When I posted about our Peeps Diorama. (more about that tomorrow). I received a comment from Denise that they do not have peeps in Australia. I wrote her and asked if I could send her some and was she willing to give me her mailing address. She wrote back and said they had the Easter Bilby and she would send me one. What fun. Totally off the cuff. Well, I went to CVS my local drugstore and picked her up yellow chicks & purple bunnies. Could not resist picking up some jelly beans, chocolate mints, bunny ears (which I hope to see modeled soon). CVS has so much to choose from for Easter that I had to put back more then half of what I wanted to send. Found a cute little lamb, pictured here with Jejune's Lulu, and that went into the cart. Then reading her back posts saw that she does not buy or have access to some knitting mags. So I went to my mag stash and threw some of those in. OK, I've gone this far, so I went to my yarn stash and sent her two skeins of Patton's wool. Nothing special but colors I thought she would like, plus you can't go wrong with having pretty colors of wool on hand for felting. Then as a last minute addition, I added my box of Thin Mints Girl Scout Cookies I'd just received from a co-worker. I am looking forward to receiving my Easter Bilby.

Edit: read about Peeps here. I just took it for granted that everyone knew what peeps were. This is one on the great things about blogging we meet people and learn about all cultures

I needed to leave work early yesterday for my 6 month dental appointment. Love getting the teeth cleaned. So I don't know if I missed my Bilby. You have to go to Denise's web page and see her beautiful drawings. She is a very talented artist. I brought one of her t-shirts with the Blue Willow painting. I've collected Delft since I was 18 and was drawn to this one. It was hard to choose.

In Other News

You need to bunny hop over to Chan's blog & tell her a story about something you got talked into doing! She is having her 1 year Bloggiversary and wants us to entertain her! The contest will run through midnight on April 1. So hurry on over.

On the Medical Front

I've been seeing my GP for sinus infections since last November and had temporary results. On the third visit in three month I asked "do you think I should see an ENT" "Good idea she says" And they get paid the big bucks! (I checked my insurance claims and they were paid $180 for each office visit, FGFS, and office visit!) I had to wait 6 weeks for the appointment so just went to the ENT this Thursday. She did the scope and took pictures & culture. Numbed me with Lanocain, back in 1986 went I was last to an ENT they used c0caine to numb. I am to use the Neti pot morning and night. I was only using it in the morning when it was bad. Use breath right strip (got the generic CVS ones) at night. Gave me a script for Veramyst. Then make a appointment for allergy test (They have a special nurse that does that and makes her own appointments). Test to see what I may be allergic to. So she knows I live with 4 cats. She said I will not need to give them up. I know I'm not allergic to cats. So I say" and what would be the purpose of the allergy test? What will it prove? That I can be allergic to my cats, pollen, air pollution?? Or is this just another "procedure" to go through, spend more insurance money? OK, I'm leaving this subject, it get me riled up. As Gypsy Rose Lee said "you gotta have a gimmick" and the doctors sure have theirs.

Speaking of cats you have to drop in here. Kristen has such great history & pictures posted about her furry family.

Knitting Paintings

You have to check this out Goshdarnknit, Shoofly. Look at her paintings. Rania Hassan is one talented lady.

Blog Video Challenge

Indulging My Inner Knitter came up with this idea. I thought this would be fun. You all get to see pictures of my knitting and of my furry purries. Here you can hear what I sound like. I'm a New York city gal who has been in VA since 1966. My Sister says I have a souther accent! But get me to talking about NY and I fall right back into it. When I moved down here it was like the country. As they say you can't take the city out of a NYC gal. I have uploaded this to You Tube but for the life of me I can't seem to get it to post correctly.

I'm Loppy

for Loopy Ewe. Last Sunday while bouncing around and reading my favorite knitting blogs, I broke down and made my first purchase from Sheri. Now that spring is just about here I was looking at the yarns I was stashing for future socks. I wanted something springy and not a color in sight. So I got myself some Dream in Color DC Spring Tickle. I don't think I have to tell you all how hard it is to stop at one thing, so I added in a few fun items. I've been looking at the sock blocker for sometime now. Also, got the keychain sock blocker & the Kitchener Dogtags.

I'm moving right along with my Chain Melody socks. This is where I was on Wednesday. And as of 4 hours ago, before the power went out. Our weather changed this afternoon to very windy and cold.front side
back side. I'm using Addi Size 1 40" cable. Yarn: Knitpicks Gloss, Color Woodland Sage

I finally got a shot of Zorro using the spinner

Look what I won!

I made a comment on Allena's Spindle and Wheel blog about this Tam. They are my colors and just had to tell her how much I liked it. Now, when I made the comment I obviously did not read the whole post. On Thursday, Jan 17th Allena notified me that I won. Well, I was beside myself. Then I took off for the Knitters Retreat 2008. Allena said to not get too excited as she was very behind in sending out winnings of the winners of her monthly drawings. I was away from my desk when they made the delivery and I could not image what this soft bubble bag was. Maybe something from my PIF pal? Did I order something from MO? Oh, look at all this.

This was just a day after my post letting you all know about this Spindolyn. Looks like I am going to have to learn how to spin! Just like I said I never would make socks, or lace now spinning is on my list. If you visit her Spindle & Wheel web site you can see how to make a spindle and all other things to make and learn and buy.

My best guess is that the 8 oz of grey & white is this Gray Pin Drafted Roving. The other bag is 4 oz of Pinks, although the bag marked 4 oz is just as big as the other. What I'm wondering about is the skein of yarn she spun and the little bag of white iridescent fiber. She said if I post it she can remember what she sent! So one day I will have to post what I spin. Looks like another lesson in my future.

More kitty pictures. I speak of Stanley but he has not had as much blog time as the others. Stanley is Zorro's brother. Zorro is rough with him and Pia gives him the evil eye. But I'm slowly getting him to come into his own. This is now is new place to perch. You can read about the boys here.

Contests, Petition and great links

Not sure who is reading but I'd like to pass some interesting info on.

Chan told me about this contest over to NH Knitting Mama.

Melissa gave me the heads up on this petition. Go to Save Knitty Gritty

More good deeds, Stash and Burn will have a drawing if you make a donation for the House that Yarn Built.

And Sharon of Adventures of my Creativity is doing a Walk for Autism, read about it here

You have to see what Cass just got from Fanity Creations.

See this neat spindle that I found about from Kelly of Yarn Rambles. I don't spin, don't plan on spinning BUT I love tools and gadgets. Knitting, Electronic, kitchen (I don't cook either) it does not matter. I love them all.

I do keep up with other blogs besides knitting. One is Jeff Jarvis's BuzzMachine. This post is a hoot. Jeff & I go back a long way. I've been reading his reviews from TV Guide, People and other places he pops up. Then to find his blog!

Too late for the contest that Shelly the Heathen Housewife had but you have to read about her blankie wrap up.

Well, I've spent most of the weekend on the computer. So I'm off to cast on a sock that I got from Nicole Hinds. The socks I gave Robin for my PIF can be seen here.

Have to include some of my kitty's. Moved furniture around so I could sell some and this bookcase is now empty and sitting by the back door. Of course, Pia and Zorro took turns sitting on top of it. Then Sissy returned to a hidey hole that she has not been in since she was a kitten. That is because it is now Stanley's favorite place. Kids!!

Britney's Peep-out & the Peeperazzi Payday

Read all about it here Washington Post Peeps Diorama Contest. It all started with Suzanne, then a group of the gals in our department at work got on board. We submitted our application with these two pictures. You are only allowed to send two pictures. Hopefully we will get a call and the Post will send over a courier to pick up our diorama to take pictures as the winner. We work in the beauty industry so it was a perfect moment to pick. The rules stipulated:

"We want you to make a diorama of a famous occurrence or scene. It can be a historical, current or future event, or it can be a nod to pop culture. The main rule is that all the characters must be played by Peeps, those marshmallowy chicks and rabbits that start plaguing checkout lines in every grocery and convenience store this time of year."

So this is our take on a famous occurrence.

photos may not be reproduced without permission 3/1/08

Sissy spinning and an empty box

It took almost two week to get a video of Sissy doing her favorite thing. Every time I sat down with the camera she would look at me and then walk off.

Then I tried something that Nicole Knerq did with an empty box. I won't bore you will all the out takes. Need to find out what I need to edit these videos. 3 of the 4 cats immediately either got in or checked it out.

I have been knitting up the Shape it Scarf using the yarn show in this post and will be finished if I ever got off the computer!

I also just purchased Nicole's new pattern Chained Melody socks. It is going OTN today.

See it and weep...

Here is my first and last attempt (for now) at lace.
I installed a new computer this weekend and Pia found a perfect way to use the old one. I'm telling you this girl is still in denial that she does not have the same figure she had at 6 months!

FO-Baby Hats and no lace

I ripped out the lace for the 7th time. I was using the only pair I had on hand Clovers and was having trouble. So I stopped by my LYS Uniquities and brought some size 4 circulars for lace. I WILL cast on one more time.

In the meantime, my BFF 2nd daughter had a beautiful girl last week. When I knit a couple of hats for their son Leon who was born 18 months ago they were too big and Mom told me that he was finally able to wear one of them now. So this time I made one for Annalise and it is too small! When I was at the LYS I saw a hat made with Artful Yarns Candy Dots with the pattern on the ball band. So Friday night I cast on and finished it yesterday. It is too big. So I'm giving it another try. I am almost finished with the 2nd hat, different yarn. I'll post a picture when that is finished. Once that is done I will go back to the lace scarf.

makes a great beenie

while this post is dated Saturday, I am finishing it today Monday the 18th. I am home with a killer cold. This picture is Zorro and Sissy napping. Can't see Sissy? She is the lump under the comforter.

New Camera!

I have been shopping around for a new camera. As soon as I saw this one and the features it has I had to have it. It is the Fujifilm FinePix z100fd here is a review .The pictures above were all taken with a different setting. What I really liked was you slide the front cover to turn it on. With my Nikon I always shut the camera off when I was trying to take a picture.

Here are some other ramdom shots.

using the flower setting

check out my Liz Claiborne camera case, I just couldn't resist

this is Sissy at the end of the dark hallway, no flash, called suppressed flash, camera chooses the exposure

I started a lace scarf this week and have ripped it out 6 times. One more try and that will be that. Only 51 stitches and 4 row repeat but somewhere I keep screwing it up. If I have success today I'll post a picture. I was hoping to have something for this post but...

Another pair of socks finished

Here are my 1st pair knit at the same time with magic loop method. I used Size 1 Addi, Yarn: Knit Picks Essential Tweed-Plum. Back in December I ordered the Sock Sampler in Cool Colors.

Other than the snafu I had yesterday dropping a stitch these were an easy knit. Did a simple k2p2. cast on 72 stitches.

I was up at 4:30 this morning and started laundry and cleaning up. Had let the cleaning go these past two weeks. In between loads of laundry I cast on another preemie hat. This will be a gift for my BFF 2nd daughters 2nd baby. I was done by noon. The pattern is from the Knitting 08 calendar January 3rd. Called Cabled Baby Hats. I did the five cable hat but messed up and only did 4 cables. Used an #3 Clover 36". Here is is being modled on my Miss Revlon doll. She has been with me since I was 10 or 11 years old.

Here are two of my purchases from Knitting at the Lake 2008. Robin's Dad make baskets. What talent this family has.

This is the yarn kit I brought from Mary Jane, from Unraveled. She put this kit together to knit from Sally Melville's Knit Book, which I happened to own, "Shape it Scarf". Mary Jane also figured out the yardage for the Ladder Scarf that Kati had made. Somewhere there is a picture of her on someones blog for the life of me I can not find it. So I need to figure out which one to make.

In addition to L have another baby, The Ashley Fister Cole Foundation will have an auction that I need to knit something for. Ashley was the daughter of a dear friend and co-worker. One of their events is coming up soon. Morning at the Movies. J told me what the movie was but I forgot. In the past 5 years it has been at the Merrifield Multiplex. If you live in No Va you must attend. It is a blast, the kids have always been well behaved. We have the theatre to our selves.

well, have to go and watch the three Lost shows the had this past week.

Longest toe

I started these socks on Jauraury 18 to take with me on the Knitters Retreat 08. I needed something simple so I could talk & knit. They are basic sock pattern knit on magic loop two together. Cast on 72 stitches, 36 on each needle x 2 socks. Pattern is plain old k2, p2.

I completed the leg of each at the retreat. Last weekend I did the heal flap, gusset and the rest of the foot. I figured I would have the toe decreases completed on Monday. Not.

By the time I would get home from work and do what you do when you get home it would be 8 when I would settle down to knit. Monday I got a couple of rounds down and was so tired I put it down and went to sleep.

The same thing happened, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday.

Friday would be it! When I packed away my socks on Thurday I was not careful so on Friday a couple of stitches slipped off. Pain. Fixed it and finally completed the toe of sock 1 using the Kitchner stitch. Now onto sock two. Done. Then I found out I did not pick up a stitch! So know I'm trying to pull out the kitchnerand rip back. Done.So now it is Saturday morning and this is what I have. I will be picking up the stitches to get them back on the needle. Lets see how long this will take. Pain!

Knitting on the Lake 2008

This past weekend my friend Carol & I traveled from Northern VA to Clarksville VA and attended a 3 day Knitting Retreat. This is the lake from our room. The terrible thing is that this lake is at least 15ft lower than it should be. If this keeps up we will be Knitting at the crater!

The drive each way was nice and sunny and according to "Jack" Carol's GPS the drive was 3.5 hours each way. This is our room. Very nice size with a kitchen. Small patio out the back door where I took the shot of the lake. We arrived on Friday about 3:30. Settled into our room and registered with Robin. I've been "talking" with Robin for over 8 months and was only surprised by her southern accent. We both live in VA but those 3.5 hours sure make a difference. Around 5 o'clock Robin made dinner reservations for 15 at the Lake House Restaurant (built in 1890). It sits on the corner of the main street and you have to climb up the front steps that are way UP. Then we climbed way UP to the second floor to what once may have been a sitting room or bedroom. Here all 15 to 17 knitters sat at small tables. Tami & Norma were a pair. Their antics had tears coming down my eyes. Mary has some pictures on her site

Here is Norma taken by surprise by Tami in the bathroom.

This is Tami showing us a lamp from the bathroom.

It is a vase made into a lamp and she has one at home that she would like to do the same.

Dehydrate-Hydrate-Tami ordered a beer and water.

Here is Robin our wonderful host. See how close the bathroom is! There was a young pregnant gal from another room who kept coming in to use the BR. Mind you, there was another entrance outside of our room on the landing but she could only see the sign here and cut through.

The project I brought along with me was two socks on magic loop for the first time ever. Phyllis & Sally (below) wanted to learn. Thank goodness for Becky. Phyllis wanted to cast on and I did not know the proper way. I cheated by knitting one sock for about 1" and than started the other on another needle and than past in onto the same needle as the 1st sock. Anyhow, Becky was able to teach Phyllis the correct way to cast on. When we parted on Sunday afternoon, Phillis had about 2"+ of two socks going. Add to that, she loved the pattern for my Nine to Five Socks so I wrote down the pattern repeat for her and she was doing that for the first time.

Speaking of my Nine to Five Socks. I was making them for Robin for PIF. I was going to mail them to her but decided to gift them to her at the retreat. Every penny saved on shipping will go back into yarn. Here she is trying them on for the first time.

Robin C, Renny & Tami

Shawn, Carol, Phyllis, Sally and Clarine

Clarine & Shawn drove up from NC. It was also their first time and I hope we see them back next year. It was a very relaxing and fun weekend.

Carol and PatsyClarine, Shawn and Carol

Carol with her door prize

I was very lucky! My first door prize was this skein of Spirit Trail Fiberworks yarn

After the first round of drawings and based on the amount of door prizes, Robin would started over. My second door prize, stitchmarkers by Jennifer

At the end there were two "grand" prizes. All our tickets were put back in for the final drawing and my number came up a third time!! I have never been this lucky before.

Carol's stitch markers, the ones on the right were a door prize donated by Jennifer

I could not pass up on these stitch markers a a row counter.

We have already made our reservations for next year!