Ollie Ollie ox and free!

OK knitting time, it's OK for you to come out now. Why oh why is it so hard to find you lately? This time apart is KILLING me!

Send reinforcements now! I don't think I'm going to make it!

Simpson me?

I'm a simpson! you can be too! Go here

What I did at the end of my Summer Vacation was......

Last week my parents came to visit. It was a lot of fun. I'm going to bore you with all the pix now... so be patient!
We started out by going to MD to visit my Grandma. My uncle and 2 of my cousins were there. It was really nice to see them. The girls really enjoyed playing out in the open. We had a campfire the first night (we were only there 2 days). With every campfire you have to make Smores. But we just didn't make any old smores we made smores with Reeses Peanut Butter Cups.. talk about delicious! YUMMO! We of course had your traditional smore and also dark chocolate ones. We just HAD to change things up a bit. I think the next time we should try york peppermint patties or maybe snickers or babe Ruth bars... the possibilities are endless. The Bead Just loved the marshmallows and chocolate (that's Nana holding her)
The next day before we came home we went to Dobbin Falls and took a little hike. When we were younger we used to come to Dobbin Falls and we'd have a grand old time. The deposits from the water makes the rock slippery and so we could slide down them into the water. Like nature's water slide. It was always great fun! I didn't go this time but the Bub and my bro went. She doesn't know how to swim so he had to stay close, even though it's only waist deep or so, the rocks get super slippery and it was moving pretty fast. You know the mamma had to make sure her baby was safe.
The last time we were there was when the bub was about the same age as the bead and the water was really low that year so were able to walk up most of the way and get some really cool pix. We were trying to go a little ways up to get some pix but my DH fell and slipped and hurt his nose.. i was sure he'd broken it or knocked out a tooth but all is well. He just got banged up a bit.
We had lots of fun but we had to leave and get back b/c my Dh's fantasy football draft was that night. so we came home and my parents stayed an extra day. They came up that next day and stayed until Saturday.
It was a lot of fun.

LOL for some reason as I re-read through this post I feel like I've just written a school report. so there you go do I get an A?

Free stuff!

Yum YUM get your free sample!
I've tried this coffee before this but I can't pass up free coffee! the vanilla biscotti is good smooth and nice for after dinner. The other one is good in the morning! anyways go fill it out!

crazy

So I've been meaning to post this for a while! I can't believe that I left it go for that long!
BIG PROCRASTINATOR, That's me!!

The other day I was at Goodwill shopping for some clothes. It's always good to stop there and look you never know what you may find! On this particular trip I found some nice skirts for the Bub. she loves to wear dresses and skirts. While there I thought I'd look at the home gadgets and things and look at what I found.. a Sewing Genie.. yeah I know I have a sewing machine what do I need with this thing? Well every time I take my main machine up to be fixed it's either closed or I've left it at home. (yeah I'm that quick)
so for 6 bucks I picked up this little thing. It came with a hem thingy. (you pull it out and hem something real quick) I've yet to use b/c the instructions are in French and since I only too Spanish in school I can't understand a lick of it. There's an instructional video but it's VHS so I haven't watched it yet. I plan on using it tonight to make the Bub a pencil case from this pattern. You have to scroll down to the Aug 24 entry but it's pretty cool huh?
so we'll see if this gene thing works or not.
more to come at a later date....

Who Am I Casting Crowns

Press play it's wonderful! This is one of my fave songs.

what i'm working on.

So I'm halfway through my first slipper sock for the LYS. I'm using beautiful Cascade 220. YUMMY! I'm going to felt only one though so people can see the change, smart i know! My classes are starting up here after Labor day and I'm SOOOO excited! It's going to be great!
I'm also working through the whole series of Harry Potter. I'm on book 2 right now. I'm taking my time and really savoring the story. is anyone else sad that this series is over? I'm feeling that I want more, I want to know what happens with these characters.. everything!

I got a silly call today that made me quite angry... there was a lady who got my number from Michael's (i teach crochet there) I'm not sure if i like them giving my number out but that's not what got me upset.(though I do think I'm going to say something to them)
First off the lady insulted me when I answered the phone by saying "you sound like a child" then she went on to tell my why she called. she has an ornate collar that she's had for 10 years and hasn't been able to wear it (yeah won't even go there) b/c it's a little damaged. Then she went on to tell me it has holes in it and she was wondering if it could be fixed but she wasn't sure what stitches would be used. She also said she wanted someone to show her how to fix it. I said "ok I'm sure I could look at it and see how bad it is first. then see if it's even fixable." (I'm thinking moth holes?) "Then we'd have to find some thread in the color and size of the collar." which she said she thought she had it. I said "ok, I'm only at Michael's when I have a class, but since she wants to fix it if she signs up for my adv crochet coming up next week I can look at it and help her fix it." then she says "I don't want to learn how to crochet, I just want to have someone show me how to fix the holes. Could I just drop off the collar for you to look at?" WHAT THE....??? I'm sitting here scratching my head. and i said "Oh, I'm sorry I don't do repair work." (kinda like windows) "I help other people learn how to do it themselves." Then again she insults me "well you don't sound old at all do you even know how to crochet?" (Yeah I was mad! who wouldn't be? )I told her I did know how to crochet but the type of crochet she's talking about is lace work so it takes time to do and with my kids yelling in the background I think it was understood that I don't have a ton of free time. Heck if you know me personally you'd know I don't "do" doily's or lace.. I mean I don't like it... I actually think they're horrid and ugly. but that is a personal preference so I've learned and done them and can teach other people who want to do them but i don't choose to do them. Am I just babbling? Mind you, that last part I didn't say. I said again "well (still wanting to help) you could come to my class on the 19th and I'll show you" then she says "well i don't know how to crochet I just want someone to show me how to fix it." SO Basically this lady was wanting me to fix this collar so she can wear it but she doesn't want to pay to get it fixed or even take the time to do it herself. by this time I told her "I don't think I can help you. You may want to check out the state fair that's coming up and see if anyone who's entered that type of work in the fair see if they do repair work." I told her I wasn't sure if they would do that but it would be worth a look and see. I think I dealt with her pretty well. I was very nice and tried to help her. but I think I've said it before I'm not knitting or crocheting for anyone who's not going to appreciate it and take care of it. SO some lady off the street I'm probably not going to be making something for her esp if she doesn't want to compensate me.. is that rude? I don't think so, my time is valuable and crochet is a skill and it doesn't stinking matter that I'm 28. I'm really GOOD at what I do!

ok I'm done venting...

books!

The other day i ordered a few books.I ordered 2 amigurumi books. one is called Amigurumi by Elsabeth Dorherty and the other Mr Funky's Super Crochet Wonderfull by Narumi Ogawa. I'm still waiting on the Amagurumi one. But you can visit her blog or look for it on amazon. I'm so pleased with the Mr. Funky's one! there's this really cute water bottle cover/carrier in there that I really want to make.
I also got the book Mommy Teach Me by Barbara Curtis. It's really good I've only read to chapter 3 so far but i do read her blog a lot.
Since I'm talking books today I just got done reading House by Frank Peretti and Ted Dekker. It was excellent. They're both supernatural thriller book writers. I've just recently gotten into reading Ted Dekker's work. I first read his book Three. it's awesome! i loved it, when i got done i told my DH that they should make a movie out of that book. Well there already is a movie! It's not as good as the book but I've never found a movie that is. anyways it's my bed time so I'll try to get on later this week and with some knitting and crochet content!

To Do List

This is what I planned on doing this afternoon. (edited 11:46 PM)
1. Spend time with Girls after work
2. Make dinner
3. Eat dinner
4. work on Jessica's baby gift
5. put Girls to bed
6. Work out on treadmill!!!
7. get cracking on felted slipper socks for LYS
8. go to bed at a decent hour!

Must remember NEVER EVER drink the coffee at church. all they make is decaf... what's the point??

What I actually did...
1. Spent time with girl as the other one slept
2. vacuumed girls room, my room and hallway.
3. Hung up 4 pix/framed things upstairs.
4.did 2 loads of laundry
5. spent more time with girls
6. Made dinner (personal pizza's with the best crust ever!!!)
7. we had dinner and a movie tonight's showing was The Never Ending Story.
8. Got girls ready for bed and then put them to bed.
9. made popcorn.

I think i may go make some coffee

Family of Presses

So tonight i sat down for my "me time" after putting the girls to bed and thought to my self.. there's something missing. then it dawned on me... coffee! I love the stuff (as if you didn't know) so i decided instead of making a pot of coffee I'd use my press(es) I'd bought both of them in Germany they're so pretty!
so i sat there deciding which one to use. i figured that i wouldn't drink more than one cup so i used the small one.
Then i remembered they had a sale at the Giant Eagle on the Cacao Reserve Hot Coco and I'd make a 4 min mocha. (which really was a 15 min mocha since it took me a lot of debating whether to make lots of coffee or not...giggle)
So there you have it a Faux- Mocha. It was really yummy!
While i was drinking it i worked on my Niece's gift. Yeah I'm not done. i just keep putting it off. SO i finally said "self, you need to finish this thing! before your Parents come for a visit so they can take it home to your sister/niece!" I'm really working at listening to myself! I don't have any pix b/c Jess doesn't know what I'm making, and I'd like to keep it a surprise!
ok so I'll go now I hear footsteps upstairs and the kids are supposed to be sleeping!!

RIBS

Today I got it together and did a Crock pot recipe. After many many many months. So in honor of Slow Cooking Thursdays I give you..................................
BBQ Ribs (also know as what's in the fridge will make an easy peasy dinner) LOLThey are super simple to make and delicious to eat! (my DH loved them!)
so you need a can of root beer. (i used diet)
BBQ sauce
and BBQ seasoning
and a wee bit of Worcestershire sauce

take the BBQ seasoning and season the ribs. put them in the crock pot and pour the root beer over it add the BBQ sauce I only used 1/2 of the bottle b/c that's all i had. I would've used the whole thing had i had more. add about 1 TBS of the W sauce. I turned my crock pot on high for 4 hours. I'm sure you could do low for 8.
They fall right off the bone and are to DIE for!
so enjoy!

DONE!

WOW! is all I can say! I'm not going to spoil anything at all so don't worry! When i got to pg 691 I had to stop for a while I couldn't go on! then like driving by an accident I couldn't stop I had to finish. I'm glad I did! Now I'm off to go and read the whole series as a whole.
So are you done? What did you think?

Can't Talk Now!

Last night at 12 I called my DH at work and asked if he would be going by walmart. (it's the only place that is open 24/7 around here) He said no and laughed at me and said I know what you want.... I said that's ok I'll be up there tomorrow for Weight Watchers, so I'll stop then. (I was up that late mixing some dough up for a bread baking class I was going to do at my church today more on that another time) SO i went to bed and got up this morning in time to make it to WW and wally world and then church in time and i came down stairs to see this on the table!!! I HAVE THE COOLEST HUSBAND EVER!!! I wanted to call everything off and sit down, but I didn't. But it's over now and I'm home... soooo I'll TTYL

3 days, 2 turtles, 1 hat and Hello? Kitty!

That is how long I've been working on this post. I uploaded the photos and meant to type up the post yesterday and just plum forgot! so I'm at it again today, and we'll see if works! Not that it's that hard to do I just need to dazzle you with all my FO's that I've made the past week or two.
First we'll start with the hat I made a friend of mine. (she just had another boy!) I cast on for a 3-6 month old baby but with the 3 knit and one purl being so stretchy it fits the destroyer.. of course I have her modeling everything for me. she's usually so willing. And this pix she's telling me to take the pix already! LOL and in the back ground my fave show is on.. or at least the one I have on the most. (TV guide) LOL I'm such a dork. I think I'm the only one who watches that channel and sticks around for the shows that are above the programing. Am I alone here??
I'm part of an Amigurumi yahoo group and we decided that we needed to all make some amigurumi together. We settled on turtles. They're really quick to crochet and I of course *had* to make two. *by Had of course I mean I couldn't stop myself. Plus each of the girls wanted one. LOL I made the bub's for her to take with her when she went to camp, and of course the destroyer had to have one too! SO i quickly made her one. Aren't they just darling? I'm not sure what compelled them to hold them that way, believe me I didn't tell them to do that. LOL such silly girls!
Then the Amigurumi Bug hit and I had to make something else..... and I finally decided on a Hello Kitty Doll. I was originally going to make it for a friend of mine but 1 I didn't finish it in time and 2 I didn't like the way the face turned out. But that suited the destroyer just fine as she loves it.The bub OF COURSE has to have one now too. i just have to get some more white yarn to make her one. That or look through my stash, I'm sure I have some stashed away.
I'm really trying to knit and crochet through my stash, but some of the yarn in my stash is not good. It's from when I first started crocheting and knitting before I started to be selective about yarn. Now don't get me wrong I'm not a total yarn snob but i don't like the scratchy yarn that squeaks. I do like caron simply soft, i think it's one of my favorites to knit and crochet with. that's for many reasons, one it's totally machine washable IE kid friendly two it's super soft and even more so after you wash it, (in the washing machine I might add) and three it comes in many many many colors. So I've been pondering a stash sale of sorts. but I'm not sure that anyone would buy my squeaky scratchy yarn.. sigh. Pondering is the key word there...
ok let's post this baby!

Reminder to self

When you come into the room and your darling 2 year old has chapstick/lipstick all over her face (and who knows what else) please think back to when you walked into the room 30 min ago.
Remember how she was using the flashlight as a microphone and sining loudly (and slightly off key) a mixture of Jesus Loves Me , Nothing But the Blood, and Jesus Loves the Little Children? Keep that mommy heart melting feeling and remember you're really just mad at yourself for not putting the chapstick up.



OH and Don't forget to breathe!

Links to the past

This past weekend when my sister was here we traveled to MD to visit my Grandma. it was a good time. We enjoyed seeing our Grandma and then visiting with our uncle and cousins who also came up that weekend.

I brought some wonderful pieces of family history home with me. The quilt is beautiful and also hand quilted. the aprons i found while i was getting sheets to make the bed. the pink one is my fav. it has some wonderful embroidery on it. Around the pleated top and the pockets and across the bottom of the apron. they give me wonderful ideas of aprons to make. If only I'd get my sewing machine fixed! ARUGH I've got to do that some time soon.
I also brought home some boxes of recipe cards. I've not really gotten the time this past week to look through the recipes but I'm sure they will hold some treasures for me!
I thought that it was really cool, and wanted to share my treasures with you!

Kniterview!

So last week my sister and her boyfriend came for a visit. it was a really quick one though. They flew in Thursday and left on Sunday. It was really good to see her though. I hadn't seen her since we lived in Germany at least 3 years ago. So now since her BF met the whole family I think he's got the "stamp" of approval. LOL that is if our family hasn't scared him off. LOL i guess the best way to gauge if they're going to hack it with the family they need to eat dinner with us. There are 5 of us kids, and we're all pretty loud when we eat dinner. I remember when my DH met my family... I think he just kinda sat there looking back and forth at the action, then he jumped in and hasn't looked back since. You'd have to ask my younger sister about her DH and how he was when he first ate with most of the family.. LOL now add to that my kids and her kids, it's even better. I love it! I think it's something i truly miss living here in PA so far away from the fam.
Speaking of families, when we too my sister back to the airport at O'dark Thirty, OK it wasn't that early but we did get UP that early. then we had a few hours to kill before the Father's day Baseball game. So we hit a local Eat and Park for breakfast. Then we headed over to PNC park and they had some festivities for the kids as always on Sundays. We had a wonderful time, so much fun that i could hardly get them to sit still for the pix. The seats filled shortly after it was a wonderful game and believe it or not the Pirates actually won!
Anyways on Monday I got the semi-monthly newsletter from the local yarn store, and after i read that they were looking for a knitting instructor I called. Tuesday they called me back to set up a Kniterview! (interview + knit). So on Wednesday i went and guess what
I GOT IT!!! I'm sooo pumped. it's like a DREAM JOB! The lady who owns/runs the store is great! (and I'm not just saying that b/c she's reading my blog) We talked for a while it was good. Of course before the Kniterview I had to scourge the house for knitted items I've knit. I didn't really realize HOW MUCH of my knitting I've given away. but i came up with a few socks and a hat for her to look at. Hey what can i say I show my love by giving knitted (or crochet'd) items! How about you, do you show your love in knit?

You may want to sit down.

I actually finished my socks! I guess I just kept putting them off doing other projects, Remember I started them over a YEAR agot (if you read down around the pix of the nancy bush book) Anyway I'm getting the sock bug again and really want to start a new pair. So i quick finished my sock so i could use my FAVE needles, that i got in Germany. LOL I'm telling myself this time that I can't take over a year, my goal is 1-2 months. I'm a member of the six sock knitalong yahoo group, and the pattern is really great for the summer and yes it's a lace pattern, i can't believe i like it! (if you click the link it will take you to the home page and the photo is the sock for this 2 month period, if you like the pattern join!)
I thought if I actually knit that sock and try and do it along with the group... I'll actually finish a pair of socks really quick. or at least quicker than my track record has been this past couple of years..
OK so the pattern is one I figured out myself. I have the Knitting on the Road by Nancy Bush and in one of the patterns i found like 10 rows that i thought would make a really great repeat on a sock so here's the result. my favorite part is if you look closely there's a diamond wrap shape in the pattern. It looks similar to a leaf (almost) I tried to get an up close pix... If you look closely down near the bottom of the left sock in this pix to the right is the shape I'm talking about. sorry no arrow or anything I don't have a fab photo shop thingy... just the basics. Anyways the yarn is yarn I dyed myself, with koolaid, about 2 or more years ago. it's the one on the right if i recall correctly. anyways they turned out wonderfully, don't you think?
anyways just wanted to share my slow success.

Pink Elephants!

They're all around, and no, I'm not watching Dumbo...
I made these cute guys for my mom's yahoo group to be our traveling mascots. we're going to send them around to each member and have them take pix and have fun with our families for a while. The tall one, whom I've been calling Ellie, the destroyer just loves and carries around everywhere. I may have to make another one just for her. The short one, whom I've been calling Elena, is knitted from a pattern I found here. She also has it in PDF form for your pleasure. It's cute as it was made with stripes! I was pleased to see that as a solid it's just as cute! I used some black eyed peas to fill the bottom of the elephante instead of the pellets it called for only b/c I had the peas and I'm not going to eat them. So it's truly a beanie! LOL that cracks me up.
So here's a shot of the two of them together.
they are BFF's and soon will be off to their next destination. And yes I'm still working on my neice's gift. I'm just easily distracted.. so sorry Jessica! I'll get cracking! luckily it's not an age thing. I'm sure it'll be done by her 1st birthday, if not before......eek! must go work on it now!

What better combination?

Thank you Shannon!!!
YOU ROCK!
Ok I'm 2 days late but hey I've been er um... distracted?! Yeah that's right.
The package couldn't have come on a better day. Wednesday I stayed late at work so I could pick the bub up, they went on a trip to a local amusement park. So coming home to this was wonderful. It was very hot so I took the girls outside to swim and opened my package there! Boy oh BOY was I excited! and my Partner Shannon.. what a sweetie! (she doesn't have a blog up and running yet so I can't link you up) She made up an awesome package for me.. here's the booty.
Lots of yarn and some clover pom pom makers, stickers for the girls, this really cool stitch holders (correct me if I'm wrong) that you hook on to your DPN's so that you don't have any stitches falling off and they're connected so if you loose one you loose the other! A really awesome mug, Some biscotti, and my fave chocolate covered espresso beans. To top it off one of my fave blends of coffee from a local shop near her. She's from Oregon so there's LOTS of coffee shops around there. I'm so jealous!
But also so fortunate that she was my partner! Thank you sooo much Shannon!
I just wanted to show you guys a up close personal view of my new Favorite coffee mug. the back says Coffee Queen, I wonder if that's a close relation to drama queen? (Drama? Not me never!)
I love this mug! Probably b/c it's really fun and being glass/clear it reminds me of a coffee house. So now my house is a coffee house.. well it always has been a coffee house, but now it looks more official! the front of the mug is great. I wonder if it was hand painted. Maybe Shannon can tell me?

Ok for all you Fiber Freaks here's a close up of the fiber goodness and I'll give you a run down of what exactly... YUM YUM!
So at the bottom is some brightly colored Encore Colorspun WW yarn. Shannon said that she thought I should make the girls some hats. I agree the yarn will make wonderful hats for the girls... now what pattern to use?? LOL the choices!
At the front of the photo is some sugar and cream 100% cotton yarn. I'm already pondering making the destroyer a shrug/capelet thingy, my sister swears that she made one (more now) for my niece with one skein of S&C.
Now on to my most favorite type of yarn on the planet.. SOCK YARN! (yes I love it that much!) So first Shannon sent me some Lana Grossa Cotton Fantasy in pretty earthy colors. and then some blues and greens hand painted sock yarn from Sporfarm in OR.
Ok i think that's all of it... I'm so excited. I hope Shannon enjoys the package I sent her I know I had a blast putting it together.
anyways I'm so happy I had a great swap! if there's going to be another Coffee Swap... I'm so IN!