Where Have I Been?

It's been awhile since I have blogged. Well, at least three weeks. I can't believe it's been that long. I will have to put up a couple of posts to get caught up.

Tax Season ended with a bang! It was busy and after April 15th, I was busy wearing the other hat of my job. Our fiscal year ends today and I was busy getting projects completed so the year could be closed out.

I have been doing some knitting. I finished the chemo hat I was making. The pattern was the Easy Ribbed Jeanne Worsted Chemo Hat. I used Jeanne yarn in a denim blue with size 5 needles. I was just about done with the hat and realized that I used size 5 needles instead of size 6, but I think it came out okay. The Jeanne yarn is very soft and it was a fun knit. I will knit more chemo hats with this yarn, but I need to get back to finishing off some other projects and knitting some socks.

Then, I finally finished the Dancing Bamboo socks. I used Madelinetosh tosh sock yarn in ginger with size 1.5 needles. I really liked this pattern and it was easy to remember the repeat rows. The yarn was nice to work with.

Two of my other knitting friends also knitted this pattern and we posed for a picture. We all used the Madelinetosh tosh sock yarn, but used different colorways in the same color family. Don't our feet look great?

Tax season hasn't prevented me from buying sock yarn. I purchased two skeins of Hazel Knits Artisan Sock yarn in Chuckanut and Purple Hazel.

I couldn't resist buying more Bugga yarn by the Sanguine Gryphon. This yarn is so soft. I got Cotton Stainer and Northern Purple Gold Beetle.

Then I bought three different colorways of yarn from Birds n Yarn of Lorna Laces Shephard Sock in Parakeet, Jungle Stripe, and Tickled Pink.

Aren't all of these colors great? Can't wait to really start knitting up socks this year.

I also got my next shipment from the Rubber Ducky Club. The yarn this month was in the colorway Spring Break. I also got Mimi's soap in the honeysuckle rose scent and a moisturizing bath bomb in cherry limeade and peach.

Now I'm off to wind some yarn to make socks.

Relaxing by Reading

While I haven't been knitting that much during tax season, I have been reading. I think it's an escape from the taxing world.

Here is my list:

Twenties Girl - by Sophie Kinsella

Promise Texas - by Debbie Macomber - I loved this series of books

Cindy and the Prince - by Debbie Macomber

Some Kind of Wonderful - by Debbie Macomber

Betty in the Skiy with a Suitcase - by Betty Thesky - funny stories about flying

The Tipping Point by Malcolm Gladwell

Home Song - by Elizabeth Berg - great author - I love her books

A Gathering Place - by Thomas Kinkade and Katherine Spencer

The Pull of the Moon - by Elizabeth Berg

A New Leaf - by Thomas Kinkade and Katherine Spencer

The Christmas Basket - by Debbie Macomber

The Snow Bride - by Debbie Macomber

The Art of Mending - by Elizabeth Berg

A Christmas Promise - by Thomas Kinkade and Katherine Spencer

Bed of Roses - by Nora Roberts

Dead as a Doornail - by Charlaine Harris - A Sookie Stackhouse book that I really enjoyed

A Year of Pleasures - by Elizabeth Berg

I'm currently reading Game Change about the last Presidential election. What an interesting book! So far I am pretty close to target on my goal of reading 65 books this year. After April 15th, I will probably be reading and knitting like crazy since I will have more free time.

Yarn Buying

Don't you just love finding a color yarn you like and feel that you just have to buy it? Maybe it's the color, maybe it's the price, maybe it's a particular project you can see yourself knitting, maybe it's just the yarn, or maybe you just have to have it.

Well, that happened to me this week. First I decided to buy some yarn from the Loopy Ewe. I love Madelinetosh dk and Sweet Georgia superwash sock yarn, so I found myself ordering Victorian Gothic, Copper Penny and Grove in Madelinetosh dk and Orchid in Sweet Georgia.

I just had to order the Copper Penny. See, when I was a teenager, we didn't have many fast food restaurants, but we did have the Kopper Penny. Everyone knew where the Kopper Penny was, even if you didn't live in the area. It became a landmark, even after it burned down and they built a gas station/convenience store there. So, whenever someone gives directions in that area, they refer to the Kopper Penny and everyone knows where it is and how to get where they want to go. So, this skein of yarn will be a rememberance for me.

When Blue Mountain Fiber Arts initially came out with a sock club, I joined. I joined for three years. Then last year, I decided not to. Well, the first shipment was a beautiful skein of blue yarn with a pattern for a sock with beads called the Queen of Beads. I just had to have this yarn and the pattern. I waited patiently and they finally offered it outside of the sock club. I finally got around to ordering it and also had to order two other skeins of yarns. So I got Froggin and Valentina in the medium weight and My Blue Heaven in the lightweight.

Then, I go to my favorite yarn shop (The Knitter's Edge) and she has Online sock yarn for $10 a skein. I love Online sock yarn and the colors were great. I got color 1177, 1121, and 1176.

Now, I have to get knitting and it's perfect timing since tax season is almost over.

I did finish one project. It is the April KAL for my Monthly Dishcloth Group. The pattern is Teddy Bear by Sue Mrenna. I have to say that I thought it was a rabbit until I found out the name of the pattern and realized that I was looking at it upside down. I used size 6 needles with Peaches and Creme yarn in the camel colorway.

Happy Easter

What a beautiful day it was today. A great day to enjoy with family and friends. It has been so nice this weekend that we got out our porch furniture and were able to sit out and enjoy the weather. Tax season is winding down and I have visions of sitting out on my back porch reading and knitting. What a joy!

I forgot to post a picture of my finished Spiral Cowl. I really enjoyed knitting this one. I used Madelinetosh (formerly dk) yarn in the sequoia colorway with size 6 needles.

I got the final two shipments from the Intentions yarn club. Friendship yarn, which is 50% alpaca, 30% merino and 20% silk yarn in a grey colorway.

Then the other shipment was roving. I was disappointed in this because I didn't think that this was a fiber club, but at least I received all shipments. It sure took long enough and I don't think that this club was what it was supposted to be. Lesson learned: Be careful of the yarn clubs that you join.

I had a gift certificate from the Knitter's Edge and spent it well. I got the new Cherry Tree Fingerpaints yarn in the Cider House colorway.

Then, I also got the same yarn in the Morning Glory colorway, Zauberball in a pink, white and green colorway and Jeannee dk yarn in a green and fushia colorway to make more chemo caps.

I'm ready for tax season to end so I can knit and read on my back porch. Can't wait.

March is almost over

I can't believe how fast March has flown by and it's been two weeks since I have blogged. Where did the time go? I'm certainly not upset about it as I will be glad when April 15th arrives and my life gets back to normal.

I have been knitting, but not that much. I finished the March Mid Month dishcloth KAL. The pattern is Fruited Plains by Andi Worthy. I used a size 7 needle with Peaches and Creme Shades of Spring yarn. I really enjoyed this pattern.

Then I couldn't resist knitting the March KAL from Rachel's knitting group. I liked the pattern with cables. I used a size 7 needle with Peaches and Creme yarn in burgundy.

The Knitter's Edge is encouraging it's knitters to make chemo hats for our local hospitals. They put Jeanne worsted yarn on sale and I bought a gray color.

And a blue (denim) color

I started with a pattern, but had so much trouble with it that I switched to an easier one called Easy Ribbed Jeannee Worsted Chemo Hat. It's working up really nicely and I'm enjoying it. I'm using a size 6 needle with the Jeannee in the blue colorway.

I'm still have my Dancing Bamboo socks to finish and my scarf. Maybe this week I will work on both of them.....maybe.

Time to Finish Old Projects

Another week finished and closer to the end of tax season. I am so looking forward to having time off again. Tomorrow we set our clocks forward. I love this time of year.

I have been knitting. I am finishing up my Sprial Cowl. I love how this is coming out.

I also started another sock using Madelinetosh sock in the ginger colorway with size 1.5 needles. The pattern is called Dancing Bamboo Socks.

I did finish the March KAL for my Monthly dishcloth group. I used size 6 needles with Peaches and Creme in a gold colorway. I don't know what the pattern is called, but it spells out Friend, so that could be the name.

I got some Sock Club shipments. From Wooly Girl, I got a skein of Dream in Color Smooshy in a colorway called Pansy Go Lightly. I really like the color. I got all sorts of other goodies in the package including a note pad, two bags, a key chain, pin, pen, scissor, etc. It was a nice package.

I also got the Loopy Ewe Sock club package, which include Fiesta Baby Boom in the Spring Chill colorway, two patterns, and two scarf sticks.

I have been eyeing the pattern Dipped Infinity Scarf by Laura Chau and Sunshine yarns had a kit made up in different colorways. I ordered the Secret Garden colorway. Don't know when I will start this pattern, but at least I have the yarn.

Once I finish the Sprial Cowl, I plan on trying to go back and finish up some projects that I have started. I want to finish another scarf first and then finish up my Girasole. This is the year of finishing up projects.

Spring is coming!

It's getting warmer outside and the snow is melting. I am so glad. It really feels as if Spring is around the corner. I am even hearing the birds singing.

I have been knitting on the spiral cowl. I am close to finishing that, but did start on a new pair of socks called Dancing Bamboo socks. I am using Madelinetosh sock in the ginger colorway with size 1.5 needles. I am really liking the pattern and will have pictures on the next blog post.

I caved in and bought some more sock yarn from the Loopy Ewe. Honestly, that online store is my downfall. I was able to get some Numma Numma toasty, which I have really wanted. From left to right is: Olive Oil with Peppercorns, Fluffernutter and Jam, Grape Jam and olive Oil. The colors are really better in person.

I also caved in and bought two skeins of Huckleberry yarns in the colorway Eight Bells and Queen of Hearts as well as more Madelinetosh dk in the colorway Logwood and Cherry.

I really need to reorganize my yarn stash. Maybe once tax season is over I will be able to do that.

Oh, and I couldn't resist getting two alpacas and a sheep from the Knitter's Edge. Aren't they cute?

They are much easier to take care of than real live animals.

And yet another snow storm

Well, we had another snow storm this week. The weatherman didn't really do a good job on this one. We got snow on Thursday, but it wasn't sticking on the roads and then I woke up this morning and we had quite a bit of snow on the ground and roads with blowing winds. By 12:30 PM it was over and we were digging out. Now the roads are black. At least it gave me two days off.

This past week I was able to finish up the February Mid Month KAL. The pattern is Lacy Vines Cloth by Janet Nogle. I used a size 6 needle with Peaches and Creme yarn in light blue.

I finished the Mackintosh socks. I really love how they striped. I used size 1 one needles with a basic sock pattern. The colorway is Misty Highlands.

I also started another cowl. The pattern is called Spiral Cowl by Knitty Gritty Thoughts. I am using a size 6 needle with Madelinetosh dk in the color Sequoia. I love this yarn. I really like how this is turning out, but I swear that there are problems with the pattern. I got messed up after the first repeat of 7 rows, so I just repeated the 7th row after that for the rest of the rows.

Is anyone participating in the Ravelry Knitting Olympics? I'm not, but I found the pattern for the Olympic hat (the one the USA olympians wore at the opening ceremony) and I bought the yarn to knit this hat. This ought to be good since I have never done stranding before. I got Berroco Ultra Alpaca in red, white and blue.

I also got a skein of 100% superwash yarn dyed up by Scouts Swag in the Olympic medals colorway. This will be great for a pair of socks.

Last but not least, I got my February Rubber Ducky club shipment. The yarn is pima petite in raspberry vanilla. Massage body oil in Vanilla berry and Mimi soap in raspberry vanilla. How cool!

Sick is NOT FUN

I have had a bad cold for over a week. I took off a couple of days and went into work last Tuesday. I lasted three hours and had to go home because I had a really bad sore throat and the cold was going into my chest. Thankfully, I was able to get to the doctor to get antibiotics and cough syrup with codiene. Wednesday, we had a bad snow storm, so I was set with medicine. Today was my first day back at work. I still feel a little congested, but I'm 100% better than I was.

It sure helped that I got my December order from Sweet Georgia. I got three skeins of her Tough Love sock yarn in Deep Olive, Ultraviolet, and blackberry.

I also had ordered a skein of her Merino Silk Aran in Ginger to make a scarf.

When I went to The Knitter's Edge this week, I bought three more skeins of Madelinetosh Tosh Sock in Moorland, Ginger, and Scarlet. My next pair of socks will be in the Ginger colorway.

While at The Knitter's Edge, I was able to take a picture of three pairs of feet with socks knitted up using the croc sock pattern. Two of my other knitter friends and I are trying out different patterned socks together. It took us awhile to get this pattern finished, but it was worth the effort. We each used a different sock yarn. Don't our feet look great? My pair is on the far right.

I hardly did any knitting last week since I was sick. I did sleep a lot. But, I was able to finish the February dishcloth KAL. The pattern is Heart dishcloth by Darilyn Page. I used size 7 needles with Peaches and Creme Premium in deep red.

Off to work on my Mackintosh sock. I am nearing the toe on the second sock. Next I will cast on for another cowl.

SNOW

After escaping several storms that hit south of us, we finally got a big snowstorm. It started on Tuesday night and snowed most of Wednesday. Today, everyone is digging out. Here are some pictures.

Wool Girl

I was so excited today. I got my Wool Girl Valentine kit. The Theme was Peanuts Charlie Brown. It came with Zen Yarn Garden Serenity 20 yarn in the colorway Cherry Mist. I also got a bag to carry the yarn and a small bag for notions, a small tin, some themed post its, a marker and candy. This is a preview of what the sock club swag should look like. Can't wait to get my first shipment of that. What a way to start off the week.

I have been so happy that Maggie is loving her new bed. She is in it now. She loves to snuggle in there. Sometimes, she is towards the front so she can see what is going on.

And, other times, she digs in and hides so you can hardly see her.

My husband orginally thought it wouldn't be a good idea to get this bed. Ha! was he ever wrong!