While we are on the subject of cute kids:

The baby came down the stairs the other day in my warmest winter coat.

When I asked him what he was doing he said he was in Narnia.

My baby is three years old today!

Here is how the little party animal spent his day!

My Prima Ballerina

As promised here is my little prima ballerina with all her flowers from her ballet debut!

What a bad little blogger I am!

I have neglect this blog for a week. Shame on me. In my defense I have been busy....just not busy knitting. As a matter of fact I didn't even GET STARTED on the Mother's day knitting I had planned to do. So all the moms in my family received non-knitted gifts. Isn't that sad!

So what can I say for myself? Well I really have been busy! I am a support and recovery director at my church. We have support groups that run three times a year. Our Kick off of new groups is this tonight so I am busy promoting, organizing, etc. This promotion had me filling in for my pastor on Sunday so I could talk about Support and Recovery from Stage. Since this is all new to me having rarely been on stage before at church and certainly never having been "pastor" this was quite an undertaking for me. (and I don't think I want to rush back up there!!! Although it did go well!)

Also I have some pretty cute pictures to show you. (As soon as I get my camara plugged in that is!) My 4 yo daughter was in her very first dance recital! She was adorable. I promise to post pictures!

I also have to show you the huge amount of coffee that has arrived at my house! I was very impressed and the smell was amazing just opening up the box! Naturally we had to dive right in a try some. My husband picked Pajama Passion and it is yummy! I am a coffee snob (Hmm...Coffee snob...yarn snob...I am beginning to see a pattern!) And I really like this coffee. As a matter of fact...I think I am going to brew some up right now!

Bloggers Fuel

I just learned that I have a box full of coffee on its way to my house as we speak. Boca Java has a number of coffee blends that they have made available for a select number of bloggers to review. I just learned today that I will be receiving one of their blogger's review kits that contain 6 bloggers fuel blends, a bloggers fuel hat and coffee mug! As a coffee addict, I feel like I just won the lottery! I can't wait for my package to arrive!

Spinning and Secret Pals

I finially finished spinning up the huge bag of corriedale roving that I got with my wheel forever ago. I definately need to find more time for spinning, but between homeschooling, my job at church, running the house and knitting....well, you get the picture. Speaking of pictures, here are all the hanks I managed to spin up!



Over all not too bad. Still a bit uneven in places and I am still tending to overspin in some places and lots of slubs. But hopefully that will improve. Now I need to dye it up. I have a bunch of koolaid packets that I think I will try to use to dye it. Then to figure out what to make from it. Since it is so uneven maybe I will use it for a felting project!

My next fiber to try is a bag of Lincoln/Silk I got from The Fold in Marengo when we picked up my wheel.

Changing the topic... Secret Pal 8 is finally underway. I am so excited about this you would think I was an 8 year old at Christmas! About a week ago I got an email from my secret pal who managed to beg her match early! And yesterday, I receieved my match...who I promptly sent an email out! Fun stuff!!!

I'm learning crochet!

I finished my first crochet project! This scarf is from the new SNB Happy Hooker

I am actually pretty pleased with it. It took me about two nights to finish. I was so surprised at how quick crochet is compared to knit.

Now I am working on a stripped tank top...also from Debbie Stoller's book.

This one is taking me a little longer than the other but the thread is so thin and I haven't been working on it very consistently. I am taking a break for some Mother's day knitting and will hopefully get back to it soon.

Here's a close upof the stitches.

Secret Pal 8 Questionnaire

1. What is/are your favorite yarn/s to knit with? What fibers do you absolutely *not* like?

I love natural fibers...pretty much any of them. I am not crazy about acrylics but will use an acrylic/wool blend for stuff for my kids so it will be easier to wash. I can't stand novelty yarns.

2. What do you use to store your needles/hooks in?

I have a needle roll that I sewed up to hold my dpns, my crochet hooks and my addis.

3. How long have you been knitting? Would you consider your skill level to be beginner, intermediate or advanced?

I have been knitting just a little over a year now. I have no idea how to classify my skill level. Maybe an advanced beginner or a novice intermediate?

4. Do you have an Amazon or other online wish list?

Yes I do. Right here.

5. What's your favorite scent? (for candles, bath products etc.)

Hm. I love fruit scents and "baking" scents. As long as they are subtle. Actually I pretty much like most candle scents as long as they are subtle.

6. Do you have a sweet tooth? Favorite candy?

I love dark chocolate!

7. What other crafts or Do-It-Yourself things do you like to do? Do you spin?

My DH got my spinning wheel for Christmas and I am learning how to spin. I'm not too great at it yet but I LOVE it. I also crochet, sew, bead,stamp, scrapbook, ... I am pretty much game for almost any craft.

8. What kind of music do you like? Can your computer/stereo play MP3s? (if your buddy wants to make you a CD)

Contemporary Christian Music. I also enjoy listening to classical.

9. What's your favorite color? Or--do you have a color family/season/palette you prefer? Any colors you just can't stand?

Jewel tones and earth tones. I love colors found in nature. Most of my house is done in toupe, burgundy, and green, so I guess those are favorites. I don't like bright unnatural colors.

10. What is your family situation? Do you have any pets?

I am married to the best guy in the world. (Yesterday was our 8th Wedding anniversary!) I have three children, ages 7, 5, and 3. And two cats.

11. Do you wear scarves, hats, mittens or ponchos?

Scarves and mittens. I love hats but just look silly in them. I can't stand most ponchos. (I have seen exceptions to that rule, but not too many.)

12. What is/are your favorite item/s to knit?

Small instant gratification things. My absolute favorite thing to knit are socks.

13. What are you knitting right now?

One pair of trekking socks. (The same ones I was almost finished with earlier but my dear sweet 3 yo decided to frog....somehow I haven't had much motivation to work on them lately.) Afgan squares for a throw my mom and I are working on for a family member that is getting married in September. And a striped crochet tank top. (But you asked about knitting.) I do have two sweaters on the needles (Tubey and To dye for) that I have set aside for now but plan on picking them back up before fall.

14. Do you like to receive handmade gifts?

They are my favorite thing to give and receive!

15. Do you prefer straight or circular needles? Bamboo, aluminum, plastic?

Circulars! I never use straights. I have a Denise set that I love (And a boye set that I don't like.) For any size that I don't have in my Denise set I buy Addis. All of my dpn's are bamboo or rosewood.

16. Do you own a yarn winder and/or swift?

Yes to both.

17. How did you learn to knit?

Combination of books and Knittinghelp.com


18. How old is your oldest UFO?

Probably those socks....Started those just before Christmas.

19. What is your favorite holiday?

Christmas and Easter!

20. Is there anything that you collect?

BOOKS! YARN!

21. Any books, yarns, needles or patterns out there you are dying to get your hands on? What knitting magazine subscriptions do you have?

Nothing that I can think of now. I have s subscription to Family Circle Easy Knitting (or at least I did...I think it ran out) and Spin It.

22. Are there any new techniques you'd like to learn?

I would really like to try fair isle.

23. Are you a sock knitter? What are your foot measurements?

Yes. 7 1/2" around the ball of my foot and my foot is 8" long.

24. When is your birthday? (mm/dd)

September 5th

Anniversary flowers

Today is our 8th Wedding Anniversary. I came home to a huge bouquet of stargazer lilies. I think I'll keep him!

Design on a Dime

This room was completely empty Saturday! But I have been busy!

My mom's neightbor was selling the 1950's sofa and it is in GREAT shape. So she asked me if I wanted it. Then today I spent the afternoon at IKEA and picked up the two wicker chairs. Everything else was in my basement just waiting for a home! Next sunny day, I plan on spray painting all of the wicker black to tied it all in together. Find the right print for the wall and I am done!