Home again

After driving all day, we are back in our own home. It was a sad thing to leave a sunshiney Nova Scotia early this morning, the golden sun gilding the grass and trees. The good weather stayed with us for the whole trip and while its wasn't sunny the entire time, it was quite bright and clear with excellent roads.
First order of business upon pulling into the ice rink that is the driveway was to race (cautiously) for the door and cuddle my Newnie. Newman relaxed in my arms for several minutes, purring forgivingly while I crooned and scratched all his favorite spots. The other pets were unimpressed with our return, though I think Blossom would have been glad had she heard us. She's getting pretty deaf.
Now the guys are on the sofa laughing at a Cirque Du Soleil performance on TV, I am online, and Newnie is terrorizing Flash and Miss Kitty.
Its good to be home.

Monday from NS

HI! We are in Nova Scotia and while lovin' it (LOVIN' IT!), there are small things that are annoying. Like, why is so much of the beer selection in CANS? Eeeeww. That and I can't buy my beer at the grocery store, but in a store adjacent to the grocery store and y'all know how lazy I am.
I made a quick trip to Tangled Skeins today (yarn shop in Dartmouth) because I lost a 4.5 mm DPN. Seriously, I was heartbroken to require a trip to a yarn shop. I wept! REal tears! Ok...not foolin' anyone....
Lovely yarn lady there not only sold me my needles (Brittany 4.5 mm dpns) but also sold me 8 ( EIGHT) skeins of Warani in my favourite colour which I didn't buy when it was available in Montreal (colour: clover...a lovely green) and now its not available in Montreal and I has regrets. Not only that, but because she's havin' a sale this weekend, she sold it to me at the sale price of half off. Oh yes I did score 8 balls for the price o'four! Uh huh...thats right...yeah baby! I have plans too...it will be the body of a 3/4 length sleeved patterned yoke sweater for yours truly. I will coordinate the yoke colours from available Warani in Montreal. In my head its beautiful (and I am thin...).
We are now in our rented accomadations here in the NS. A cozy farm house in Pine Grove.
I am very happy and have maybe had a bit too much vodka too fast...but i am lovin' it.

Hugs All!!!!!

Hmmm......

You Should Be a Doctor

You are practical, sharp, and very intuitive. Optimistic and energetic, you are a problem solver who doesn't get discouraged easily. You are also quite compassionate and caring. You make people feel hopeful. You're highly adaptable and capable. You do well with almost any curve ball life throws at you. You do best when you: - Are always learning new subjects - Use your knowledge to solve problems You would also be a good therapist or detective.

What Should You Be When You Grow Up?

One week later........

Snowmageddon is on its way to Ontary-ario, snow is headed here come Sunday , I am headed east come Midnight. HA! Take that winter.
Can you believe the snow that hit Las Vegas! Holy Frak. I feel their pain I totally do although for Nevada folk it might be a fun novelty.
Newman was to the vet today for shots, poo examination, and to get some sores checked out. What we put down as cat acne appears to be a fungal infection and now with a new ointment (Surolan) to torture him with, twice a day, on any and all boo boos we find on him (face, foot, and possibly belly so far). NOT NICE, man. Poor guy and now we be leaving him to the tender mercies of the pet sitters who come a few times a day to care for the house and fur children.
Knitting: Finished Dad's hat and it was too big and I had to shrink it. Another good thing about wool: shrinkability. HA! Casted on a scarf and frogged it. Casted on last pair of mittens and had to frog them too. Need to finish the thumbs on Dad's mittens (Procrastination, thy name is Me).
We are so excited to head out tonight. I hope everyone who visits here has a wonderful holiday season, no matter how its is celebrated (or not celebrated). May you all have joy in your lives.

Winter Frustration.

Its been a bitch of a day. Its not even the middle of December and we are already into the white for good and I honestly don't know if I can handle another winter here with any semblence of grace, aplomb, or even sanity.
Lets take into consideration the fact that its the busy time of year at work for Hman and he is not around much to do manly things like snowblower the drive way. And he doesn't do a very good job anyways.
I had my first incident of being stuck in my driveway for the 2008-2009 winter. Why yes I did flip out, thank you for asking. I coulda gotten out but at the last second a #$%^^$%ing van came down my street and I had to hit my brakes. This meant that my momentum could not carry me through the snow that the plow has set at the end of my drive ONCE AGAIN. We are on a corner so not only do I get the snow from my street but the snow from around the corner as well. The neighbor tried to help me out but my suck ass winter tires had NO traction. He took my kid to school for which I thanked him while I started shovelling to free my stuck car. then i freed said car, parked on the street to clear the drive and another #$%^&ing plow came around the corner and filled in the end of the drive even worse than it had been before I cleared it. Thats when I started to cry. And swear more visciously and contemplate plane fare outta here. And cry more.
Yes. I stood in the fucking street with my snow scoop (because SOMEONE does not trust me to operate the blower) and I cried my heart out hopelessly. Because this is just the beginning. I have 5 months of this to look forward to. I cried while I scooped. I cried as I shovelled. I cried as I gave it up and went grocery shopping. I think I was pretty much done by the time I entered the Maxi. Hard to tell.
I think I deserve some liquor. And lots and lots of chocolate.

My Eyes Hurt

For two days I have been watching every episode of True Blood on the internet, with and without Chinese subtitles (stupid Blockbuster doesn't have the DVDs otherwise I could have watched it with much more comfort. Stupid Blockbuster. How could they NOT HAVE IT.
Sometimes I couldn't get full screen and had to strain my eyes with a wee little window to get my fix. I started in the morning and watched as much as I could all day. Did you know that some websites limit your free video watching and cut you off for an hour!!!? Bastards.
I'm hooked. Hooked I tell ya. 12 episodes in two days...my eyes hurt. And yet I crave MORE!!!!! MORE MORE MORE.
I "heart" Bill and Sam. I wish I had a hot vampire and a hot shape shifter fighting over me.
Is Sam leaving town? Will Bill and Sookie stay together? Will Tara pull her head out of her ass and stop yelling at everyone? Is Lafayette DEAD?? (please no please no please no no no)
I swear this is the best TV I have ever had. If Santa saw his way clear to putting Season One under the tree for me I would really be happy.
Down side of watching approximatly 11 hours of True Blood is that I started talking with a Southern accent but accident.

Best. Knit night. EVAH !!

Last Saturday my knitting friend Geeta and I pledged to attend Knit Night this evening in order to celebrate our mutual birthdays. Her's was the 3rd and mine is the 8th.
Tonight was that night. Lots of lovely knitter friends came to knit night to help us celebrate! I want to take this moment to say THANK YOU ALL! Its was lovely to share time with everyone and knit together (and nosh together and sip wine together....).
Ginette our mostest hostess provided wine and tortiere and quiche and a birthday cake that I had to forego because Hman had arrived to pick me up (see wine sipping comments above for why I didn't drive) and was NOT willing to park and come in since he had an extra kidlet with him (Ben had a sleep over friend). I'll get my slice tomorrow at work ( I HOPE!!). It looked sensational.
Geeta and I each had a gift for the other but hers totally blew mine out of the water. TOTALLY. We'd all planned to have a Noro Scarf KAL in January after all the Xmas fuss was over and we could selfishly knit for ourselves. Turns out that my Bombay Baby ( I know, I know... its Mumbai now) knit me the scarf. It was her plan all along and she was surprised to see me at the shop one evening in November picking out my yarn for the scarf. So she and Ginette kept it a secret and I have the most kick ass scarf ever (especially since I didn't have to knit it...scarves are way tedious but this one is soooo niiice). The Noro Silk Garden yarn is way softer than I thought it would knit it up to be and she used the yarn colours I had picked out. HA! She got me big time! I was totally floored.
Dana, my pet and darling, she surprised me with an adorable little tin and my knee jerk reaction was to open it even though it was empty...NOT. What I thought was a cute empty tin was actually a tin with a gift card inside. SWEET! Now I can get the CD I want without guilt. Yes!
My pal and travelling companion to Rhinebeck, Janet also surprised me as I was leaving with a fantastic knitting book, Handknit Holidays by Melanie Fralick and its perfect for me. I have been close to buying it several times and have found patterns I admired only to discover that they were in this book which I didn't have. Now I do!!!
I am so spoiled. Great friends. Lovely thoughtful gifts. I am so very very blessed. Thank you.

Pictures will be added asap of the luverly gifts.

Colbert's "Nailed 'Em"

Funny knitting terrorism

Go to clip 2 of 4 from december 3rd.

Knitting and where I work

Since I had the camera out, I decided to play a little catch up with taking pictures of my little world.
What you see here is my Xmas knitting both finished and in progress (thrummed mitts and Vermont Hat for my dad are in progress), the LYS where I do time, and my wacky adorable "boss" Ginette. Hman brought the floor lamp from his office home and now I have a new knitting spot closer to my stash and out of the way of everyone (remarks were made about the yarn and sticks taking over the house).

Here we go: Newman

Unlike his namesake, my Newman is very difficult to photograph because he doesn't keep still long enough. Basically I ended up with a lot of ass shots because he moves pretty quick.
He looks like a dirty white cat right now but thats his colour coming in. By age two he'll be fully coloured. Wherever he looks dingey and dirty on the white is where the blue grey will be.
Even dirty looking he's adorable and as you can see by our cuddle, a true Ragdoll fur baby.

I want these mittens

Hippocampus Mittens
Just looking at them makes me WANT them more. To that effect I brought home yarny goodness in the forms of Noro Kureyon sock yarn and Malabrigo sock yarn for them. When I have time. After the Xmas knitting. If I knit hard and long I could be casting on these babies on the weekend.

But what are the chances of THAT? I'll settle for this being my travel knitting when we go away for Xmas.
I took pictures of Newman this morning as well as of my boring old knitting. Will post them soon.

A Quote My Sister Emailed To Me

"Whatever you give a woman, she will make greater. If you give her sperm, she'll give you a baby. If you give her a house, she'll give you a home. If you give her groceries, she'll give you a meal. If you give her a smile, she'll give you her heart. She multiplies and enlarges what is given to her. So, if you give her any crap, be ready to receive a ton of shit.”

Its funny cuz its true.

He's here!

Newman came home to us last night and is totally freaked by the whole situation. Its getting better though and he is lovely. He misses all his kitty peeps though and being in a house is a new experience...eeek furniture and people and loudness!

Pictures soon!

A hiccup in the plans

Newman can't come home this Friday after all due to needing some shots first for Feline Leukemia protection. This means he will be almost 6 months old when he can finally come home at the end of December after we get back from our Christmas trip, which was the original plan...but now its disappointing.

Health and well being come first though.

Meet Newman

For awhile now, something has been missing in my life. Something cuddly...soft..feline..

I have been without a fur baby. Monkey has been gone for over a year and that void has just not filled in at all. Miss Kitty and Flash are great cats, don't get me wrong. they are very furry and demanding but NEVER actually cuddly. They will lay on you or beside you but heaven help ya if you try to snuggle.

I met Marie Michele's maine Coon cats this past week and that episode, coupled with Jessie's getting her own fur baby of the Canine variety 3 weeks ago, set me to pining for my own hunka hunka furry love.

Now, being a family with bills and kids etc etc etc made the idea of a pure bred pet just silly and extravagant but after talking with Audrey and Teri Lynn about Rag Dolls I looked them up and lost my shit. These are the lovin'est cats there are and not teeny feather weights either. I started showing pictures and video to the Hman and he humoured me but told me to get real. This is where the plot thickens.

Yesterday that man contacted a Rag Doll breeder in the Eastern Townships wondering if she had any particularly coloured/marked ones available (blue lynx markings) with which he could shock and awe his beloved with come Xmas. Her reply, mistakenly sent to my email address where I then SAW it was in the affirmative. That was it for the surprise. Today we went to JoyMagic Ragdolls ( http://www.joymagicragdolls.com/index.html ) and met our 4 plus month old fur baby and all his relatives.

Meet Newman. He's named after the late Paul Newman of the electric blue sexy eyes. He comes home to us on Friday. I'm ...so...excited!!!!!!

Mildly Obsessive.

I have been thinking kittens since yeaterday. BIG kittens like Maine Coons or Rag Dolls. I know I know...I have 2 cats already why do I want more?

Thats a silly question. There are never too many cats. I was up to 4 kittehs before we moved here to the Qc and that move brought 3 here (Georgie got very very sick and had to be put down before the move). Then we lost Freckles. Got Monkey. Lost Monkey last year. I have had no kitteh luv in over a year. Miss Kitty and Flash are not luvverwuvvers. They are demanding in the "Give me my Greenies" and "Time to scratch my ears" department but don't even consider giving one a hug or snorgle. I wants a new fur baby. I'd have a hundred but Hman doesn't want to be known as The Cat Lady's Husband.

I had a dream this morning before the alarm went off. I was in a bed and pinning down the covers were TWO huge fluffy cats. One was brown tabby, long haired and up by my back but the one that was spawled along the backs of my legs kneading and purring up a storm was a silvery grey and white giant with blue blue eyes.

A big Rag Doll, now that I research. Possibly a Blue Lynx Rag Doll.

Wednesday

The knitting tedium continues with the sample swatch making. To make myself sit still and knit little squares or rectangles of truly luscious yarns, I have been listening to audio books. Right now Stephen King's Duma Key is rocking my audio book world. Its nice an LOOOONNNG too. The reader is excellent and delivers the humourous lines with a dead pan that makes them even funnier. The main character has a life altering accident with major head trauma that makes it hard for him to remember names and words. Some of his brain's substitutions make for some great nonsense phrasing "Sit on the buddy you dump birch!!" that are read with the emotion required which makes it even funnier. I think I may go to Hell for finding brain damage somewhat hilarious in this instance. The creepiness is just starting to warm up though.

I was a King fan way back when he wrote good stories. Carrie was my first foray and I think I was still in elementary school when I first read it. Then I think Cujo was next. The first half of IT scared me silly but the second half sucked. I remember finding King's cameo in the movie version of Sleepwalkers as ridiculously funny. Misery was and excellent read as was Delores Clayborn. There are more I thoroughly enjoyed but I can't remember.
The man has HUGE comedic talent mixed in with the creepy and I sincerely enjoy it. Some of his later books have been kinda dull for me and I stopped reading him. Duma Key so far has me rivetted and was recommended by my friend Geeta. Thats the only reason why I picked it up at the library.

Today in knitting ,though, I am setting the samples aside to finish Cameron's flip topped Instant Mittens. Its cold up here! Its not going to climb above 0 Celcius this week and my baby's hands need cozies. Once the mitts are done I can finish up the 3 remaining samples for Saturday. then I'm free to continue the Xmas knits. I got a great blue Lett Lopi (itchy itchy but warm) for the blue Instant Mitts and I finally have a turquoise for the last pair. Also gotta finish Dad's mittens. Make a hat or two and I am thinking of a couple last minute knit toys for babies.

Gonna need more audiobooks....

Maybe its YOU

Because this quiz says I'M NORMAL dammit!

You Are 60% Normal

Otherwise known as the normal amount of normal You're like most people most of the time But you've got those quirks that make you endearing You're unique, yes... but not frighteningly so!

How Normal Are You?

Nov 14

I am so lazy today. After the kids went to school I went back to bed until after 11. Aaaahhh it was good. So far no walking or house work or anything. I am a lazy ass and I will not feel guilty. Much. Ok I feel guilty. BUT in my favour? Hman took a day to work at home, getting the tires put on my car for winter (plus a new tie rod...doh!) and now has gone to the movies to commune with his inner Bond...James Bond.

Cameron will be sleeping over at his buddy's house tonight. Its so weird that they are at that age of sleep overs, Cameron more so than Benoit. Ben has school friends and his social skills are getting better, but that hasn't directly translated to regular socialising outside of school. He has asked a couple of buddies over this weekend to play but so far one can't due to family obligations and we aren't sure about the other. I hope he can because it will make Ben so happy. We got a brochure for secondary schools from school and thats kinda freaking me out too. 2010 will see Ben enter Secondary One (7th grade) and attend a new school. Here, unlike anywhere else I have lived, a family is given choices of what school to send their kids to rather than just going to the one for that district. there are schools with intensive programs based on sports or the arts. In these programs the students cram a school years worth of curriculum into a shorter time span and then the rest of the school time is devoted to the specialty of the program such as music, skiing, hockey, football, or what have you. It takes a hard working student to succeed in these programs and to handle to pressure of the school work and also the elementary school has to recomment the student is up to it or not. I don't think we will be looking into any of these with Ben's difficulties. I have one I am most interested in seeing Ben attend but its not just up to us.

Tonight I will be going to Effiloche. I've been knitting yarn sample swatches for various luxury yarns in the shop. So far I think my favorite has been a merino silk blend by Mirasol. Got gauge with no problem and it whipped up super quick on 4 mm needles. I have 3 swatches finished and I think in all it took 3 1/2 to 4 hours. The Rowan yarn took longest because its tiny and I didn't get gauge and had to start over with larger needles. Bleah. Nice yarn but TOO TINY for me.
Anyways...look how dull we are today! Boring boring boring. ;oP

Thursday

Yesterday I weighed in at 207.8 lbs. I have walked 4 times this week, every day but Tuesday because I was at work for 9 1/2 hours ON MY FEET. Fuggedaboudit.
I have been strong. Hear me roar.

No witty title ideas today

My brain has no wittiness this morning. I'm sorry. :oD
Yesterday I worked from 10 til 7:30 which meant I didn't get home for supper until after 8 pm so this also means that there was nightime eating. I will not feel guilty because I was super good all day.
Today I will endeavor to drag my tired bones out on a walk. Being on ones feet for the majority of 9 hours is hard on the hips and legs with this weight. I am wondering whether to take Blossom or not after Monday's scare. I seriously thought she was strokin' out on us! I have been dosing her with 100 mgs of ibuprofen at bed time as well as a glucosamine+ chondroiton supplement. She has the G+C in her seniors dog food but some more can't hurt. The ibuprofen at night is REALLY helping though. She is sleeping much better (less pacing and shifting abrubtly due to sudden pains(we think)). I slept on the sofa part of the night and I swear she barely moved and this morning she was so frisky trotting around and NO stairs trouble!!! Yay Blossom!! Maybe a 40 minute walk would be pushing it? She really likes it though and its good for both of us.

Dad's Thrummed Mittens: I am on mitten number two though #1 is still thumbless. I like to do the thumbs after the pair is made.

I have to set aside the xmas knits though because the shop needs sample swatches for several yarns. Great work if you can get it. Baby Suri alpaca and silk anyone? Laceweight 50/50 merino and tussah? Noro? Manos Del Uruguay? Rowan? Misti? hee hee I will squeeze as much in as I can between laundry etc. My house has exploded into grossness once again. How does this happen?? I mopped on Friday...you would NEVER know that floor had been mopped this month let alone this week. The ousides of my windows are dingy as can be and I really want them cleaned before snow sets in. Trouble is, I can't reach them!!! Oh well.

My weekend Saturday shifts may be starting on the 22nd for the Christmas yarn rush. Yes, there is such a thing.

Fun Stuff: The house we are renting for Xmas vacation has a hot tub. What does it say about me that when I hear "hot tub" I like to do a James Brown scream and ask if will "make me sweateh" and "rub a dub in da hot tub"? Thank you Eddie Murphy from the depths of my soul for this enduring image (20 years??). For a few short days I get to host my own Celebrity Hot Tub Party.

One week

I weighed in last week and started again. This week I weighed in again. 209.6!
I walked yesterday and today and will attempt to do so daily. Seems to be too much for Blossom though. Poor ol' girl. Today she had an adverse reaction after we got back. Her hindquarters have never been quite right since she was spayed when we got her from the shelter and today they REALLY acted up...shaking, collapsing, and she was staggering drunkenly and falling over. This was AFTER the walk not during. I am keeping an eye on her now and watching for improvement. If none, then its off to the vet we go.

Monday Monday and the joy of Pigs

Its is the morning and I have had my first cup. So. Good. Today. Isn't it funny how some days you can be all "meh" about your morning joe and other days its "oh sweetly bitter nectar of the Gods revive me now I love you so". Maybe its just me.

I don't know why but lately I have been pining for the country. As in rural life not pining for MY country even though we are governed by an android.

Yes I have missed living on the land but more so lately. Don't get me wrong...the 'burbs are grand for those that love them but I don't so much and feel like I am just putting in time until I am back in the dirt fo' reals.

I already know that I will have a pig. Debating the breed of the sow ( Probably Hampshire or Berkshire) but she will not be for the freezer as other pigs have been. She will be for producing pigs for the freezer but she will stay as a not quite pet. Pigs are awesome. Yeah their poops stink but so do ours! They are excellent animals for helping with some chores like clearing land or turning a manure pile or just taking a break and scratching behind someone's ears for a bit. They are always up for that. I enjoyed our pigs when we had them (except the mean ones that time) and felt sad when having them prepared for the freezer. Fascinating animals, pigs.

Let's see.... what else? Hman is not feeling well and as we speak is on the sofa dozing when usually he is rumbling around getting ready to go to work. The side of his left foot is numb..as in very little feeling and a bit pins and needlesy. Odd. Can one have carpal tunnel of the foot?

Tomorrow is Remembrance Day. Hug a veteran.

Saturday..not in the park...

Its a chill rainy day...dark and dismal. Lots of TV and videogaming going on here by the guys. Hman is away to a funeral. I knit awhile on my Da's mittens (halfway through first mitt after 3 false starts). My left hand is complaianing though. The lowest joint in my thumb, just above that fat part of the hand, is very sensitive lately. To touch at it is to feel discomfort if not a flare of pain. The rest of the hand is showing the signs of Carpal Tunnel that was diagnosed as in its early stages 4 years ago when my Right hand was requiring surgery. Piss me off.
I binged a bit last night after knit night. Was just so munchy and the first sensible snack led to less sesible snacking. Oh well.
I am going to make a playlist for my iPod with peppy tunes for when I can get my ass in gear and move it (walking).


In happy knitting news, I set aside seven skeins of yarn at the shop last night for the creation of a patterned yoke cardigan sweater for my Mom, who has been taken off the xmas knits list. Instead, I will give her a nice card with the sweater promise inside. It will take a couple of months if I stay faithful...longer if I stray into other knitted territory. Thank gods she's such a tiny ol' lady. Medium sized will be plenty big. Isn't it weird that such a fat person (moi) came from such a tiny ol' lady? Mom never got terribly large. I think at her heaviest she got to a size 14 and size 14's were smaller then. I miss size 14...le sigh.

The colours are dusty rose for the main body since she wants a plain pink cardigan, and the yoke and other accents are done in ecru for the funky accent and work up through dark grey, dusty blue, pale blue, and pale pink for a subtle striping. Based on Elizabeth Zimmermann's pattern and percentage system and inspired by the sweater in this picture above, which was also based on The EZ pattern.

Its going to be made in Nashua's Creative Focus Superwash wool so that it's machine washable. The yarn is not especially sofy but it can soften up with wash and wear and will be excellent as an everyday cozy sweater. The collar will be a simple rounded collar, not a turtleneck because its going to be a cardi not a pull over and my Mom hates tnecks with a passion. Why suckh a fancy sweater when she has stated the desire for a plain pink cardi? There wasn't enough pink for the whole sweater and none of the other pinks were a Mom pink. This sweater may look super hard and fancy but in actuality it will be very simple. I get to play with colour again, work my first yoke style sweater, and do my first ever STEEKING!!! For those who know not of what I speak..steeking is a technique that freaks most knitters out because its the actual cutting into a garment with scissors to creat an opening like armholes or in this case, cutting the sweater right up the cfront to turn a pullover into a cardigan. Ooooooohhhh...the fear. Smell it! I'll need to cue up Jully Black's "Dj Play My Song" to work myself up to it (I change the lyrics to be about steeking rather than 'freaking').

This could either be the most lovely sweater I have ever made or well thought out and executed DISASTER. Tune in sometime in the new year for the outcome.

Day 3

So far so good. I appear to have lost some bloat weight even though I haven't been drinking as much as I should.

So Far:

2 coffees with Splenda and evap.
Oatmeal with applesauce and brown sugar.
Vanilla yogurt with granola and dried crans.

Morning weigh in: 210 lbs

YES!!!

I am really happy Obama won the American election. This is a radical move for America that I think has been long over due. He has the energy and vision the world needs in a leader of a super power. He is so unlike any other country's top official! This is not just a great day for America but also for the world that America takes part in. Change is good.
I am jealous we didn't get the change we needed in our election last month, but thats a whole nother subject.
Go 'bama! Go 'bama!! Whoot whoot!!!

Monday November 3rd, 2008

I weighed myself today. It ain't pretty.

Remember back in March I was all "gonna do it this time!!!", and then I didn't? Yeah. Its come back to bite me in the ass again.
3 of my knit friends are at various stages of the weightloss/getting into shape game and I have been resisting when they encourage me to do the same. Not actually resisting but thinking about starting again is so daunting...y'know what I mean? You get in your fat lazy rut and it gets comfy. Its easy. I am not made for hard. Hard makes me need pills or ice cream. Its just how I am wired.

My sister has met her 10% off goal and I am so f%^$#ing proud of her. It was very difficult for her because as a kid and younger woman, she didn't have any weight problems and so had no idea really how to deal with the weight gains that poor eating habits and age and thyroid dysfunction threw at her. Now she has the tools and she is building herself a healthier happier lifestyle and that is terriffic.

My niece inspires me because she went from low to no activity to running 10Ks and playing hockey in less than a year. She began with visiting a Curves...then trying the Couch to 5K program and having running friends. Now there is no holding her back.

Ginette has taken it to a whole nother level that may be bordering on obsessive but she is HAPPY and thats what matters in the long run. She also looks amazing and can run 10K in a hour and very little sugar passes her lips nowadays. Wow. That is strong.

Dana took daunting numbers and has made them smaller, quietly with little fanfare. She is doing it bit by bit one week at a time and though she doesn't say much about it, its showing.

Tara...if anyone didn't NEED to lose its her, but she was seeing the ravages of children and age and gravity and she is having NONE of it. She makes me laugh because she is basically the anti-Me. She's so capable she's a little scary and its a GOOD thing. You go girl. You will be the foxiest lady in the seniors home in 60 years, fo sho, because to be other than your best is simply not on. You rock.


Its depressing to think of myself as less capable...less strong...less determined...simply LESS. Very hard. Am I? Intellectually I would have to say NO. I am just as : strong, smart, capable etc etc. But emotionally, where the self esteem lives, its a wee voice squeaking out a tiny "yes" and for some reason thats LOUDER and more believable than any amount of self promotion my ego may drum up.


SO. I am bending down and grabbing my bootstraps once again. Again. Just thinking about it makes me feel tired/sad/ugly/fat/pissed off/needing of more Paxil. But I am going to try it. Again.

Today is another weight loss DAY ONE. Wouldn't it be nice if it was my last?

Weight in Lbs: 212.0
Inspirations: Dana, Ginette, Tara, Wanda, Teri-Lynn. I love you all and am crazy proud of you all for taking control.

5 Minute Cake

My sister Wanda sent me a cake recipe that you bake in the microwave using a coffee mug as the pan. I was skeptical! I thought "Girlfriend has lost her mind sending this out...no way this works!!"

Then I Googled it. It does work. Its not very GOOD cake but if you are in the throes of chocolate deficiency or having a comfort chocolate seizure of some sort, it will fill the bill. I tried it out on Thursday night in my usual slap dash cooking methods (wherein I don't actually measure things but eyeball it and call it GOOD...Like God, non?). I mixed it in a separate bowl and I also oil sprayed my mug.
The result was definitely chocolate cakelike but the texture leaves a lot to be desired...somewhere between brownie and chocolate elastic bands. Like I said, if you are in the throes and willing to eat unsweetened baking chocolate to make it through, this is the recipe for YOU!

The recipe as I recieved it:



5 MINUTE CHOCOLATE MUG CAKE

4 tablespoons flour
4 tablespoons sugar
2 tablespoons cocoa
1 egg
3 tablespoons milk
3 tablespoons oil
3 tablespoons chocolate chips (optional)
a small splash of vanilla extract
1 large coffee mug

Add dry ingredients to mug, and mix well. Add the egg and mix
thoroughly. Pour in the milk and oil and mix well. Add the chocolate
chips (if using) and vanilla extract, and mix again. Put your mug in
the microwave and cook for 3 minutes at 1000 watts. The cake will
rise over the top of the mug, but don't be alarmed! Allow to cool a
little, and tip out onto a plate if desired. EAT! (this can serve 2
if you want to feel slightly more virtuous). And why is this the most
dangerous cake recipe in the world? Because now we are all only 5
minutes away from chocolate cake at any time of the day or night!

Interesting!!

Felted Dryer Balls to combat static cling in your dryer.
For the DIY instructions go to Casa Sugar http://casasugar.com/1807230



Super easy and cheaps and better for the environment than PVC plastic varieties.

Twas the night before Halloween......

....and all through my house are wee bits of pumpkin from two carving maniacs.

Yes we finally got those orange beasts carved. All I did was open the tops and use skewers to attach the parts they asked me to when all else was done...the boys did the rest themselves with no injuries....gutting the gourds, and carving the faces. They are happy with their work and I am proud of them for getting the job done. YAY BOYS! I don't know why but I love the smell of pumpkin at carving time.
I have devised a wicked cool beard and moustache for Ben and he's going to be "Firebeard" the pirate because of the colouring of his facial hair. Cool name eh? I used some of my Spring Chicken colourway roving from Pamplemousse en Caoutchouc ( http://pamplemoussecaoutchouc.wordpress.com/ dyers of lovely spinning fiber)to make them and the little bit of yellow and red look really cool. I also took Itzel's ( a Montreal Knits friend) advice and got spirit gum to glue the beard and moustache in place. She said the eyelash glue I'd bought wouldn't work. Boo hoo.
Still no scythe for Cameron so guess what I will be creating tomorrow for my l'il Grim Reaper? I have a rake handle and will be cutting cardboard and duct taping like a mad woman I am sure.
Who says Halloween is just for the kids, hmm?

Disgusting Thieves

Its getting to me how artists can't even promote their trade without getting ripped off. Remember how Iggy Pop and his band came to Montreal and got robbed of their equipment and instruments, some custom made particularly to accomodate the physical challenges of the musician?

Thieves strike again. I paste here the email sent out to Montreal Knits on our email list:

This past Monday I had a visitor from Vermont staying with me—she was
not any ordinary tourist, she is Beth-Brown-Reinsel — one of the
knitting community's A-list teachers and historians with a specialty
in Gansey sweaters--- how they evolved and how to make them. She was
here teaching a workshop on Ganseys and another on Latvian Mitts for
the Montreal Knitting Guild. Her suitcase containing all of her
workshop samples and reference books (some out-of-print) was stolen
from the trunk of my car while I was giving her a tour of our fair
(?) city—a city she was so excited to be finally visiting.

I need the public in general (not just knitters) to keep a lookout
for this black suitcase containing 5-6 sweaters (some adult, some
children), ornately knit Latvian mitts, approximately 20 mini sample
sweaters which represent all the workshops she teaches, a pair of
Scottish Sanquhar gloves, a multi-coloured tote bag-the one from
Interweave, three books on Latvian mittens, and other items we may
have forgotten to list. On our tour we visited the Old Port, stopped
briefly by the McCord museum near McGill, then up to St. Denis and
Duluth (Plateau area) to meet up with friends. I would ask people who
live in these areas to pay special attention as there is the chance
whoever took the suitcase will dump it once they realize there was no
street value to what they stole.

That is not to say these items are of no value. They are actually of
tremendous intrinsic value to those of us who understand what it is
like to knit something from one's own hands and have it worn by your
family; the value of a research book which records historical data
but is now, sadly, out-of-print and from another country far away,
making it that much harder to find a second-hand copy; handknit items
illustrating specific historical and cultural techniques which have
been personal gifts and mementos from travels afar. And from a
teaching perspective there is nothing like having something tangible
to pass around the class that the students can touch and view
intimately for details which may not be caught in photographs. We
all know knitters are "touchy-feely" people.

Should the knitting gods be merciful and someone does come across the
suitcase please take it to a local police station, or if unsure where
the nearest station is, flag down a police car and give it to them.
There is a police report on file and they will contact the
appropriate person to retrieve the suitcase. And if not for the love
of knitting and doing what's right, then do it for the financial
reward which I am posting. Just leave your name and contact info
with the police so I can send it to you (the finder of the suitcase).

And for all the knitters in our community, please support Beth by
buying her book and patterns so she can fund the replacements for her
workshops—she is at knittingtraditions.com and on the patternfish
website.

And M, if you are still part of this group, any chance you can
get this info out on the airwaves? The more people who know, knitters
and non-knitters alike, the greater the chance of someone clueing in
if they see a black suitcase just sitting there. I am taking
inspiration from a similar incident which happened this past summer
to an esteemed quilter in Nova Scotia who had her samples suitcase
also stolen from her car then found a couple of weeks/months later by
the side of the highway and the fellow who found it knew what he'd
found because the quilting community had gathered forces and
publicized like mad. Thx to all who can get the word out.


A few years ago a hard working member of my family had entire vehicle and its contents stolen from a packed movie theater parking lot. His tools of his trade went with the truck. The truck was recovered later, totally stripped of everything.
Christmas is on its way and how many presents will get stolen from family's cars and homes? It could happen to anyone, even you and me. My wallet was stolen two weeks ago from my purse by a customer when I was at working and didn't notice her getting around where we hang our coats etc. Thieves abound everywhere, even in friendly, safe places like our jobs and our schools.

Where did these people get the idea that it was OK to take what does not belong to them? Where did the message of Do Not Steal get twisted apart for these people?
Boohoo drugs...Boohoo lost jobs....boohoo my daddy beat me when I was a kid..... Boo fuckin'hoo!! No mater how bad your life is there is ALWAYS someone who has it worse and you DO NOT have the right to take from people that which does NOT belong to YOU.

One Bag

A knitter decided that she was not happy with the amount of plastic shopping bags eneding up in landfills and as litter. She thought that if she made one cotton knitted shopping bag to replace one plastic bag and used it over and over for years, she'd be saving many plastic bags from being used over that time span. Multiply that One Bag by many others made to replace one plastic bag and you have a small grass roots charity movement for the Earth.
Check out the One Bag concept here: http://scrumptiousliving.wordpress.com/2008/07/03/a-little-something-for-the-planet/
Sorry for the old school cut and paste job but the link feature and I are not getting along.

Figures.

You Are Fozzie Bear

"Wocka! Wocka!" You're the life of the party, and you love making people crack up. If only your routine didn't always bomb! You may find more groans than laughs, but you always keep the jokes coming.

The Muppet Personality Test

In which I am not a very skilled craftster......

Halloween is looming over my head like a big candy laden storm cloud. Itsn't this way a few hours ago! Then I was making Ben's pirate sleeveless jacket and, well, my true ineptness came roaring out. If only things could be made like on cartoons, where there is a frenzy of scissors and thread and maybe a tornado thrown in and VOILA! Its made and everyone ooohs and aahhhs. My personal sewing tornado was more like "Oh F%&$!!! SH&*!!! Sonnuva B%$&!!!!!"
Problem one: I have no pattern, just a mental picture of what I am trying to make.

Problem 2: I have almost no sewing skills. I did very poorly in Home Ec thank YOU very much.
I cut shiny, brownish, cheap, taffeta type fabric a la The Grinch making his Santa suit.
I sewed wrong parts in wrong places or on the wrong side of the "garment".
At one point the machine needle went through my left pointer finger's nail, causing both me to scream and curse visciously and the needle to break. Thank Gods for cheap needles eh? It was painful but very minor with only a small drop of blood welling up from the nail puncture.
I started hemming said "garment' and discovered it was backwards and had to rips out the stitching to fold the fabric the other way and start hemming again. I was in the home stretch of this piece of crap and then my machine...died. It made this wierd noise and kinda clanked and jammed. Opening it up resulted in the bobbin and its housing to drop out of the machine.
"Hmmm...thats not right..." was my thoughts. Even the machine knows I suck...It knows it so well it practically commited suicide rather than continue. I know the bobbin and stuff goes back in but I'm too fed up to frig around with it.
I hand basted the hem into place and will try and find two minutes to run it through a machine at work tomorrow. Sometime between tomorrow and Friday I will sew the shiny gold buttons on and pray noone looks real close at the whole thing. Ben thinks its just great, but then again, he didn't really look at it all that well when I tried it on him. Its brown, no sleeves, no collar, to be worn open over the shirt (to come later), sash, and pirate jewellery. He's thrilled with it.
I love my kid.

Breakthrough

For a few weeks I have been meaning to yarn shop for a "girly" blue yarn. I kept forgetting though and boy am I glad I did. There in a bag of thrift shop yarn that my sister had given me was a VERY girly blue yarn. If I triple it or combine it with another thicker yarn, then I have what I need for another Xmas pair of Instant Mittens (Pair 4). Yay!!! Excellent. Just turquoise to be dealt with (pair 5).
For Dad's thrummed mitts, I stash shopped. I took out some skeins of Anniversary Twist by Briggs and Little. Its a nice two toned blue (TOO blue according to Hman when I made him a hat with it...). I gave the skeins a soak in a wool wash bath to soften the yarn up and now they are hanging out on the clothesline in the sun and breeze to dry. Thrummed items can't so much be soaked/washed after they are made if you still want the insides fluffy, so this pre-knit wash makes the scratchy yarn much nicer to work with and to wear. 3 skeins should do the mittens and a matching hat nicely. After the skeins are dry I'll wind them, ready for knitting as soon as Cameron's mittens are done.
We went out this afternoon and got most of Cameron's costume dealt with (need a fake scythe) and got fabric for Ben's pirate costume ( long sleeveless jacket and a sash) and also a better pirate hat than the piece of felt that he had. Much better! I will spray paint some old buttons gold for the jacket. We are discussing pirate hair attached to the hat and made from yarn (dreads maybe?)but that might be too much in the time alotted.

Sunday

The Icky seems to be receeding as of this morning. My fever broke through the night and my head no longer feels like a sinus based explosion through my eyeballs is imminent. This is a good thing because I have a shitpile of stuff to do thanks to being away last weekend and sick as a dog for 4 days.
LAUNDRY!!! Massive piles of it and mostly mine for some reason.
Vacuuming! If these dust bunnies get too much bigger I will be fearing for my life. And once vacuumed away, it appears that my floors are in a scary state of EEEEW!
I once-overed the bathrooms this week but they could use a down and dirty scrubbing I am sure but that can wait until tomorrow. Lysol wipes can only take care of so much.

HALLOWEEN is THIS FRiday and my kids are relatively costumeless still. HMan took care of Ben's (sort of) last weekend by purchasing the accessories every pirate needs but the main costume (pants, shirt, sash, vest) is left to me to come up with. Cameron didn't know what he wanted to be but now claims he has to be The Grim Reaper. We are discussing face paint over that horrible mask...safety, comfort, fun for Mommy.... After some chores and homework we will hit the costumery for a robe though I am SURE I could whip one up. Its all about easy this year since I only have 4 days left. My house is totally undecorated this year. Remember last years tombstones, lights, spider webs and homemade ghost? Nope...not this year. Not even any pumpkins yet, thats how far behind I have fallen. I suck. Better buy treats too, now that I think about it.
On the mitten front: Ben's are done (did I mention that?) and when he showed them off to the kid across the street he suggested that maybe I would make some for him for Xmas.. WTF??? Shaddup kiddo!
Cameron's flip top Instant Mittens are just past the thumb of mitten one. I got the wrist and below the thumb finished while I waited in the cinema lobby for Beverly Hills Chihuahua to be done, wishing for Advil strong enough for my sinus head ache and earplugs (that joint is LOUD, man).
I asked for Dad's favourite colour today (Blue) and then was asked if I was "going to be making him something he'll never wear". ??? Isn't he sweet? See where my snark comes from?? Its hereditary.
Maybe while out I can convince the kids to let me swing by Ginette's for Daniel's birthday and to peruse the blue wools. I think Baldy (aka DAD) deserves a thrummed toque for snow shovelling as well as the mittens. ;OD

Sickly

Last night I began to feel icky. Despite my regimen of zinc lozenges and Vitamin C I still feel a bit icky. It is the dreaded FIRST COLD OF THE SEASON and I blame Hman. He came down with ickyness Tuesday and began combatting it with the much revered Cold F/X. (That stuff TOTALLY works if you take it right at the start of a cold virus. BAM..cold is gone.)
Therefore, he had time to pass the icky on to me after I got home Sunday night and on Monday, add 3 days for incubation and Voila I has Ickyness. Will be getting some Cold F/X for sure because I hate to be sick when I have so much to do and stuff. Although....maybe more zinc and C will work? And fluids... Its still at the scratchy throat and threat of sinus congestion stage...it has not progressed.. Dr Quinn Medicine Woman guide me!
Thrum mittens...will finish Ben's last thumb today despite the beggings to finish last night. Was too tired and the Ickyness was starting.
Question: Would one skein of Lamb's Pride make a man sized pair of mittens? I have a skein of royal blue that would be great for my dad's mitts and mohair is nice and durable. What thinkest thou, oh friends?

Home stretch

The thrummed mittens I cast on for Benoit last week are almost finished! REALLY! I have one thumb left! I used Patons Classic Wool merino and Briggs and Little pencil roving (3 strands per thrum). I'm quite proud of these little babies and pictures will happen when Hman gets back from Myrtle Beach next week.
Speaking to my mum over the phone regarding these lovely WARM mittens has resulted in my Dad thinking a pair for Xmas would be "nice". ????? My DAD would LIKE something handknit???? WOW! Now I am all excited at the prospect of churning out a pair of man sized thrummed mittens for my daddy. ( Just as soon as I make a pair of flip top mittens for Cameron. His requested style.) I am tossing around ideas on colours and yarns...nothing too colourful or it won't be manly enough...nothing to fine or it won't hold up to wear and tear... I don't want them too itchy on his wrists or he might not wear them. Hamster brain has commenced regarding this. Yet, I rejoice because my Daddy will be the reciever of coziness from my heart and needles this Xmas. :oD
As for mom, the plan was for bed socks since she is chilly a lot now that she's 80. Then I bought The Prayer Shawl Companion on Sunday, quite unintentionally, and there is this pattern for a shoulder wrap called a Heart Warmer. Look at the picture, its from the book. Isn't that cunning? Now picture it on a little ol' lady in her cigarette smoke filled house. Does she look cozy? Thats what I thought too. Cozy and easy to put on over her sweater and take off as necessary. I will not be using the recommended Rowan Big Wool but will double or triple a machine washable wool alternative to mimic the thick cushiness. A plus is that I 'heart' seed stitch. To me its just one of the best texure stitches ever. Classic.
Did I mention how chilly it is this week? The water in my birdbath was frozen solid this morning! Snow flakes were sighted yesterday!! Its coming...whimper...its..coming...
Must...knit...faster!!......

Stolen Pictures

I snagged these from Kadi's blog because I have been waiting for her to send them to me and I am impatient as Hell.
The sheep in the picture is Emily the Rambouillet. She is very affectionate and we had a bond...it was magical. At one point we were nose to nose sniffing each others noses and breath. Ewes do not tend to act like this and at first I assumed Emily was an Emil...until she turned around and I saw her...uumm.. Anyways, she is VERY affectionate for a ewe and her wool was very fine and soft and she enjoyed the scratchings around the ears etc. She was not happy in her pen and maybe was trying to convince me to take her out? If I still had my farm I woulda been sorely tempted. Sweet Emily...I will always remember you. Especially now that stole our picture from Kadi.

The second picture is of myself and Stephanie Pearl-MacPhee, the Yarn Harlot. I don't look at all scary, do I? Here's what happened:
I'd lost all my friends on Saturday and spent 3 hours of the festival wandering by myself. During that 3 hours I'd bought Franklin Habit's book and had it signed(squee!!0 and fondled a LOT of wool and yarn. Then I hooked back up with some people I knew and Kadi found me again. While we were getting caught up who did I spy but the Yarn Harlot strolling by at good speed. I got a little excited I guess...ok..VERY excited. Its just that she's such an amazing knitter and blogger and writer and I am SURE we could be bestest friends if she just got to know me...( oh jeez...did I type that out loud? So Pathetic I know). Anyway, I blathered about needing a camera and then ran to catch up to her before she got far. I interrupted her brisk pace and asked politely if she would mind a picture, pretty please. She kinda sized me up, sighed, looked at her watch and barked jovially something like " Can you make it snappy, I'm yarn shoppin' here!". Eager to please, I turned to my photographer and found that I didn't have one (despite two people assuring me of their assistance)!

Well...I did what any star struck highly strung knitter would do and SCREAMED for Kadi to "hurry up before she get's away!!!" You have to understand!!! It was a very busy, noisy place and a polite cry would NOT have been noticed at all and Harlot was IN A HURRY, man!!! Kadi and Stephanie both leapt out of their skins at my shriek, then Stephanie dissolved into laughter and Kadi ran to my assistance, camera ready. I confessed to La Harlot in an aside, as we prepared our pose, that I had forgotten my own name when she signed my book at the book signing/talk in Halifax last year, then we smiled for the camera. I thanked her profusely, and she made her escape...I mean..continued yarn shopping. My friends were all laughing at me for being such a freakshow but I was SO HAPPY!! The sun shone brighter, the sheep smelled sheepier, and all was wonderful in the realms of knitters beacuse I had gotten a picture with Stephanie Pearl-Macphee AND made HER laugh!!! Sweet.

Sunday I bought her latest book and presented it for signing with an apology for the heart failure I may have caused the day before. She was totally cool and said she'd recovered in no time and all was well. See? THIS is why she's so great. The poor woman was exhausted from her book tour, possibly caffeine deficient, yarn/wool shopping with her friend, and she STILL took the time out to pose with a crazed fan. This is why she rocks.

We could totally be besties...I'd bring her coffee and everything.... ;oP

Pictures

I ran into the notorious Kate Gilbert several times and then she finally caught on..I mean..conjectured.. that I was stalking her. I got a severe tongue lashing at this pottery/sock yarn/jewellery booth and then she striked a pose. (she was actually stalking ME. Really!!!!! Stop laughing now...)
As me and my posse were leaving, who did my wondering eyes spy but THE Jillian Moreno. She heard me as I gasped out her name and Kadi and I had a bad case od star struckness. Look at that hair! That smile!!!! Go buy her books STAT!

Pictures...take #2

What we have in this selection of pictures:
My posse of the weekend Janet, Kadi, and Elizabeth ( ). We travelled and bunked and shared in the highs and lows of that which is the NY State Sheep and Wool Festival. What am I talking about "lows"? There were NONE! We were "high" all weekend !!!! Wait...thats not how is sounds!!
Also photographed were the notorious group of Deeawn, Veronik, and Alison (all of Montreal Knits infamy). They were up to no good can't you tell? No? Well, I could.
AND did you know I have a winery? Me neither. I was all for going and demanding free wine since they are using MY name but the girls wouldn't let me because the yarn was waiting.

And now with pictures!

Oh loook...I found my lost posting!

Back From Rhinebeck.....

Too much yarny goodness to discuss. Am sooo tired. Had great time. More later, I promise......zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

Just me and my ice cream tonight....

What a day! I worked (Yay!) but at the end of the work day, my wallet was missing. (waaaah) Luckily, I have no credit cards so its mainly a pain in the ass and sadness because it was my new Parisian wallet.
So my happy happy busy day was tarnished and dented by the loss of my wallet. If it turns up I will be very very pleased.
Also, it is election day in Canada. My party leader did not kick the ass of her competitor in my home town riding and I am very sad. She came in SECOND though and thats awesome considering. Take that , Peter!! Stupid head. My mom says not to tell Dad how she voted and if you know them then you now know how she voted so "Shhhh!" don't tell Da! ;op
Ben is trying to understand why the party Mommy and Daddy voted for isn't even showing up on the screen as winning a seat. There are TWO Independents so far but no Green seats. sigh.
Harper is winning. Actually gaining in seats from last time. Why, Gods, WHHHHYYYY!?

I need more Turtles ice cream...........

Actually Knitting Photo

I realised a while back that I had not posted a picture of the finished Belle Maman socks that I'd made for my sister. Here they are in all their brightly coloured glory.

HAHAHA

Gibraltar in Pics for Suldog

These are for you, Jim!! :oD

We have here the view of Gibraltar as we approached from Spain.
The Gibraltar beer, brewed with Gibraltar hops but not brewed ON Gibraltar, was a big beer and very very good. I peeled the label off mine as a keepsake.
A sleepy Macaque...aaaaawww. Note how this one's eyelids are pale blue! The only ones I noticed like this and there were a lot of sleepy Macaques there.
The Moorish Castle was really cool as was St Michael's Cave. That was AMAZING. This huge cavern with all the naturally occuring rock formations, was probably mythic in early humanity's eyes. There were remains found in the cave that date to the same era as those from the Neander Valley. Of course, later, Modern Man just had to turn it into a theater, of all things. Weddings and musical events have been held in this cavern.
I have other pictures of Gibraltar (mostly Macaques and the view from up there)but these seemed to some it up best.

A day of hamster brain....

I am struck down with hamster brain today. I am pulled in fifty directions and can't settle on one.
Knitting: I started an Instant Mitten last night and am discontented. Its not 'blue' enough to be girly. Audrey thinks I'm nuts I'm sure but a girly blue is usually very...blue, non? This is a lovely greyish blue but just doesn't scream girly especially when paired with a blue/brown variegated.
I printed off 4 hat patterns this week...do we see a new trend starting? All were colour work (aka fair isle or stranded). The Modern Selbu beret! Halloween kitty hat! Those two Noro based ones that I forget the name of but damn they was fine lookin' winter hats....Hman might even get one (the 'argyle' one) as a xmas gift but modified to include earflaps and a possible liner and speaking of liners what about the Helmet Liner pattern for soldiers? That would make an excellent ski helmet liner in a lighter weight silk blend....
Should I knit like crazy and maybe finish my sweater in a week OR do xmas presents? The draw to finishing in a week is that I could take it to Rhinebeck next weekend. If I am able to finish it in a week.
Also, Annie, if you hear of this...I'd REALLY like a written pattern for those handwarmers Marie-Michelle was wearing last night...oooh la la.
I really gotta stay off of Ravelry first thing in the day or that day is toast.

House: My screens need cleaning, and I need to do a SERIOUS cleansing of the windows to remove all mildewy gunkiness caused by condensation since the last time I attacked the windows with bleach and an old tooth brush.
Kitchen really should be squared away.
Vacuuming is always a plus.
Folding tha ONE load of laundry would be cool, before it turns to 6 loads of unfolded clean laundry.
Doesn't fresh clean laundry smell great, btw? Just sayin'....
Cameron's room is still waiting for paint, the colour of which was picked out 3 months ago.
The aquarium is very gross...why won't that #$^%ing fish just die already!!!?
There is much much more that could be said but these are the most pressing concerns. How does my sister DO IT??? Where does the drive to actually make and keep the house presentable come from?? I think its skipped me. I love a tidy house like nobody's business but the actual gumption to do it? ugh......
I think I need to compose a list.
ETA: Anny's handwarmer pattern : http://annypurls.blogspot.com/2006/12/hand-warming.html

More pictures

Here we have an obese Macaque on Gibralter getting a hand out from the cashier at the gift shop, me in my EuroCheese persona, and did you know Granada has a spot just for me? Neither did I! And whats worse? that I told him to "pick the stone monkey's/lion's nose!!" or that he did it?