It Arrived...

This is Beeper, wanted to give him a chance to shine. These are the best pictures I've ever gotten, cuz he usually hides in his cage. He likes a clean cage, so will be happy for a few days. The most frustrating thing about him, is when you give him clean water, he immediately takes a bath in it! So you have to give him new water.

So my Mom said she was going to send me a book and I've been waiting for it...It arrived today: I love "Little House on the Prairie" It still is one of my top five favorite tv shows. I had not gotten this book, but had heard about it. My mom had it and sent it to me. Allison Arngrim (Nellie) also has one out that I would like to read. Melissa Sue Anderson also has released a book, but the reviews weren't very good, so not sure I'll read it. However this one came in the middle of cleaning today. I sat down and read the forward by Patty Duke (who I also love!) Then I finished cleaning, took a shower, made lunch and sat down to read. It's good and I'm sure I'll be done in a day or two....I may even read all day.....

Housekeeping and Birds

I am not a good housekeeper. We don't have kids...We don't have people who come to our apartment...so it's just the HUBS and I. He can be messy too. The problem is we have outgrown our apartment.

So our apartment is very cluttered and it can get messy. I tend not to clean, there are better things to do. But this summer one of my goals was to deep clean the apartment. I have been purging things since last summer and it has helped, but we still have a long way to go...

One of the things that needs to be cleaned are our bird cages. We have two birds, Baloo, a Pionus parrot and Beeper, a Rosella. Baloo is out of his cage pretty often. Beeper does not come out. Baloo was hand raised, Beeper was not and freaks out if we go near him. He likes to sing and he will listen to us talk to him, but doesn't like us too near. It's a pain to clean his cage. Baloo's cage is easier, but this is what I deal with:


He hates the vacuum and will attack it when it comes too near his cage.

Today I tackled two of the messier jobs: the bathroom and the bird cages (although I'm taking a break between Baloo and Beeper....)

It cooled off today, so it was good day to do this...

The biggest problem with the birds is pantry moths. They come in the food and we have tried everything. Now we just live with them. I will do a deep cleaning of the kitchen soon and it will include looking for pantry moths and dumping food they have infested. The moths don't bother me as much as the larvae...YUCK!!!!! Luckily they are not attracted to yarn, however I have found some in my yarn, but not too many...

Making Gifts for Baby Boy....

I started making hospital hats for "Baby Boy" last night. I did not have any light blue cotton, well I do, but it is up in storage. Might have to make a run to the storage bin...

The dark blue one is made from my favorite cotton yarn - Manos del Uruguay Cotton Stria. I had a ball left over from another project...

The light blue is Lion Brand Jamie yarn - which is discontinued. I have a ton of it that I bought when I started crocheting again.

The hats are both basic hat designs. The dark blue I used an H hook, the light blue I used a D hook....

Hopefully she'll like them....

I have a ton of "baby" yarns that I bought when I started crocheting again. This was before I realized that I like using unconventional colors for baby items...

Last thing is the HUBS told me to check out this cartoon today.

Very funny!

Baby Boy is Born

Finally! At 4:36 this afternoon, a precious new life was born. He is very cute, although without a name at the present. He is very large 22 1/2 inches, 8lbs 15 oz...He is adorable

Waiting on Baby....and a little fiber for the diet

These are my teaching partners K and L...They were due a day apart. L. went about a week early. K. is still waiting. She was due on 6/16. I went to see her this morning. She has been at the hospital since yesterday afternoon. I feel for her as her water hadn't broken yet, they were going to break it around noon. I haven't talked to her, but gonna go back up in a couple of hours. The hospital is within walking distance. She is having a baby boy...and we are all waiting for him to make his appearance...

In fiber news, I've been uploading pics and information on my stash to Ravelry..The first two pictures are of what I've been working on. Right now I am trying to decide how to store it. I have a lot of independent dyers, so going to put those together. But I also have several that I have bought from farm stands or from booths at festivals. Should I put all together, as they are all independent or do I put the farms separate??? I don't store by fiber or weight. I store by brand/name, as that is how I identify them...




This last picture is of what I did last summer. This is all mostly acrylic yarns, but all "big-box" yarns. That window is the only light in the room and it faces another house, so we only get good light about an hour or so a day. That is good for the computer. It's also very warm in this room, which is where the computer is located, too.

Followers

I have nine followers, however I can no longer see them. I have messed something up and I've tried to fix it, but, alas (great word very few people use) it's to no avail..so know that I love that you are following, but can't seem to find you. I had another person join yesterday...So you are anonymous to me...

(in full disclosure, I find this picture a bit creepy, but it fits the problem)


In fiber news, I finished my cowl, just need to sew button, weave in ends...I think it also needs to be blocked. So I had one more ball of the Nashua and started a hat, however, it's not enough. I will have to stash dive to find something to go with it...maybe the Lima...It's not as fluffy as the Nashua, but would work as a band...well see...If I finish, I will post pics later...

Almost there

Yesterday I did nothing, then about 7:00, I decided to crochet.

I started a cowl that I bought some nice fluffy purple yarn for...actually there was a knitted cowl in the LYS and I really liked the button. So I bought the yarn to make a crocheted one. They had to cut the button off their cowl, as we couldn't find another. We did find the tube after she had cut the buttons (and I saw the same buttons at another LYS the other day)

Anyhow here is my cowl - it's too hot to put on and I'm still fussing with button placement...

The other project is a bag from "Trendsetting Totes" I, of course, changed the design. I made it more in the round, added the flowers on the sides, the edging and the "pull" straps. I like how it turned out, it's not perfect, but it works. I just have to line it, because there are holes...

The last project is the baby blanket for baby Eric, who was suppose to be born on 6/16, but he is planning on making a grand entrance instead....

The colors are all a little washed out, it's dark and I just thought about posting...

Oh and I've been stashing on Ravelry, until Photobucket went kaput.....let's see if I can do a few more....

Yarn Diet

I was on a yarn diet, I gave it up...I'm not so much a crocheter, as I am a yarn hoarder..Yes, I hoard yarn...I watch that A&E tv show called "Hoarders" or the other one "Buried Alive: Hoarding" and I think - that could be me!

As a teacher, I naturally tend toward hoarding, we were told this year to streamline and declutter, as we are going to have large class sizes next year. I'm also moving to a room with no storage...I packed up more than 20 boxes and they are in my storage bin now....I will probably bring more up when I unpack in my new room in August..

I also have more than 25 crates of yarn in storage and a ton of it sitting behind me right now in the computer/yarn/extra room...

Yesterday I bought this at WEBS:

That is: 5 skeins Claudia Handpainted (2 for the blog prize)
10 skeins Debbie Bliss cashmerino chunky (been looking for this color)
2 skeins of Misti Alpaca Handpainted DK weight (I have 4 skeins of the super chunky in this color)
2 skeins Misti Alpaca worsted (cuz I liked the colors)
1 skein Rowan Calmer (I have a lone skein and bought another to make a hat)
1 Schoppelwolle ball in cranberries (bought another last week, they only had 1 and I wanted 2)
1 skein Madelinetosh tosh sock in lichen (cuz oh so pretty!)
1 skein Spud and Chloe sock (cuz I've wanted to use this yarn)

I took my yarn diet tag down from the side of this blog, cuz I am pathetic and it is summer and I will be visiting LYS's. The HUBS doesn't comment about my yarn, we are also overrun with his cd's (but in full disclosure, he did own a store of them). We both buy tons of books, too.

So this is my vice...It makes me happy...I don't drink, smoke, or gamble...so I guess, except for my pocketbook, noone gets hurt...

Now to spend the day logging it on Ravelry (I already have over 700 yarns logged on there)

Online Friends

I've met a very special group of friends online at a crochet site...we all found each other in a certain thread...We were good for about two years, then newbies came in, which we welcomed with open arms, but personalities conflicted and we splintered. In the end, most of us left that online home and went elsewhere....

There is a group on Ravelry and then another group created their own private site. I have made such great friends from these ladies....and they know me as well as my real life friends...and I have now met eight of them in real life...

It all started with Shelly. She was going to be about 2 hours away from me visiting her daughter, so we met up...


Then I met up with Laura - she lives about two hours from me in Mass...she was pregnant at the time:


I went to Pennsylvania for a long weekend and met up with Shelby, V, and Amy


I've met with Laura several times and once Ann joined us.


Then I went to Buffalo and stayed with Krystal and her family...


Today I met up with another online friend, Karen...we went to WEBS.....


I've also met several husbands and some children along the way...There are many more I would like to meet and take whatever opportunity I can to meet these online friends.

So in honor of my online friends, I am having my first contest....I picked up this at WEBS today: 2 skeins Claudia Hand Painted yarns in Whisper


To enter:

1. Leave a comment telling about an online friend that you have met in real life OR an online friend that you would like to meet in real life and a bit about you both..

2. Second chance, let me know if you blog/comment/link to this on your own blog...

Oh and I will send internationally..

I do not know how to do a random generator thingy, I will try to figure it out. If not, my HUBS will pull the number from a hat (the highest tech here - let me tell you!)

You do not need to follow me, as I don't like that as a requirement, but if you decide you like what you see - then follow away....I'm always shocked when a new follower pops up, even though I only have 6!

Let's say a week, so next Thursday at 5:00 EST (US) I will announce the winner....

WIP Wednesday

This is what I am working on... It is from Trendsetting Totes It is the colorful one in the back "Jaunty Shells" I bought the yarn for it years ago, but never made it. In my goal of taming my stash (that's funny, I know..) I have tried to put all the yarn I have bought WITH the pattern I planned to use it for....and now I am actually trying to make some of these WIM's. I actually uploaded them all to Rav, so I can see a list of them....It's not an exhaustive list, but it is a good start...

Today I did not want to do anything...got up early, went back to bed and slept until 11:30, then puttered around....Made myself go out...I can really be a hermit when I want to be....once I'm out, I'm good...so went to storage, went to TJ Maxx, got a new Fossil watch and some cool green sunglasses...then grocery shopping, and gas getting...Came home and made a fruit salad and now I can veg...

Tomorrow I am driving up to Mass to meet an online friend! I'll tell you all about it tomorrow...and maybe have a contest - my first!!!!

Summer, Summer, Summertime....

As Will Smith says: ">Summertime

I love me some Will Smith.......and now that my classroom is D*O*N*E, I can really say it is my summertime NOW!!!!!!

I love that he listened to his Grandma:
"In the beginning, following the fashion of the day, my raps had a small amount of profanity," he told Essence. "I'll never forget what my grandmother said when she read them: 'He who is truly articulate shuns profanity.' Man, I didn't even know what articulate meant, but I knew I wanted my grandmother's approval, just as I wanted my parents' approval."

Read more: Will Smith Biography - Grew up in a Loving Family, Entered the Music Business as a Teen http://biography.jrank.org/pages/2827/Smith-Will.html#ixzz0rbJqtZAR

Summer Plans

When I finally finish my classroom today, I will officially be on summer vacation. (I must also do the supply list for our grade level)

I have made a summer plan list:

Summer Plans 2010:

1. Work out regularly - I know, I know, but at least 3-4 times a week.

2. Deep clean the house, including purging of much stuff.

3. Clean out and file all paperwork.

4. Visit Plymouth, Mass

5. Read and complete several books (read an hour a day)

6. Complete, at least, 3 big WIP’s

7. Update Ravelry stash and project pages.

8. Learn to knit

9. Finish several jewelry projects

I may add to this. I've already deleted something. I was thinking of going to Nashville to a convention. But it has been moved to Orlando because of the flooding...I should add visit Shelby in PA to the list, as I am going to do that...Big plans, as you can see :) I do plan on going to NYC, at least twice this summer, too...let's see what else will happen...

Still Packing....

Was in classroom from 9 - 2:30 today...still not done. I have ALOT of stuff....I was trying to pack organized, but by 12:00, I was just throwing things in boxes. I have a few small things to do tomorrow morning (finish large closet, and desk area).. Hubs is coming with the truck to pick my stuff up that's going to storage. I think I might have to rent a small space just for school stuff....

Plus I bought 7 tubs and tried the lids to make sure I had the right sizes - today I go to put them on and only 1 is the right size - GRRR!!! Luckily I'm heading that way to go to a school summer party....part of me just wants to hermit from everything school related this year. But some of my best friends are the other teachers in the building - so guess I am not...



The last picture is from here. I think it is very pretty...

Stashing

One of my goals this summer is to get my stash updated and logged onto Ravelry. I had taken pictures of most of my yarn, or thought I had. I lost a bunch when my computer crashed a couple of months ago. So here I sit sorting through the yarn that has pictures and the yarn that does not. Most of the yarn is logged, but not with pictures. Pictures make the yarn just look so nice. although I am not putting up pics of "big-box" yarn. Some of my pictures really suck because of the light. I've been trying to take pictures outside in natural light.

I just snapped the tub I am working on - the yarn on the floor does not have pictures. (excuse the floor - needs to be vacuumed) It is tedious, since I have to upload to my computer and then to Photobucket, before I can load onto Rav. Yes, I know Rav can load form computer, but it takes a lot longer...
It's getting dark, so no more pictures today....

Oh and today I went to a Knit in Public event - there were only five of us, but it was still nice (it is a gorgeous day, plus Father's Day, so people were probably busy)

Happy Father's Day

I have been lucky in life to have two fathers.
This is them at my wedding (I took a picture of the picture, as I couldn't figure out how to biggen the other one) I was also lucky because they liked each other and became friends.

My dad was young when I was born and we've had some ups and downs in our relationship. Although he and I share a very strong bond, we lost touch for several years. We have now reconnected and it's been really good.
sorry - bad webcam picture


I also had a wonderful stepfather named Bill. He was just a fantastic man who was a great father. Unfortunately he died in 1996, way too early. I still miss him.

I will call my dad today and I will visit Bill's grave to wish them both a Happy Father's Day...

Nancy O

One of the places that I visited was Nancy O's in Ridgefield. Ridgefield is a small town in the "Gold Coast" section of Connecticut. It is rural. The town itself was very cute! It had tons of cute stores and eateries....I did notice on the drive into town, that about every third house was for sale. Not normal sized homes, either, but large McMansions....sad story still going on in this country....

But the shop was definitely worth a visit! Rachel (I believe - I'm bad at names and tell my students it'll be a month before I remember everyone's)was very welcoming and very chatty.



The store is eclectic. It is a mixture of yarn, jewelery, bags and clothing. A very dangerous place for me!

I resisted the yarn, except for some Manos Serena. Manos is one of my favorite yarns. Especially their Stria Cotton. Serena is baby alpaca and pima cotton - so soft! Baby alpaca is my absolute favorite. The colors are a mix of greens with a bit of purple (color 9796). Maybe a small spring shawl....

They also have started a line called "Sig'Nits" They are a really cool way to sign your pieces! They didn't have my initial, but I will order some...pretty cool!


I also picked up a really cool bracelet made by Michael Choi of xovivo made of recycled/repurposed materials. Very cool!

I also picked up that bookmark, when I purchased my books, cuz how could I not???

Still Not Finished....

I did not go back to my classroom today to finish. I had a miserable time sleeping last night. I've not had the best year, professionally and sometimes I get really down. So decided I needed to take a break and make a fresh start on my room on Monday. Otherwise I will just wonder around, picking things up and putting them down somewhere else. I need to buckle down and get that room packed...Also I was in quite a bit of pain from my knees...

So I got up today and went LYS hunting...Found out last night that String Greenwich is closing. I've been to the NYC store, but never the one in CT. So decided to check it out and traced a route to check out two more on the way home....It was a long drive down...and Interstate 95 SUCKS!!!! But I got to see the ocean and stood on a jetty breathing in the ocean air...Greenwich is beautiful, so I enjoyed looking at the houses.


String was small, but Jill (I believe) was very polite and helpful and I bought a couple of skeins of Prism and 3 of Artyarns...and some cool buttons...

Then I headed North to Ridgefield to Nancy O - what a great store!!! Highly recommend it! It's kinda bohemian with a mixture of merchandise. There was yarn, got some Manos Serena and a very cool bracelet! Will post pics of shop and bracelet in separate blog post....

Then I headed north again to Danbury and The Fabric Tree It was an interesting store. I'm still on the lookout for that birdy fabric, but didn't find it there. I did leave with 2 balls of Zauberball, one regular and one "Crazy"

Waterbury was a nightmare trying to get through, but was able to get off and by pass most of it.

Came home and read The Forgotten Garden which I picked up in Ridgefield at a cute bookstore. What a great book! I'm on chapter 13....Time for summer reading and I know I have a pile beside my bed, but didn't have any with me when I wanted to eat..

All in all an enjoyable day and I didn't think about school and lost alot of my negative energy from the year....

Tired ...and still have to finish packing room, but..

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Today, a game....

This is where I just came home from:


I was there with these: six students, four that I drove and two that met us there...


It was fun...I am tired...didn't sleep much last night...my room is only about 50% done...which means I'll have to go back after the last day tomorrow...I don't care...last day tomorrow and a 1/2 day...WOOT!!!!!