Desperate

So, I'm messing with (and messing up) the template here. I'm trying to add items to the sidebar, and so far I've got "headers" but can't get the content in. And now they're not all on the side. Oh well........

In case you missed it, Bree was knitting on Desperate Houswives tonight. Granted she was using big metal needles (not that I've never used those) and possibly acrylic yarn, and they didn't actually show her knitting, just holding it, but anyway.......

Must stop reading other blogs and get to bed. I'm a wuss. But I half a sort of half day tomorrow - not that the puppy will let me sleep in. Oh well.

By jove, I think it's a sock!

So far, okay......

The sock seems to be going well (though I don't want to jinx it!). I had almost all of the rows of ribbing done, when I dropped a stitch and it laddered all the way down and I couldn't figure out how to fix it that far down. So I ripppppped and started again. So far, okay. I did make a small mistake and tried to pull the yarn over the outside of the needle on the last stitch before switching to the next needle, and it caused a few bumps, but I don't think they'll be visible when I wear it. I'll always know that they are there of course, but oh well.

I'm using two skeins of Lion Brand Wool-Ease in the color Camel. They were marked down to $1/ball at Michael's, so I thought it would be cheap to practice with, and if they work out, they may not be the cutest color, but I'll still wear them.

Much pictury goodness today.

DH has decided that rolling balls of yarn is fun. He's been busy.

I haven't worked on the kitty bed for a few days, but here's a shot of the outside.

And I started on the second skinny scarf last weekend, even though I couldn't figure out the pattern. Here's what we've got so far.

That's pretty much the extent of the weekend here. Much rain, too much rain. And too much schoolwork. I'm off to read a book, for a change.

Happy Easter!

Socks

So, I've been bitten by the sock bug. I stopped by B&N on the way home and bought this.

I didn't have any "real" sock yarn at home, so I found some baby/sport weight leftover from DD's scarf and practiced with my size 5 DPN's. Little intimidated by anything smaller.

Except for my complete ineptitude at holding the needles (they aren't supposed to rest on your belly, right?) I think i sort of got it. Of course, I only did a few rows, just to practice switching needles and all that jazz. My tension was verrrrrrry loose, hopefully I'll get better at that or my socks will be very saggy.

Going to go by Michael's tonight (as my "l"ys is not so local and I can't resist the urge to start) and use my coupon for some Magic Stripes, I think. We'll see how it all goes.

I'll keep ya posted!

Hump Day

It's Wednesday morning. No knitting progress this week. Desperate Housewives was a rerun (bastards) and Lost is a rerun again tonight. Suck.

Had to go with DH last night to this. The big "dedication" ceremony for their new space was last night. Riveting. Freezing cold outside, only horse douvers to eat (but cheap wine too!), and 5 hours away from the puppy. Needless to say, we had a kennel to clean up when we got home.

Loosing motivation to knit any of the currently started projects.

Currently reading this, with this up next in the pile on the nightstand. Hopefully will get to it over my upcoming "long" weekend. Perhaps the knitting bug will bite again. Thinking about being bold and attempting a summer cardi or the mag knits tee.

Off to the dreaded Wednesday.

Productivity??????

Hmmmm, perhaps I spoke too soon last week. Really I was only super productive for about two days. And then my DD left town with her grandparents, and my behind became glued to the couch. Without knitting or books. Tragedy.

I did get the bottom of the kitty bed made (I'm using the pattern from the first SnB book) at SnB Tuesday night. And later in the week I worked on the "wall." Slow going, b/c it has to be sooooooo long to go all the way around.

I read some fluffy books later in the week and saw a few bad movies with my girlfriends.

Mostly I'm just glad I got the house cleaned at the beginning of the week 'cause it wouldn't have happened otherwise.

Luckily, I get Friday and Monday off for the Easter holiday, so hopefully, productivity will resume. Especially b/c many of the SnBers want a chocolate dotted tote bag, so I've got to get to work on that sewing machine!

Oh, obnoxious girl was still at SnB on Tuesday night. We did manage to ignore her quite a bit, so hopefully we'll eventually drive her off, or shut her up. I hate to be so mean, but I just can't help it.

But it's off to the grind. Happy Tuesday?

I Heart Spring Break

In just under 24 hours, I've gotten all this done. (Plus progress on the pink monster, I cleaned my house, had a lunch date with a friend and had "family night." I rock!)

Jess's new ipod cozie. 100% cotton so she can wash it. Holds her mini nice and snug.

Brown bag

Pink stripedy bag

Dot bag

multi stripedy bag


I also have become a big fan of this. It rocks. Only $40.00. It keeps me busy too - already 100 movies, 40 CDs and over 400 books entered. And not close to being done.

Off to be productive!

picture pages

Finally! Pictures! Being as it's Spring Break (woo hoo!) I've got lots of FREE time. So, as one of my first activities of the week, I give you knitting pics. I know, very exciting for all of us.

Without further ado....

The VERY LONG skinny scarf - I love it, already bought yarn to make another in different colors. SOOOOOOOO soft, and cute. I'll actually attempt the pattern on the second try.

DH's ipod cozie - one of his Valentine's gifts. He says he loves it, but it seems to live in his car.....hmmm....going to make a second one this week for a late birthday gift for a friend (hey, she got the pod for her birthday and I already gave her something else, ok?)

And the pink monster, that I have been working on for at least a month. Thought it'd be easy, thought I'd whip it right out. but it's acrylic yarn. and it's BORING stockinette......but I'm over halfway there.....someday.....it will be a purse, out of SnB Nation.

Off to lunch (hot dogs and frozen custard) with DD. More later.

Book Group

So, long time, no post - and I who get "annoyed" everyday if some of my favorite bloggers don't post.....I'm a bad example.

But the suck has taken over my life. Only one minor nervous breakdown over the weekend - some tears, and a new power cable for my ibook, and I was a little bit better.

Finished the skinny scarf on Friday night - yowzas, it's long! I'll put a picture up tomorrow - too lazy now.

I braved the fabric sale at Hancock's Saturday - 40 minutes to have two yards of fabric cut, but it sure is cute - I see lots of bags in my spring break future.

I did churn out a kneedle holder - one big, keep all one, and a smaller "travel" one. And (mostly b/c I had a small amount of leftover fabric) a crochet hook holder for my sis who recently started crocheting. Pics of these to come soon.

Saturday night we went to see two of our friends play at a tsunami benefit - they were the first act (of 7) and we left after they played - but they were worth it. Someone needs to get them a record deal and quick. I'm so honored that they played at our wedding.

More suck......we get to class Monday, turn in the lastest sucky, she gives us our grade on the first sucky (but forget several people's projects in her car), gives us another suck to work on over spring "break" and then dismisses us. At 5:30. Class started at 5:00. It is supposed to last until 7:40. Nice. But if I had know we were only having 30 minutes of class I could have helped out with my step-daughter, instead of dumping her on my mom-in-law. Oh well.

Going to try to get a lot of suck done this week so I don't have to touch it over my break.

My "in person" book group finally met tonight. We read (or in my case re-read) Life of Pi - such a good book. I'm not a big one for rereading (except for my favorite books), and I found myself skimming a lot - but keying in on the "big" parts.

We had a really good time, even though there are only 4 of us, and one is DH. Our next book is "The 42nd Parallel" by John Dos Passos. Not too excited 'bout this one. My suggestions got shot down.

Inservice tomorrow - must finish prepping!

Shoes

Let me clarify - I am not a "shoe person." I don't own more than 20 pairs (but most are flip flops - which hardly count). But oops....two new pairs in two days! I made the mistake of going to TJMaxx yesterday while en route to Hobby Lobby - very cute Steve Madden tweed pumps jumped into my hands - and whadda know? They were in my size!

So tonight, when I'm looking on their website for a picture of the oops purchase to show y'all (cause I'm too lazy to take my own picture), i found cute leather Converse one star sneakers. I have quite a weakness for my chucks, and these are grey and pink, my favorite colors - and only $20! What a deal! I can hardly wait for their arrival.

But back to the topic at hand (oh wait that was it....) I forgot to tell y'all what I thought of Prep. Blech. Yuck. Boring. Forced myself to finish it because one of my good friends who has nearly identical reading taste (who shares my name too...weird?) said it got good at the end. Now I still love her, but NO, it didn't.

I guess I expected some groundbreaking revelation, or denoument. Instead, I learned that people will always stab you in the back, be careful who your friends are, prep school sucks, going away to school will make your parents hate you, you'll just end up at a state school anyway, that cute boy is screwing someone else, and above all else, never trust newspaper reporters.

I wanted my $21.95 back (since I had actually paid for this at full price, rather than waiting to find it at my used bookstore), but cannot in good conscience return a book I've read. So I turned to my trusty ebay, where I made quite a nice profit, since I was selling a spotless first printing first edition. So I guess the shoes are justified after all!

But I've learned my lesson: just because a book has a cute dust jacket and "everyone" seems to enjoy it, take it with a grain of salt. Oh, and it won't kill you to wait six months to get the same book for $5. I nearly forgot - trust your instincts and those you admire.

Stitch and BITCH

So - Tuesday night (first and third) is SnB. We have a small group - all of us linked to one another in some way. Tonight was only our third meeting, but still fun. But there was a newbie tonight. A newbie, who new to our group, was not new to knitting. In fact, if I didn't know better, I would think she invented knitting.

"Why are you doing it that way?" "Who taught you to knit." Um I taught myself, and two other members of our group - so thanks for the insult.

Oh, and she wasn't just the queen of knitting - she knew everything about everything. And, anything she didn't know, like our backstories that popped up in new stories tonight, she wanted us to explain for her.

It was a quiet group tonight - well, except for her.

I hate to be so negative, because I'm sure she could be helpful, as those of us who are new to the fiber arts become more willing to try more, but SHUT UP!

How do we deal with this? We can't uninvite her, that's just beyond rude. I'll hope that her "queen of the world" mentality wears off before next time. Cross your fingers.