Wednesday, January 27, 2010

Thought For The Day

"The world of the generous gets larger and larger; the world of the stingy gets smaller and smaller. The one who blesses others is abundantly blessed; those who help others are helped." Proverbs 11:24-25 (The Message)

This is so true! If you spend your time in pursuit of things, you will never have "enough". (I should probably take this to heart with regards to yarn)

Sunday, January 24, 2010

Score!!!



I scored big time yesterday in the Yarn Lottery. A former yarn shop owner has decided to destash (actullay her husband wants it out of the house) and she decided to have a sale at her house. She posted info on Ravelry and I decided to check it out. As you can see from the picture I did pretty well:

4 skeins of Schaeffer Laurel in the Flo Jo colorway
6 skeins of Claudia Handpainted sock yarn (it had my name on it I had to buy it!)
11 skeins of Cascade Dolce in an olive color
6 skeins of Fiesta Watermark
7 skeins of Misti Alpaca handpaint worsted

+ 2 book, 1 magazine and one sock pamphlet

Retail for all this would have been over $600! I got it for a steal!

Thursday, January 21, 2010

Car Crashes and Polka Porn

Rain is back today, not heavy, just nice and gentle.

Today at lunch I picked Bob up from work and took him home and then headed back to work. As I was coming off of Fair Oaks onto Sunrise, I watched the car in front of me go around the corner, start to merge into traffic and then suddenly veer to the right into a telephone pole. It was really weird. Almost like I was watching the whole thing in slow motion all the time thinking to myself "no way! This can't be happening." I pulled around her and off the road to see if she was ok. As I exited the truck and started back towards her, her engine was revving and smoke was pouring out. All of a sudden she puts the car in reverse and it jerks backwards about 10 feet. In the meantime, the car behind me has pulled over behind her and the gentleman in the car is calling 911. When she flies backwards she almost hits him, She gets the car in drive again and "BLAM"! Into the telephone pole again. I was moving towards the car and again the throws it in reverse. My next thought was "holy crap! She may hit me if she gets around the pole." At this point her engine finally dies and smoke is pouring out of the car and filling the interior. I walk up to the drivers side and see its a young girl around 18. Her air bag deployed and she is dazed and holding her phone.

"Are you ok?"
"Is it bad?"
"Yes, its pretty bad, Are you ok?"
"I think so. I need to call my Dad"
"Lets get out of the car and over to the side of the road"
I finally convinced her to get out and off to the side. The gentleman behind us came up and let us know he called 911.
At this point she started getting very wobbly. I put my shawl around her because I thought she may be shocky and we helped her to my truck. Sh started telling us she couldn't see. I started to get scared because she was so unsteady and she just stared off into space. I kept talking to her and she came around again was able to tell us her name. We stayed with her until fire rescue and the highway patrol arrived and got things under control. I think she'll be ok.

It amazes me how people think it was sweet of me to stay with her. I was doing what you are supposed to do. What I hope someone would do for me if I were in that situation.

On a lighter note, I went to knit night tonight and was able to see the new line of yarn of from Opal Yarns. Its called "Antonia" for Tyrolean pop singer Antonia (an avid knitter).
It has some great colorways, but what is hysterical about it are the picture of her on the labels in various undergarments she has knitted. Kelly refers to her as the "Polka Porn Star". Now I challenge to you to get the image of "polka porn" out of your mind! (Oom Papa Oompa...)

Wednesday, January 20, 2010

Wild Weather Wednesday

Today being payday and a day off for both Bob & I meant a trip to the $200 Store aka Costco. The weather was very blustery and we had to be careful to avoid tree branches and debris. When we got out of the truck and started walking to the entrance a gust of wind came up and ripped the broken trim on the tail gate and sent it flying about 20 feet. The wind was worse when we got out. We walked around the corner of the building and it hit us full force. Now I am not a "petite person" by a long shot and it almost knocked me off my feet. Bob and I struggled with our carts to the truck and then tried to balance on one foot, hold the shell open, load groceries and keep the carts from escaping. Who says we don't lead an adventurous life! After a stop at Babetta's to drop off our donation to the food bank (She collects canned good in the shop for the local food bank at the Lutheran Church at San Juan and Fair Oaks. I like it because I really feel like I am helping the people in my own neighborhood as they cover Carmichael, Fair Oaks and Citrus Heights) we headed home. A brief trip to the grocery store for the things we didn't need a year's supply of and then home to watch "Up" (I cried) and later to watch "The Hangover" (It better be as good as everyone says!) The weather seems to have calmed down a bit so we have a brief break until the next round hits.

Tuesday, January 19, 2010

Bob Broke the Truck

Bob (DING) did something (DING) to the truck (DING) yesterday (DING)It was (DING) working fine (DING) when I (DING) was driving, (DING) but somehow (DING) the alarm bell (DING) that sounds (DING) when (DING) the door (DING) is open (DING) and the truck (DING) is running (DING), or if the (DING) lights (DING) are on (DING) when the truck (DING) is off (DING) is stuck in (DING) the on position(DING)It can be a little (DING) annoying(DING). My solution (DING) is to turn up (DING) the radio. (DING) (Its not working well)

Monday, January 18, 2010

Another One Bites the Dust


Woo Hoo! Another UFO is finished! It only took me a year get around to knitting the 2nd sock! These are packaged up to be mailed to my Mother-In-Law, just because!

Yarn: Bernat Denim Style
Pattern: Cozy House Socks from One Skein Wonders

Saturday, January 16, 2010

Its Another Tequila Sunrise

Both Bob & I have been under the weather (he shared) but are feeling better now. Today I took it easy doing some laundry (so we don't have to be naked and scare the neighbors) and some knitting.

I managed to finish one of the many UFOs lying around the house. This one is not that old since I started it around Christmas. The pattern is Thuja and the yarn is Pattons SWS just like the January SKAL socks. These are for me. I love the color as they remind me of a tequila sunrise. Can't wait to wear them!

Sunday, January 10, 2010

January's Sock Is In The Books!




TADA! January's sock of the month, the Thuja, is in the books! Now I can work on some of the UFOs around here before casting on for the next sock on February 1. February's sock will be the "Pedicure Sock". Short month = short sock.

Mermaid or Whale

Someone posted this on Ravelry and I thought it was worth sharing

Recently, in a large city in France, a poster featuring a young, thin and tan woman appeared in the window of a gym.

It said, “This summer, do you want to be a mermaid or a whale?”

A middle-aged woman, whose physical characteristics did not match those of the woman on the poster, responded publicly to the question posed by the gym.

To Whom It May Concern:

Whales are always surrounded by friends (dolphins, sea lions, curious humans.) They have an active sex life, get pregnant and have adorable baby whales.

They play and swim in the seas, seeing wonderful places like Patagonia, the Bering Sea, and the coral reefs of Polynesia!

Whales are wonderful singers, and have even recorded CDs !

They are incredible creatures and have virtually no predators other than humans.

They are loved, protected and admired by almost everyone in the world.

And, To Whom It May Concern: Mermaids don’t exist.

If they did exist, they would be lining up outside the offices of Argentinean psycho-analysts due to identity crisis. Fish or human?

They don’t have a sex life because they kill men who get close to them, not to mention: how could they have sex?

Just look at them. Where is “it”?

Therefore, they don’t have kids either.

The choice is perfectly clear to me: I want to be a whale.

P.S. We are in an age when media puts into our heads the idea that only skinny people are beautiful. But I prefer to enjoy an ice cream with my kids, a good dinner with a man who makes me shiver, and a piece of chocolate with my friends !

With time, we gain weight because we accumulate so much information and wisdom in our heads that when there is no more room, it distributes to the rest of our bodies.

So we aren’t heavy, we are enormously cultured, educated and happy.

Beginning today, when I look at my butt in the mirror I will think, “Good grief, look how smart I am!”

Monday, January 4, 2010

Horoscope for 2010

This is supposedly my horoscope for 2010. Lets check back on this in a year and see how accurate things are. I guess I am concerned about the whole "Uranus" thing...

Shake Hands with Lady Luck
Have you always thought of yourself as a lucky person, Scorpio? No matter how lucky you've been in the past, 2010 is likely to be a very lucky year for you. You may not win the lottery or find the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow, but things will start happening for you. Astrologically, the reason for this would be the passage of Uranus, planet of luck, through Pisces, which is a Water Sign like Scorpio. Romance could come your way from an unexpected source. One more very pleasant surprise could appear in November, right before the holiday season. This could involve love, money, or a totally different department of life, but remember that getting out and enjoying life is vital if you want to generate luck.P

Sunday, January 3, 2010

Knitting Resolutions

Every year people make New Years Resolutions and I am joining that crowd with some knitting resolutions.

1. Since I have a bad habit of buying sock yarn and just admiring it, I am resolving to knit a pair of socks a month. This will be made easier by my having some of my On Line Smart Ass Yarn Hos join me in a knit along. Every month a different sock pattern. For January, we are starting of with an easy pattern, "Thuja" Its a worsted weight sock that knits up quickly. A little instant gratification for the start.

2. I am going to knit Bob a sweater. This will be my first attempt at an article of clothing that is fitted. I have already picked out a simple pattern, "Cobblestone" by Jarod Flood and have the yarn purchased.

3. I want to finish up a bunch of the UFOs that are lying around here. Maybe finishing one a month.

4. Send 12 hats to Christmas At Sea.

I think these are pretty reasonable goals and not too unatainable.

I have already started on #1 and should finish the first sock today.