Jtown fun!

Yesterday was the last day that my Sis and her fam were here visiting. We went to the Pittsburgh zoo and then headed home for some fun in J-town. I forgot the camera for the zoo but we stopped and picked it up and then we went on the Incline plane. It's supposed to be the steepest one around.
Now I'm a bit scared of heights so I stayed to the back of the car/trolly thing. Not really sure what it's called. But at the top is an outlook. I also stayed far back on that. But here's a pix of the town from where I stood on the outlook.
it's very pretty! I took a pix of the info they had on the incline. It's like a diagram of all the height and stuff. That's my sister Jessica and her DH sitting in front of it. At the top they have a restaurant and a gift/souvenir shop. Inside they had this foot massage thingy. For only 10 cents you can stand on it and get a great foot massage. LOL bubba decided to try it... it was SOOO loud. I was cracking up it was hilarious! Also up there is a huge flag and a park with a baseball field and a playground. The flag is 30 feet by 60 feet and the pole is 125 Ft high. It's supposed to be one of the largest free flying flags in the US. It's awesome you can see it from almost anywhere in the city. I couldn't really get all of it into my pix. By that time it was raining pretty bad but it was so warm so we had the kids running all over to tire them out.
it's been a pretty crazy week, all fun though! I loved visiting with my sis and BIL I wish we were closer to each other so that we could have our kids grow up together. the girls are 5 months apart. it was funny seeing them run like that. I just had to take some pix. But blogger isn't letting me upload it here sooo you'll just have to take my word for it.
it was all very fun! We plan on doing it again! The girls really seemed to like it.

DUCK

How is everyone? Me? Eh I've been moving. NEVER again will we do that again. At least not by ourselves. Ok so packing and unpacking aren't bad but that plus moving the boxes loading and unloading up and down stairs. I'm still pooped. So I thought I would share a pix of the girls playing on their new swingset in their own back yard! They love it! I like it too!
Tomorrow my sister is coming to visit! I'm so super duper excited. I can't wait! I've not been able to knit or crochet much. Though yesterday I did do some. Right now I'm working on some baby gifts for my friend Kelly, who's expecting a girl.. I'm not showing you b/c she reads my blog. Soon enough though! Anyways gotta go.

Stupid blogger

So I wrote a beautifully long post and I clicked save as draft b/c I had to leave for a few min and WHAMO it was gone! I'm very upset and also ANGRY. So now I'll go about and do my post with more pix less words. First though do we all have to re-sign in for uploading photos? It's rather annoying!
Ok Catherine! You were right! What I was canning was sweet hot pepper jelly. Its yummo! I gave some to my in-laws but I'm not sure if they tried it or not yet. I've got to send some to my Dad and then the rest I'm not sure what to do with it. Catherine and I are working on a trade! My jelly for some of her yarn.. WHOO HOO. I'd say it works out great for both of us!
ok next I tested a pattern for a tank top you can purchase it here. It's a great pattern it works up fast. I used 2 colors b/c I didn't have enough to just use one and I like stripes.
I made the 18-24 month size and it turned out really cute! Ok more pix.
On Sunday we went to PNC park for father's day. Since it was father's day the pirates shook hands with the fans as they walked in the door. We walked in by Jack Wilson. (I think that's what my DH said his name was.) He's a short stop and DH was happy to "meet" him! But he didn't like the pix I took. Can I help it if he doesn't smile when I say SMILE?? NO. What do you think of the pix? He doesn't look too bad does he? Just star-struck right?
ok so here's a pix of the fam with Roberto Clemente... Well a statue of him.
the tickets we bought on eBay were great look at the view! Front row. No one hit a home run our way but if they had we would've been able to catch it!
I love baseball. Well I enjoy going to games. But this game I didn't get to see much of the game the booty wasn't really into it. So I'm kind bummed about that. Next time we're going sans booty and just with the bub...
here's the last pix of the happy gang waiting for the game to start.
so that's the re-made post sorry it sucked!

Hey Hot stuff.....

Can you guess what I made yesterday and the day before? go a head guess...I'll give you a hint. It's really good with crackers and cream cheese. I made 3 batches. The first I messed up and it didn't set. I have to remember to actually read directions and follow them! So I took the messed up stuff to my tops group and gave them away. The 2nd and 3rd set fine....
I've made these for fathers day for my dad and my FIL. I am trying to figure out what to do with the rest of it all..Yes canning is so addictive! I couldn't stop myself. And I even have more in my fridge if I decide to make a 4th batch. Not to mention I'm obsessive and I had to fix what I messed up the first time so I had to make it again to make sure I can do it.. Which is where the 3rd batch came from. The 2nd was a low sugar recipe. I figure I'll send some to family but that still leaves me with some.
Any ideas?

Pretty things.

Look at what I got in the mail on Friday! I'm sooo pumped. I ordered them not too long ago from Yes Asia. They said it wouldn't come till the 17th and I got them totally fast! anyways i'm also going to show you som close up pix! ok so i'm trying to upload the 2nd close up but I can't.... stupid blogger...
I love them they look even better in person! The pix are fab and I'm just so pumped. I got them so I could start making tons and tons of amigurumi. The problem is deciding where to start. Decisions decisions....

on another note here are some cake's of yarn that I dyes a while ago they've been sitting on top of my bookshelf waiting for me to take pix so that I can put them on my etsy shop. I'm the person who doesn't really like getting hanks of yarn. Well let me rephrase that. I like getting yarn. I just wish they came to me ready to be crafted. so when an idea hits me i can grab a ball or cake or whatever and just get started instead of having to get out my winder and swift and make a cake. I usually loose my idea by then and bummer i missed. Yes it's true that i could just wind them when i get them but i'm a little lazy about that. Yes I'm a big big procrastinator. Anyways that's why i'm going to sell them in cakes ready to be knit or crochet'd! Oh I was also waiting for a good sunny day so that I could take a good pix in real light of them. It's been nice here lately so viola pix. Any help on naming the colors? They're variegated or ombre what ever you choose to call it.
I've also been trying to find a dress to make for Kelly's baby. But I'm having no luck at finding what I wanted to make. So I'm thinking that I may just have to make up a pattern for her.
I'm also testing a pattern for a group I joined I'll share pix when I get finished!
anyways that's what's been happening here. Thanks for stopping by

The Hook Up!

Today I came home from work and there was a package waiting for me.. I tore into it (before taking a pix) then found some yummily wrapped parts that (I thought I should) photograph before tearing into them. Then promptly after snapping this pix I tore open the smaller packages and Look what I found.... It was my prize for the contest on Keri's new blog. I just left a comment and she picked at random using her smart program thingy. Sorry no tech terms. But ask keri, she's super smart!
yes yes it's my booty all MINE!

there was some chocolate. Keri, how did you know I was totally craving CHOCOLATE today? Thanks it couldn't have come at a better time. There also is some tea. They are cleverly packaged and I can't wait to drink some. My tea collection is growing and I'm loving it! And of course the stars of the show the Koigu... Thank you so much. I can not express that enough! I almost never win contests. So that totally made my day!

also this past week (I forgot to post about it) I received a sock bag from Trek. Now this wasn't out of the blue either, we traded. I made her some candles (orange vanilla in scent) an she sent me a bag she made it's beautiful! If you want to trade with her she's always willing, go talk with her! She's the best!

Unfortunately I am in a sock knitting RUT. As in I don't want to do it at all right now. What is up with that??? I think part of it has to do with sockapaloooza. don't get me wrong I love knitting socks and I have 1/2 a pair waiting for me to make it's mate. I'm just not motivated for it right now. part of the fun of sockapalooza is knitting the socks the other part is seeing them love the socks you made for them. ya know a shout out on their blog. Should I just be happy that she emailed me to say thank you? I did get an email from my pal saying she got the socks. I guess I shouldn't be down about it. Though I'm not sure if she liked all the goodies I sent along, or if she really enjoyed the socks. It makes a gal not want to join another swap. Now I've had other problems with other swaps. There was one for c-ville that we were supposed to send wool to our pals and my pal had some problem so she sent some of the package and promised to send the rest later when it got to her. (yeah you can guess where that's going) Then there was another swap with another blogger. We were supposed to get things from the countries we were living in to swap and I sent mine and NEVER got anything. I even emailed her and told her I was moving and excited to get the package. I never heard from her again, she doesn't blog anymore. I just chalked it off to a GREAT RAOK. now I'm just saying all of this not to be mean to those people, just to say hey sometimes I get let down at the end of the swaps, am I the only one?? There's good too, the 2 secret pals I joined were wonderful! I still read their blogs and try to keep in touch with them, so those were GREAT exchanges.The monthly G-square exchange I'm a part of is wonderful also. The unloved sock yarn swap was great too! So not all swaps are bad is what I come to. but still I think I may stay away from the BIG ones for a while. Of course the RAOK web-ring is always great I'm always trying to leave comments or send notes to other bloggers. I have some small things I send also so that's fun. But RAOK isn't a swap it's giving so it should really be in this category. . Ok so now I'm going to freak and wonder if I make my swapper (the person who sent me things) feel good about what they send me. I love everything and I try to post about it and link to their blog if the have one. so what does one do to make your swapper feel good? I also try and send a thank you email or note via snail mail. What do you do? What's the NORM? so chime in LMK!

ok I'm done rambling....

Memorial day pix

so as I promised here are some pix from memorial day. we had a lot of fun we went to delgrosso park. It's the kind of park where you can buy tickets for the rides or just buy a day pass. There's also a water park for playing!

the girls really enjoyed the water. The booty didn't like the rides too much but she did ride a few. Bubba loved to ride the rides and she loved the water part too! We'd like to go back there and spend the whole day there.

also what happened over memorial day weekend we bought a house. (well we've still go to close on it) It has 3 bedrooms and a great big back yard. It was totally unexpected to find it. And perfect for us. We went and relooked at it yesterday with bubba, she liked it! We're all excited but we're playing the waiting game. I'm so excited to finally be buying a house. To save money though we're going to wait a little bit before we paint inside. The house was just redone before it was put on the market. So it's in TOTAL move in condition. It was so nice to see this house after we looked at a million others that said they were move in ready but were SO not! Anyways it's nice to know we can stop looking!

Amigurumi!

I'm totally obsessed! How could i not be? they're soo cute. I based my frog here on this cartoon pix i used some faux mohair type yarn to get rid of it. this shifty eyed frog will be hanging up at Micheals to show what fun things you can do with crochet. Speaking of fun check out these blogs totally devoted to Amigurumi!
Amigurumi Girl
Gourmet Amigurumi
Amigurumi Along be sure to check out the links on the left for patterns and the ones on the right for the participants blogs! sooo much fun!
Amigurumi
this one is in Japanese but the PIX are great!

Some fun links to check out Gourmet Amigurumi Links there are some really interesting sites there! Also check out these patterns! just go to Google and type in Amigurumi and it will bring up fun sites! also click on images and type it in and look at all the beautiful pix.
have you caught the fever yet? Ebay sells some of the Japanese books but i think they're a little price if you go here to YES Asia it's much better pricing! if that link doesn't work click on it and type in amigurumi in the search site. it's in english so it should be easy to navigate! i ordered some actually. i figured my DH went to a pirates game and got to have some fun so i though hey why don't i get some amigurumi books? i'll be sure to blog about it when i get them it should be with in a week or so.

so some good news! as if amigurumi wasn't good enough! I've joined Warming Grace and Papa's Quilt so i'll be knitting away some squares to send to them! it's exciting to be helping other people out! i have some cotton left over skeins in greeen and pink so i've been working on them lately.
i have other good news but i must go we're going to Blands park today. i'll update ya'll later!

I've been crocheting lately. I made this little purse up for my beyond the basics crochet class: to teach in the round, colors etc. So it's a little dorky but hey my girls like it. This one is going to hang up. I made it with caron simply soft. I forget the actual names. It's a bright purple and hunter green color. So I have to type up the pattern to get it tested by my friend Pam. I've got to do it by the class.... Which is Friday June 2nd. I have the beginner class this Friday! I hope some people have signed up if not I won't be teaching. I'm kinda nervous but totally excited. So I have to type up a little bio and find a pix of myself for them to put up in the store, so people know about me and all. I've also made a few more samples... First some Mary Jane slipper/booties. They're rather cute I'm going to make some for the booty! I got the pattern here and adj I to make it smaller for the display. I also made a swatch/square using 2 colors. If you have SnB Happy Hooker its in there. I added the SC border so that it looked more finished. I wanted to make an amigurumi something for the display so I started a frog but I didn't like how it was turning out so I tossed it. I'll try something else. So I'm off to search and think and ponder what to make. Thanks for stopping...

Scratch and sniff screen?

for some reason, I don't think I've been busy enough. I still have a ton of things to finish. I made the bubba this cloche hat. I was thinking of making a bunch of them for her school's festival to sell. But I'm not sure. the jury's is still out on that. I made it out of caron simply soft brights yarn so it's totally washable and kiddo friendly! And super duper soft. So here's one more pix. What do you think? I think I may do some different types of flowers and of course different color combos. I may be able to whip up a few of these for the school's festival...
that's not the only thing I've been up to. Besides rearranging the living room and organizing my desk, having the inlaws over for dinner and straightening my knitting and crochet books I've also been making the house smell beautiful. I've been making these for the school's festival. Yup those there are candles. I forgot how much fun it is to make them. This was the first batch I made on Friday. I also melted down a big candle I'd gotten at wally world, that must not have been wicked straight b/c it melted over the side... ARUGH. I made that into a star candle.. look Kelly it works wonderfully! I love it! Yesterday I made more candles. Different colors and scents of course. If you look at the pix the bright pink post its are my notes as to what is what. I also made some melts for people to purchase from the left over wax. I may not give those to the school but sell those on etsy. not sure yet. I figure what/if the school doesn't want the candles I'll sell these at my store. I wish you could smell them they're so yummy! I have labeled all of them and put my website of my store, so if anyone would like to buy more they know where to get them at. I am hoping to get some people interested in buying things I've made, so eventually I don't have to work away from home.
on a totally different note Happy Mother's day to all you mom's out there. I hope you're having a wonderful day. I got the best present from the girls and my DH, a gift certificate to a spa/massage place I'm so excited I've always wanted to go to one! Now I can! Whoo HOO

Sockapaloooza Party!

I finished yesterday and blocked them. They're dry and now packaged and tomorrow after work I'm mailing them to my sock pal! I also included some nice things. The extra yarn incase she needs to make repairs, some coffee and tea, and some homemade (and kinda dorky) envelopes.
so they're off tomorrow! I hope she likes them I know they'll fit they were not as big as the last time when I tried blocking them. The yarn is super soft I used lanett superwash merino wool. My sock pals likes merino. I am so nervous now! does everyone get that way? HELP
oh speaking of nervous.....
I got MY socks today.... whoo hooo I opened the envelope and immediately put them on and haven't taken them off yet. I plan on wearing them tomorrow too. They're sooo beautiful! look I took two pix both similar b/c (I told you) I'm not taking them off. They're blue and yellow sooo pretty! My sock pal was Amy. she did a wonderful job! here's a side view.
oh and she was totally kind and awesome she sent me some Socks that Rock sock yarn! WHOO HOOO! and some really cool Massachusetts postcards that I think I'm going to get some of those picture clips that stand free form and hold your pix with them up.. like art. They're so pretty! thank you soo much! I love them!
anyways that's all folks.

Frog, Tink and Re-knit!

That is what I did today. And with only ONE sock. I should be done by now but you see it's evil.. Don't believe me just look! And look again. ever since I frogged it to fix it I've had problems! I was knitting along and then I noticed that something wasn't looking right from the transition from the foot to the leg so I TINKED it back and re-knit it and still it was off a bit so I did that all again and realized I had a few xtra stitches. Not sure how that happened. So I fixed that and now I'm well on my way. So I should be done and the socks should be off to their owner's home on Monday! So another pix of the evil sock..


So look at this it's a Christmas card! In MAY! It totally made my day and it's what RAOK is all about. It was totally random and totally fun. It was from Angela. What a smart cookie. Thank you SO much and just in case you can't see the stitch marker here's another pix.
look I painted my toes you can see them in the bottom of the pix... pretty in PINK! I absolutely love bright pink or red on my toes. It just looks so sexy! what do you like to wear on your toes?
speaking of RAOK I sent out some postcards this past week I hope they find the people I sent them too happy and having a great day. It was fun I'm going to get some more to send out. I may make some stitch markers to attach to them...HMMm that's a thought. oh I forgot to share but I'm sooo excited I've been volunteered (by myself) to help keep RAOK running smoothly. I'm so pumped it's going to be great! I hope to help keep it running smoothly and do tons of RAOKs thru it.