolate is already gone...) some "healthy" chocolates (so of course I had to be a good girl and eat my vitamins) some yummy cotton yarn...and the prettiest stitch markers...

and hey, I got little notes too :)
thanks

Sporran Time

2008-11-03T13:44:00.002-05:00

I got my sporran today!!!!!
Thanks Latharna...
It included so many goodies...first, the package was super cute,

and inside was a wrapped box that I tore into like a kid at Christmas...

Then the goodies

a beautiful handmade sporran with lovely Celtic needle felted design...

2 skeins of manos del uraguay silk blend in lavender colors to better compliment my red hair hehe...and lovely pearl stitch markers (reminiscent of the necklace Jamie gave to Claire)

amber soap, shortbread cookies, blackberry tea, and the yummiest ginger chocolate bar... (already tested and approved hehe)

How I almost drowned my cat with Thomas the train...

2008-10-30T22:46:00.000-04:00

I have a super cute cat...

She is youngish, and still learning the whole human/cat boundaries...(if there are any...) I know this, and I take extra care to make sure she doesn't do anything stupid, like jump in the oven, run out the door... hide in the dryer...but why would a cat jump into a running washer? She was not in there when I started putting clothes in... why wouldn't she jump out when I turned it on? She must have jumped in while I had my back turned grabbing another handful of laundry....

So fast forward over an hour... my hubby says "Where's your cat?" (we have an older cat he claims as his, the younger one is mine) I say I don't know... he swears he hears her... we check behind all doors, no cat...we finally track the meowing to the laundry room, and the back of the washer... I look inside, and above the spinner cylinder but under the lid is a hole a few inches that I guess she crawled through when it cut on... it was too close to the wall for her to have gotten behind it...hubby pulls it out, and through a little hole we see her...dirty, wet, sad...there's no way for her to crawl back out the way she came. She's stuck. Well he spends almost an hour trying to move the machine, then trying to take the back off... "honey, is there a hole in the bottom where we could lift it up and she could crawl out underneath?" "NO" he is rather grumpy, he gets up at 3:30 am...it's 9:30... pm... he finally gets mad and goes to look it up online, to see if he can find how to get the back off... I lift the machine, cat runs out... dirty, wet, sad...
Hubby went to bed... poor kitty, to add insult to injury, I had to give her a bath...

and that, is how I almost drowned my cat with my son's Thomas the Train bed clothes...

Black Sheep

2008-10-30T19:20:00.000-04:00

Nuff Said...

a swap package

2008-10-20T21:05:00.004-04:00

LOVE getting mail... this was extra lovely :)
I got my big bag from girly with a twist today....

It's in my favorite colors
and of course it was chock full of goodies

Patterns…lyric tree, eclipse socks, and rosalie gloves... all of which I have been wanting to make Tea that I have water on for now…
chocolate I will be savoring…
fabulous stitch markers…
Enchanted Daffodils
some cotton which is my weakness…some lovely little owl soap sweaters-LOVE THEM

lovely roving

It was the most fabulous package... LOVE IT

Random FO's

2008-10-08T01:00:00.003-04:00

My latest adventure in sock knitting...loving it

The Big Bag I made for Jen... for my Swap...

a Twilight swap bookmark...

a sporran for my outlander swap...

and a purse for Kim...

Fair Time

2008-10-07T23:48:00.002-04:00

Well, being October, it's that time again... The Dixie Classic Fair
So Me and Sue headed out with Kane.
He loved playing with the animals...Loved the friendly alpaca...
and of course there were rides...

Some Fishing with Sue...

then for good measure, more rides hehe
He was to short for the peddles there, so some nice kid let him ride along... and steer...

Rode the damn train 50 times...

He waited in line for this droppy one... then when the guy opened the gate he went running in and climbed into the seat to wait... then, some guy comes up carrying this little girl who is about Kanes height, and the operator wouldn't let her on, said she was to small... course she was also really young... but the dad threw a fit, then the mother came up telling him to check Kane, cause "that kid isn't any taller" but the operator just sent them on their bitchy way and Kane had a blast...shorty that he is...

We waited for another turn on this one, cause Kane wouldn't ride unless he could sit in the drivers seat...

He loved the swings, rode them several times...

Had a fit to ride the "roller coaster" and he was to short, but the operator let him on anyways...

GRRRRR

Then, it was time to head home...

Hockey

2008-09-23T20:19:00.002-04:00

So Sunday was the Caniac Carnival...becoming a tradition...Derrick couldn't go because of work, but me and Kayla went with Kane, and my younger brother Jay.

They had fun little bouncy things for the kids...

Kane had a blast

Kane loved the cool bike...

and goofing around with Jay in the autograph line...

Jay loved the Storm Squad...

everyone loved the game...

and on the way home, Kayla pointed out how much this cloud formation looked like an eye with lashes...

Farm Fest

2008-09-22T12:31:00.003-04:00

I am so late... I still have not posted about my yarn buying weekend...
Last Saturday... It started with heading over to The Craft Basket in Walkertown, my favorite shop ever... Julie is the best LYS owner, and I love hanging out over there... and there is always plenty to buy. To celebrate her First Shop Birthday, she had everything on sale, lots with extra discounts, and some things on closeout to make room for new goodies... so I met Kayla and Sue right when she opened... to buy all this hehe

Then we headed out to Rising Meadow Farm for the Farm Fest...a loved it hehe....

and I bought the loveliest yarn ever... hand spun and dyed from a sheep named Gardenia... It is going to be my first sweater I think...

and there were sheep dog demonstrations...

Lots of lovely booths to shop...

I got hand made crochet hooks.... love them...

and cute note cards too...

Overall it was such a fun day...

Then I finished my market bag... but not for me to use, this one is for a Christmas present...

And then there was yarn....

2008-09-05T23:45:00.001-04:00

So this made me smile. Lots.

Now I need to spin more...

Books and Yarn

2008-09-04T00:24:00.002-04:00

So I have been on a complete book buying spree lately... I wanted to buy some new books...
I read Vampire academy by Richelle Mead and it was fun, so I decided to buy the second one, Frostbite. Off to Barnes & Noble... with my list of 3 books, all by Mead... ya section, find Frostbite... look for Succubus Blues and Succubus on Top on fantasy/sci-fi section... nope... even though Mead's other book is there... hmm... fiction maybe? Well, only the second one. So I decided to wait and go to Borders. Is anyone else aware that Borders is a giant cluster-fuck? s I checked and checked, but no luck. Then Derrick has the great idea of searching on the computer, and finds it in the romance section... but only number one... so I buy it then head home and buy the second one and several more I wanted for a great price at alibris... they should be here in a weekish, and we'll see how good of condition they are in, and maybe I'll buy some more...

I was so excited to learn who I am buying goodies for in the Big Bag Swap I joined... Jen... so I headed up to The Craft Basket in walkertown to buy lots of yarn from Julie, the owner... and there was fondling of yarn and new roving... and lots of coveting of her new spinning wheel... I have a couple projects I am determined to finish, but then I plan to buy some of the new yummy roving and spin spin spin... I did walk out with yarn for my Bag, thread to tat a bookmark for another swap... and some roving... hehe...

Then again to the used bookstore... I found oh, 6 or so books I am collecting... Laurell K Hamilton's Anita Blake Vampire Hunter Series and the Lemony Snicket books that are so cute, so I am collecting them... and a couple more... Interview With a Vampire for good measure hehe... and to round out the oddness of my purchase, a Dragonlance book hehe... well nobody can say I am not diverse eh?

Waiting on Brisingr to come out soon... bought Eldest at Target... and decided that Pride and Prejudice is one of my favs, so must buy more Jane austen books... hmm but I decided I must be on a diet... I will buy no more books until at least next month... and no more yarn this month except for Julies Big Sale and the Fiber Fest in a couple weeks... swaps not included...
I joined an Outlander Fans swap and a Twilight Fans swap... oh I will be so busy... fun times eh?

Days off...

2008-08-27T22:21:00.002-04:00

Well, after 2 days off I have gotten a lot done... first, I decided that before I go out and buy new books, I should go through the ones I have... and this is what I have so far...they are actually surprisingly organied...

This is the Calorimetry that I made using SWTC Soysilk... the yarn is so yummy... I must buy lots more to make myself something wearable... this is one of the first things I have made for myself in a while...

I also made this, but as a gift...

and while frying derrick a sandwich, I walked away for a minute, only to return to this lovely surprise...

and Kane had the cutest thing to say today... we are working on potty training and he was walking funny so I asked if he had poo'd his pants... he says, "No, a giraffe bit me"

Mountains

2008-08-24T00:16:00.003-04:00

So today was most fabulous...we got up at 7 and headed north to Mabry Mill on the Blue Ridge Parkway... ate breakfast there in the little restaurant... I had a pancake combo with sweet potato, buckwheat, and cornmeal pancakes... then to walk around the grounds... seeing the old cabins and such... they had one set up for spinning and weaving and it was so neat...I bought buckwheat flour to make pancakes from the mill...

Then we went into Mt airy and walked up the streets of the downtown, hitting all the shops... we stopped at several neat roadside stands... at one, this boy who was prolly 9ish calls out... "Howdy...would jew lack ta bah sum peeches? ah picked em muhself" he was so cute... he was selling them in big boxes, so I asked if I could just get a few and he pulls out this bag... he helps me pick out pretty ones and fills this little bag stuffed... then I pay him the whole 3 bucks... and some man who looked like his grandpa says "hey johnny boy, fill that bag up... there's still room... put a couple nectarines in there..." so after giving the boy another dollar tip, that seemed to so excite him, I walked away with a bag stuffed with peaches and nectarines...

Then off to the Hillbilly Hideaway... where my dear child was a monstrous brat... oh well food was great and so was the company... Papaw and Sue...

Lucky Day

2008-08-19T21:49:00.003-04:00

I had the luckiest day... we dropped Kane off at my aunt's house then went shopping on a budget...
We went to a steak house where we got soup and salad and bread all you can eat... but they wouldn't take my card... it was declined... even though my entire paycheck was in that account... and Derrick's card wouldn't work either... so I went to the atm right outside and it spat cash out with no problem, so I figure it is their machine... on too Best Buy where I found the CD I had been wanting... it's an older CD of a not so mainstream band that I figured I would have to special order, but no there it was...
Then on to the used bookstore where I find 2 books, one that I wanted to read but couldn't find on sale cheaply and didn't want to pay full cover price for, and another that rounded out the series I collected as a kid that is now out of print and only available from the publisher... overseas... for like 20 bucks plus shipping...
and then there was yarn... but not much...
and I only spent about 20 bucks on all of it... I was so excited... and not to mention how nice it was to actually get out with Derrick without Kane in tow for once... since we both work weekends, and use our free babysitters (parents, etc) so we can work, we haven't had one to just go out in forever... yay lovely day!!

One of those Days... er weekends...

2008-08-18T00:58:00.002-04:00

Really, it was just one of those days... I want to dwell on it, but maybe I should just go soak in the tub for a while with a glass of wine...

Yay Swap Package!

2008-08-09T01:17:00.002-04:00

I came home last night from work to find my swap package!
So here we go... I come home last night after a long day at work, and check the mail. Oh looky, a lovely little package...

I tell my hubby who doesn't even look up that I got a package and he says, "Oh, the one from Arizona?" Why no dear, what package are you talking about... turns out one was put on the porch as well!

So with a little help I dug in...

And here's what I found!

Stitch 'N Bitch, The Yarn Girls Guide to Knits for all Seasons...
which both have fabulous patterns that I have queued...
Oh so exciting yarn to start one of those patterns...3 skeins of Rowan Kid Classic in 2 coordinating green shades... green is the perfect color for that project by the way!
A neat bracelet
(which is just the kind of thing I like) made by Lynnslovelies that's magnetic and will keep away negative vibes... and some soap made in AZ that smells so good... in fact, even my books smelled rather yummy after their ride with the soap. I was so excited...

Oh and had to share... my little helper was so excited by the flashing, she tried to attack the camera!

Now for some extra cute pics...

My favorite monkey hehe

Zelda is obsessed with my camera's flash hehe!

Breaking Dawn.. Breaking Neck... Breaking Fast

2008-08-06T11:07:00.003-04:00

So, I went to the release party. For Breaking Dawn... and there were a zillion little teeny boppers in their cutsie little prom dresses... and really, the whole dress and sneakers thing? It's cute if there's one rebel... but 10 and it's just mainstream! But it was loads of fun watching them try to walk in heels... and all the neat shirts people had one... dibs to Katie for her man's "Who needs a space heater" shirt... and then there was the book... and ok it wasn't what I expected, but now, I am pretty sure I loved it too... I just had to let it all simmer for a few days I guess...
Right now I am trying to finish a purse for a co-worker before she heads back to school on Thursday... hmmm I look so busy typing this eh? But really I can't be the only marathon knitter who has to walk away for a bit so she doesn't stay cross-eyed hehe...
And besides... I think my hubby should take me to IHOP... yes, pancakes!

So Tired...

2008-07-27T00:00:00.003-04:00

I was so excited to take a spinning class on Thursday! It was so much fun! I made my first handspun, it's green and purple and chunky and soft and I can't wait to make it into a scarf! I just finished winding into a lovely center pull skein with the ball winder Sue bought on Thursday. She bought it, but is letting it live at my house so that made me excited!

I think it is going to make a lovely scarf... but now for the pattern to show it off...

hmmm... I like the Instant Gratification Scarf
Or maybe something else chunky... hmm we'll see...

Ehem...

2008-07-20T01:50:00.002-04:00

To start, go win this quilt for me!
Made my first pair of pasties... Yay! For Kim, whose hubby works at the jail for the sheriffs dept... hence the sheriff stars...

So my craftiness was at an all time high this week... I wanted to give Charity her baby blankie, so I decided it had to have a matching hat. Which I did and was pleased with... thank you very much!

And then for the matching booties, but since I was finishing them up in the car on the way I did not get a pick of them.. Oh well...

Then I made my friend Katie the just add tequila gift set... a thong of lovely variegated greenish colors with a margarita glass on the front, and matching little pasties with fun little pom poms for her birthday.

Friday I went to see the Dark Knight, errr Batman, and it was a fun ride... Kane was a little bratty, but that's what I get for taking a 3 year old to a movie like that...

And then tonight I went with Alex and one of her friends to go see Mama Mia. It was great and wonderful and I want to watch it again and again. It really made me think of my mom, and that made me sad during one rather fun happy scene and I started getting all teary and cried like a nerd... hmmm oh well I am entitled sometimes I believe...

And lastly, my cat is oh so cute!

Doodle

and Rowdy

are also extra cute... Shelby the cat was camera shy this time around!

Swap work

2008-07-13T00:25:00.004-04:00

Well, I have been so excited about my first swap! It's the Books and More swap on Ravelry and I can't wait. I went to the bookstore tonight and bought a couple books (one for knitting, one for fun) for my partner, and I have the yarn, so all that is left is the hand made items I will finish on Monday and some fun goodies... like sweets... I was lucky because my partner's likes and fav things coincide with the things I can hand make! Hopefully I can have it all in the mail next week so she can get it nice and early. It's neat though, such an open ended time frame to mail the packages because you just never know what day you are going to come home to a lovely box!

So I did decide to name my kitty Zelda. I though that with her large-ish ears that was sorta fitting, but really, when I looked up the name and found it's meanings I decided that it was perfect.

Origin: Old German
Meaning: woman warrior, gray fighting maid

And she is rather spunky...

See the huge ears?

And while browsing through some patterns, and deciding what would be best for a certain person, I found one that WAS perfect for a person... Sheriff Star Pasties! My friend Kim's hubby works for the sheriff dept so I decided she would appreciate them... and they took no time...

yay for pasties!

I originally found the pattern on Ravelry of course, but here's the blog it's published in...
http://www.froginakilt.com/blog/?page_id=60

Help... she's nameless!

2008-07-09T11:08:00.004-04:00

So here is my new kitty! She 's sooo cute but I just haven't chosen a name yet. She's already terrorizing my dogs... she comes out of her kitty carrier hissing and swatting at poor Doodle who runs away and then Rowdy is terrified of her! But they are making progress... She's so clingy, following me or Derrick around the house, after she got over being afraid of course... then last night she had to sleep with us... all up on us, snuggled and purring... but then I woke up to her swatting at my necklace hehe... But her name just escapes me... I think of great names, but then none seem to fit her... so sad... any suggestions?

And then there was calm....

2008-07-07T17:58:00.003-04:00

My house was a frenzy today. My new much more clean and organized office inspired me to go on a rampage of my house. Of course it was much due for a nice cleaning. But I finally cleaned all my crafty things off my dining room table and put them away where they go. I moved my computer off the table, and after cleaning off my desk, I was able to give it a home! A real home! I swept and mopped and rearranged and organized... hmmm of course I also didn't want to piss Derrick off if I expect to come home with a kitten tomorrow hehe... But now it is quite, and clean and smelling nice so I am going to sit on my couch (which was vacuumed) and knit!

Gassy

2008-07-05T22:52:00.002-04:00

So, last night I am knitting my June Bag for a KAL and I am all kinds of behind on because other projects distracted me. I put in a movie, the original "Black Christmas" that was all kinds of fun and go to town. I finished all the knitting work, and just have to seam and line it now. I love that feeling when the end is in sight and you just can't stop! But of course I stayed up way to late.

I am terrible about hitting the snooze on my alarm, and I know I have to get up early. But I can't just put the alarm across the room, cause I will never hear it. So I have one by my head to wake me, and one across the room to get me out of bed. But I tend to just flop back in bed. So I had one by my head, one across the room, and one in my living room. No oversleeping!

Either way, I am soo tired this morning since I stayed up most the night. I get Kane ready and head out, having to drop him off and let out my dad's dog, then head to work. I work all day feeling all tired and groggy and looking forward to my 2 hour break when I had planned to do some major work on my heart baby blanket. But a customer comes in, talking about how she smells gas. Me and Alex, the other worker, didn't smell anything. A few minutes later, Kayla comes in going ewww what's that smell. Oh dear. Then in comes Saedi. Eww it smells like gas. So I go outside, and when I go back in I can smell it. So we have to call the gas company, and when the guy gets there he makes us wait outside and close till he can make sure it's safe. There was no gas in our building, apparently it was coming from the Japanese restaurant next door. But they are closed for 3 days for the holiday, so nobody is there, and the gas guy couldn't get in touch with anyone. We had to just chill for over an hour outside. And Zack didn't want me to leave, he wanted me there to take care of everything so good bye sweet knitting time. They ended up turning off the gas outside at the main lines of the Japanese place, and they will have to deal with that when they get back....

I was a little sad about not getting more done on that blankie though.

On another note, I am so excited since I have talked Derrick into letting me adopt one of the kittens his Granny's cat had. I haven't seen them since mothers day when they were only like 3 weeks old and oh so cute. We're gonna go see her and his other grandparents Tuesday, make a day of it since they all live an hour, hour and a half away and I plan to come home with a kitten. Cause I need on like I need a hole in my head but oh well. That'll even the odds, 2 dogs and 2 cats hehe... right now poor Cat is outnumbered...

Oh well, I am so tired I think I am gonna go crash!

Epic Office Cleaning

2008-07-03T23:52:00.006-04:00

So we moved into this house almost 2 years ago and I have never been able to use my 3rd bedroom. Back story... at 17 my family moved to West Virginia... lacking the storage space my old room had, most of my things stayed in boxes... later moved back to NC, and in with my grandparents. Had a room there, and all my things. Moved the rest of my boxes to storage. Moved out with my friend Katie, and eventually got rid of the storage and put all those boxes in the attic. My mother had passed away, and alot of her things got added to the storage, and then to my attic. Moved again, and these boxes just went from one attic to the other. And this last time, when we bought a house, we still just moved the boxes. Except this time there was no attic, only an extra room. Sooo that room has been like a huge closet since we moved in. And since it was already so cluttered, we just kept adding to it.

So on Monday, my sister in law Kayla came over and in exchange for some Olive Garden, she helped me tackle the monster. It took us hours, like 8 and we filled up a truck bed with trash, and my car with stuff for goodwill. It was so hard, because so many things I didn't want to get rid of, but there was no way to justify keeping it... I mean really, some of it I had not even seen in 5 years. And now, with the help of a couple shelves, it's actually mostly organized and the room looks almost bare! (Course, there are still a few homeless boxes of things I couldn't get rid of) but wow... I have a whole new place to organize my stash... and a table for my craftiness... I am thinking about moving my desk in there to so I can have peace when I want to write letters or read or whatever...

Oh wait, I have a 3 year old... there will never be peace will there...

I am so excited, I just bought the lining for my bag I am almost finished with. I joined a KAL for bags thinking well, that will motivate me and help me make a couple Christmas gifts. Well yeah it was motivating but I still have to many things going on at once to finish any of them quickly. I knit one pattern repeat, then switch projects... but then when I get near the end of one, I can't put it down... I only put the bag down because I had to... when I get tooo tired I get clumsy and I am not in the mood to frog. I am going to finish it by monday, since that's my most productive day. I am home while Derrick works, so I actually have time.

Oh well. I really need to sleep if I want to get up in the morning.