Lunch Break

Today has been a really odd day. It started out with snow....that's right, snow. Big, beautiful, fluffy flakes drifting slowly down....only to melt on contact with the warm North Carolina ground. My home state is notorious for odd weather, but it really was quite pretty. I think this weather has put everyone in a rather quiet mood.

This past weekend was quiet, rainy and dreary.  Perfect for sitting around watching movies and working on the Starry Night Wrap. On a side note, if you get a chance, I strongly recommend the movie The Tourist, with Angelina Jolie and Johnny Depp.  It has several clever moments and a lovely twist.

This is actually a picture I took at lunch today.  I decided not to go anywhere, but eat at my desk and work on this.  Don't you just love the colors of the yarns?

Here's another picture of the yarn, up close and personal because that's how yarn is. I cannot get over how pretty this yarn is and the fact that I only paid $1.00 a skein. It's very lush looking.  It can be tricky to work with because it has a tendency to stick to things, but the final product will be well worth a little aggravation.

Here are some pictures of the actual motifs in the different colors.

I'm afraid I took these pictures with my phone, so they aren't the greatest, but you get the idea. It's moving along rather quickly.  I've already gotten two rows completed - see, told you it was a dreary weekend!  The thing that is going to take the longest is weaving in all those ends......Ugh!

Here's a quick question for everyone...How many of you go straight from one project to another?  How many of you have more than one project going at once?  I do both and was just curious to see if this is normal or just me.

Now I want to take a moment and thank everyone for their sweet  comments when I was in my little funk.  It's like I told a friend, I think it's just all this rainy weather coupled with the tragedies taking place all over the world.  I think we are all just feeling the World's pain.  I'm doing much better, but I do appreciate all the warm thoughts you sent my way.  I'm sure they are the source of the improvement in my mood.  

Well, my lunch break is over, so I better get back to work.  I hope everyone has a wonderful week!

New WIP

Hello Everyone!!  I hope you are all doing well!  That's my Mickey Mouse mug that my sister got for me filled with my latest obsession, Chai Tea.  Yummy!  This picture was taken at work, where you get a small glimpse at my messy desk.

I hope everyone has had a wonderful week. It's already Thursday, which means the weekend is almost here.  What do you have planned?  I think we are going to wing it and see what happens.

As the title implies, I've started a new project.  It's from Kristen Omdahl's book Crochet So Fine.  If you ever get a chance to, be sure to check it out.  She has some of the most beautiful designs and the ones in this book are all done with lighter weight yarn.

The one I'm working on is called the Starry Night Wrap.  I found this really pretty lace weight mohair like yarn at Big Lots for $1.00 a skein!  It's an acrylic yarn, but doesn't feel like it in that the yarn is sooo soft.  Here's a picture of the first few motifs. Unfortunately, you really can't see the colors in this picture, but I'm using two separate colors and alternating them.  We've had some rain, so the lighting was terrible.

Speaking of books...I met Tuesday night with my friend Dawn to share a little hooking time and met her friend Melanie.  I was in desperate need of some estrogen time (girl time) since I'm surrounded by males all the time.  We had a wonderful time and I think we might actually get Melanie to put down the needles for a little bit and turn her into a hooker like us :-) Anyway, back to my original point of books....Dawn purchased a new crochet book this week, sat down to look at all the pretty things and get inspired and realized that she already has this book!  Instead of taking it back to the store and getting her money back she brought it with her Tuesday night and gave it to me! It's Crochet Inspiration by Sasha Kagan and it contains a TON of eye candy.  Aren't I so lucky!  Isn't she so sweet?!? I can't express how thrilled I was to receive this!  I don't know how many of you are part of a knitting or crochet group, but I have to say, I'm really enjoying being the new kid with these ladies.  They are so sweet, hysterically funny and we speak the same language....we share a love for yarn porn and that's a wonderful thing.

Since my Sainted Mother's birthday has come and gone, I can finally show you what I was working on for her.  I was afraid to post anything earlier for fear she might pop in and see it - Yikes!  I would have hated to ruin the surprise! The pattern is Blue Curacao by Doris Chan and is in her Amazing Crochet Lace book. I used three different variegated yarns and if I do say so myself, it turned out beautifully!

Well, I think I'm all caught up in telling you what's been going on around here.  I'm off to see what the rest of you have been up to.  I hope you all have a wonderful week and get to enjoy your week-end!

Fabulous Frankie

Isn't that one of the sweetest pictures?  That's my Sainted Mother and her man Frank.  They are possibly two of my most favorite people in the world.  I've already mentioned (on several occasions) how wonderful my mom is, so it only stands to reason that she have a wonderful man.  This is their profile picture on facebook.  Mom has her half as her picture and Frank has his half as his.  Too cute!

Yesterday was my Sainted Mother's birthday.  I won't tell her age...that's just not done.  Besides, even if I did, you wouldn't believe me.  Let's just say it was a big one, so the Fabulous Frankie, my step daddy, went behind her back, contacted all of her closest and dear friends, and threw a surprise party for her.  And boy was she surprised!  He did such a wonderful job. Got the cake, picked out the menu for a sit down meal, picked out the wine...all of it.  Amazing!

My Mom and Dad were divorced a long time ago.  Like most kids, I was upset by the whole process, but I was old enough to recognize that their marriage wasn't healthy. I was asked once if I still wished that my parents were together and I said yes and no.  Yes because most children of divorced parents wished that their family was what it once was and no because I would really hate to have missed out on knowing this wonderful man who has made my mom so incredibly happy.

Look at that picture again.  Look at her smile....'Nuff said.  That's why he's fabulous.

The Dumps and Disappointment

For the most part, I'm a pretty cheerful person.  I detest being depressed and would rather laugh any day.  But, for whatever reason lately I find myself in the dumps.  I know part of it is due to a couple of disappointments I've suffered lately.  Disappointments are unavoidable and just a part of life.   But it doesn't take the sting out of them - The thing you  you were reaching for, but is going to remain out of reach through no fault of your own.  The people who are not what they seem or worse yet, not what you thought they were...Ouch.  But life moves on...Couple that with all the disasters around the world and the dreary weather we've been having and I've managed to come up with a good old fashioned case of the "Blahs."  The rain seems to be suiting my mood.  I just want to curl up under a blanket for a little bit and tell the world to go away.

The problem is that my life isn't suited for my mood.  I don't have time to wallow in the blahs. No self pity allowed here.  I have a job, two precocious cats, two very active boys and a wonderful husband, all of which require love and attention. They don't know how to react to me being "down in the dumps."  This means they make comments about me being grouchy or short on patience and they are right on both counts. I know this.  I don't need it pointed out to me. Trust me, I'm much harder on myself about this than they could ever be.  I've been telling myself it's time to put my big girl panties on and get over it, then something stupid happens and throws me right back to where I was - Blah

It will pass.  It always does, but I'm hoping all this will improve soon.  I'm taking tomorrow off from work.  Car Guy and I are spending Saint Patrick's Day with some wonderful friends.  We are going to celebrate a birthday boy (man) and toast him with green beer.  It's supposed to be a beautiful day, so hopefully this little mini break will give me a chance to "get it back together." And if not, then I will find a corner this weekend, my blanket, a cup of tea and have a good old fashioned cry.  Never underestimate a good old fashioned cry.

Smokey and Oreo

Occasionally, I get some cute pictures of my kitties.  Mostly of Oreo because evidently, Smokey is camera shy. But every once in a while, when they've had a little cat nip, I can get some cute pictures.  I apologize for the picture quality because these were take very quickly with my phone.

Most of you don't know this, but Oreo has a shoe fetish. He likes to lay on them, stick his head in them and generally be near them. And it doesn't matter if there are feet in them or not.....

He likes to nuzzle....

And cuddle....

wave hello.....

And generally be cute.....

All this arouses someone else's curiosity.



And allows me to get this....Hello Smokey!

So I'm guessing, and I've heard this is true, that his brother's funny behavior, mixed with a little nip (cat or otherwise), makes some people, umm...cats a little less inhibited.....

Wonderful, Dreary Weekend

Happy Monday Everyone!  I hope you all had a wonderful week-end.  I know I did.

It started out Friday evening by sitting in the bleachers at the High School to watch Number One Son play in the LaCrosse Game. Number Two Son was at a sleep over and missed out while My Sainted Mother, Car Guy and I froze our buns off.  It was freezing!  On top of that, I don't know anything about LaCrosse other than they throw the ball with these funny sticks with nets on the ends and they want to throw the ball into the goal at the other end of the field...that is my very simple view of the game. So you can imagine my surprise when I hear one mother complain that the other team's player had "penetrated the crease." What?!?! I found out that the crease was the circle that surrounds the goal and no one is allowed in the crease other than the goalie.  Whew! Glad we cleared that up!

Photo courtesy of Dawn's Blog

Saturday morning looked kind of gloomy, but was a wonderful day.  It started with me "getting my knit on" by meeting a new friend at Panera Bread, which is coffee shop/cafe.  I met Dawn at 9:00 am and we spent a couple of hours getting to know each other and teaching me some basic knitting stuff.  Dawn came in wearing the GREATEST tie died jeans. OH how I wish I'd had my camera and had taken a picture.  They were so fabulous! Dawn is an incredibly talented lady and I so enjoyed spending time with her.  You can check her out here.  She does beautiful work and her little snow people are too cute for words as you can see from the picture I pirated from her blog.  (I don't know all the legal jargon, but that picture is the property of Dawn's, is her creation and I am in no way claiming it as my own.  I think that covers it because I ain't no thief. )

After a morning of knitting, I rushed over to the craft store to get more yarn and some circular needles.  We'll see what kind of damage I can do with those after I finish my sweater.  Speaking of my sweater, I've been working on my knitting and I've just about completed the back.  Not too shabby if I do say so myself! (I will post pictures as soon as I take some!) One thing I did learn this weekend is that I knit like a lefty and since I'm self taught, for the most part, I thought that was pretty funny. Since I've only ever knitted two scarves I don't know if this will cause problems with patterns or not.  I guess we'll find out soon enough.

Saturday afternoon, Car Guy, Number One Son and I went over to my friend Sue's house so that Car Guy could help them try to fix a problem with their son's car.  We had a wonderful lunch of Tortilla soup.  I've never had it before, but it was YUMMY!  Some chicken, peppers, avocados, tomatoes, lots of spices all served over tortilla chips and cheese. It was a wonderful treat.


Saturday night we went to our friends' house for going away party for their son, who left this morning for Texas for Air Force basic training.  I know it's a bitter sweet moment for them as they are very proud of their son, but will miss him terribly. We wish him the best of luck

Sunday morning we woke to pouring rain and flash flood warnings in the low lying areas.  We got dressed and the whole family went to the Oakcrest Family Restaurant for brunch. After brunch, we went home, I got my  list together and headed to the grocery.  I have to say that grocery shopping on a rainy day is no fun.  But I got all my shopping done, went home, made some home made, baked macaroni and cheese...Yum!  It's the perfect meal on a yucky day. Then we settled in to watch The Real Housewives of Orange County marathon that led up to the season premier.  I swear, that show is like watching a train wreck. You just can't turn away.  I have to admit that after watching all that drama, I feel pretty good about my life, my friends and family! At last check, I don't think I have a knife protruding out of my back but I have a pretty good idea that those ladies would cram one in rather quickly if it would benefit them in some way! With friend like that, who needs enemies!

Well, that was my weekend.  I hope everyone has a wonderful Monday!  I'm off to see what you've all been up to!

Show and Tell Time!!

Andrea's Paper Pine Cone

In case some of you haven't figured out, I LOVE to laugh.  I think laughter is one of the most WONDERFUL activities in the world.  And a good, almost pee yourself, can't get enough air, tears streaming down your face laugh is the BEST. And every once in a while I find someone who does this for me.  Car Guy is one of those people.  He comes up with stuff that cracks me up and I never know when he's going to roll out these little gems of his.

Well, for March's Pay it Forward, I wanted to share someone else who makes me laugh like this and I don't have to cook for her, clean her house, help with the mortgage payment or sleep with her for that matter....sorry, TMI.  Her name is Andrea and she is The Creative Junkie.  A friend suggested her blog to me and anytime I need a good laugh, I go visit.  I've never personally met Andrea, but her snarky, sarcastic, biting humor is wonderful.  Fair warning, in her own words, she's "prone to letting an expletive or two fly." so if you are the least bit sensitive to four letter words, don't go visit. As I'm not easily offended (because I live with a bunch of guys) I didn't notice until I read a section out loud...oops! Her blog is not a craft blog, despite the name - although she did blog about the beautiful Pine Cone that she made (pictured above). She hits just about every topic in the world and is just as random as I am. She even shared her great wisdom with  What's She's Learned About Facebook. That Facebook post was the first one of her's that I ever read, and I literally did just about pee myself.

So go check her out, say hi and have a good laugh because we all need a good laugh!