Progress....

I've been completely enamored with this Swing Jack Sweater. It knits so quickly! We are adapting to having "Mr. Outdoors" back home. He came in at 2:30am Sunday morning. This morning while checking his cell phone messages there was one from my district. YIKES! For some stupid reason they contacted him, rather than me (which they have my new information). They informed him by voice mail at 4:45pm on Friday that there was a MANDATORY meeting on Monday morning at 9am. YIKES! No biggie normally, but tomorrow is Nan's 1st day of preschool/daycare and she was only going to stay for a 1/2 day, but now she'll be staying a little longer. Em will be tagging along with me as there is no one around to babysit. Normally, I would let her go to work with her father, however the heat will be over 100 degrees tomorrow and although he works in a cabinet shop because of ventilation he doesnt' use the a/c. So I've gotten Ms. Em a new "chapter book" as well as a new coloring book/activity book and art supplies to keep her busy while Momma learns the ins and outs of the new school district and signs up for health insurance, retirement, and ID badges! She told me to take my knitting and if I couldn't knit during my meeting then she'd work on it for me! Is that too cute or what?

Reminder: The Discloth Exchange signups are now open. Even if you don't sign up please spread the word. I think it will be fun!

Last minute....everything...

On a trip to H*bby L*bby I saw this Yarn Baby Yarn and thought that the cotton and the colors would be perfect for the Girl Friend Swing Coat Sweater that I have decided to cast on. It's for my cousin-in-law's baby girl's 1st birthday. I'll be having to make a size 4 though! She's huge! The photo doesn't do the colorway justice though.
These are my latest sweater purchases. I'll be unraveling these soon. The one of the left is wool, and the one in the middle is a wool/cotton blend (lots of colors for other projects) and then the pink and white one is pure cotton. I paid a whole $0.30 for the 3 of them so if something doesn't work out I'm not going to cry over the money. They were 10 cents a piece.

On other notes, it is time to get organized over here at Chez Procrastiknitter. B is coming home in the middle of the night tonight. He's coming back from a 9 day fishing trip in Canada. It's not like the place is a mess, I just promised to get quite a few things done around here and I've finished ALMOST all of them. I'm hoping (*crossing fingers*) that I'll be able to have some time to myself tomorrow.

Dishcloth Swap...

OK, I decided to run with it. I figured that we could probably get it together regardless of how many of us there were. I have put up a temporary blog for it over at http://dishclothswap.blogspot.com

All the rules and information are posted! Go over and take a look!

Ideas ideas ideas....

OK, I'm full of it....ideas that is. For awhile now I was wanting to do a dish cloth exchange. I'm not exactly what that would entail, but so far I only have 2 takers besides myself. This is the last offer out there. If I don't have more response (like say 6 or 7 total) then I'll shelf the idea for another time.

EDITED: ** I was thinking that we would have sign ups starting August 1 and then closing August 10th. THe dishcloths would have to be sent no later than October 1st, or later depending on how many dishcloths we wanted to knit per person.

I have decided that as of September 1st or a little earlier I will NOT be buying anymore yarn until Christmas! WTF? You might say? Well I think I might be able to do it. I did the Stashalong earlier this year and it was SO productive, however, my stash is still completely out of control again as I made many yarn purchases over the summer. I'm going to plan a list of what I want to make for whom and for birthdays and/or Christmas. Get the patterns, plan it out and buy ONLY yarn that is absolutely necessary. I will not start any additional projects that are not related to Christmas or birthdays from Sept 1-December 31. I think I'll call it "Stashbusting for the holidays". This will also really help with my Christmas budget and I won't be freaking out and knitting garter stitch scarves 3 days before Christmas like last year. Anyone else want to jump on the wagon with me?

New digs and buttons...

You can tell I've been busy. I was ready to update my blog with a new look, getting rid of old links and bringing in some new ones. I'm just thrilled that i also took time from sleeping to finally make myself a button with the beautiful and talented puppy Lilee Ann on it. SHe was sitting on my lap as I made it and was intrigued.

The past few days have been interesting. Lots of company including my best friend and her son, "Booter". We had such a great time. Being closer to them (2.5 hours) is one of the reasons that I wanted to move. We've been best friends since we were 6 and are closer now than ever.

As far as knitting goes, I'm done for now with birthday presents. I'm waiting for my trip to Tulsa next week when I START MY NEW JOB (Eeeeks, is it back to school already) to go to the LYS to get some yarn for the next B4 bag. Em decided that she wants a mitered square blanket for her birthday (in October) so that's what I've been working on. That and trying to figure out exactly what I want to do for Christmas gifts this year. While at Wally World today I picked up the new Creative Knitting issue (Sept 06) a few standard sweater ideas I'm toying with.

Also looking for a tutorial on how to unravel a sweater. I found some great wool sweaters at a garage sale last week and am trying to figure out how to unravel them correctly. Any online tutorials for that?

Ladybug B4

Ok, before, I was going to give it to MIL with little black glass beads on the bobbles to look like ladybugs, but it just seemed like to much for her anyway. So here's the pic of it before I gave it to her today for her birthday. I used Lion Brand Wool for this one. I used 2 strands and a size 13 circular. It knitted up so quickly and painlessly.

SP 8 Survey #2

1. What is your favorite season? both fall and spring

2. Where is or would be your favorite place in the world to take a vacation? Germany to visit my relatives, I've never been.

3. If you could have any job in the world and not worry about finances (everything would be taken care of), which means you'd be doing something you actually like, what would it be?

If I didn't have children and the above I would have been a cardiac surgeon, but probably have a yarn store would be the best.

4. What is your favorite project to knit or crochet?socks, hats and mittens

5. What is your favorite food - whether it be a main dish, dessert, snack, whatever? anything chocolate and pepperoni pizza (cold)

6. What is your favorite way to relax and unwind? Knitting of course, or watching TV

Random stuff...

I find this http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060724/ap_en_tv/survivor_taxes hysterical! LOL.

HELP!

OK, I've decided that I am going to make an afghan (no throws please) for my cousin (more like a brother) and his fiancee for their wedding gift. I have until their wedding on July 21st of next year. I would like to get started and then work a little on it all year long. However, I've perused some patterns and was reaching out for help for you all. Anyone have a great afghan pattern that is lacy, or at least rather intricate? I'm looking for something without cables though. Any ideas? I would really really really enjoy some help here.

Living in Oklahoma.....

One of the perks of living here is going to Grandma P's house. I went and picked these blackberries the other night. They are SOO Yummy!
This is my #1 favorite spot in my house. It's the covered back porch. I love sitting here watching the girls play and just being quiet at night.
This is the girls' favorite place in our house. It's the cutout window from our kitchen to our family room, aka "the drive thru window". They walk by and I have to go to the kitchen and say, "Welcome to Mom's Kitchen, how may I help you." THey giggle and order and complain when it's not done in a timely fashion. We went to the craft show last week and the girls spotted a sign and we HAD to have it. It's the one above the window and says, "Welcome to Mom's Kitchen". It's so much fun.

Now, to find a place to knit. I've tried the living room, the family room and even my bedroom, nothing feels right, not even the back porch. Hmmmm, it'll find me I suppose!

SHameless puppy pics....

Lilee is just a doll. I am so happy that we have her! She's one of the most laid back terriers of any breed that I have ever encountered. ANY she's incredibly spoiled! I can't wait to knit things for her this winter!

No title..

Well the heat wave is finally over for a little while for now. I took this picture at 6pm on Thursday night. I was DYING in B's Blazer with teh air conditioning on Max. I found the digicam lying next to me and had to take advantage, and just hoping that I would never see those numbers on the display EVER again. Today's high was 90 and as far as I was concerned it felt like 60!

The B4 bag is coming along nicely and is being felted as we speak. The kids got a kick out of how big I made it. Especially when Nan decided to put it on as a dress! LOL. I think the Ladybug theme that I'm working on for this bag will turn out nicely. Just hoping to have it done by Wednesday night.

WWYD?

OK so I got eh B4 bag pattern and couldn't decide how to go about making it. I decided to make a ladybug themed B4 bag for MIL for her birthday. Since the decision to make the bag and starting the bottom, said MIL pissed me off royally. I mean, I'm really mad at her and she keeps doing the thing that makes me mad on purpose. So how do you knit something for someone you know will enjoy it, but lots of negative energy is going into the bag because I'm mad. This ever happen to you? Grandma P's 1st two dishcloths. If you have never made a Mason Dixon Warshrag, you really should as they are EXCELLENT for washing dishes!
Anklet sock I'm making from some Lion Brand Magic Stripes that I got for $2 at Hobby Lobby a few weeks ago. Also our backyard, and the way backyard (property behind the chain linked fence is also ours), and of course the wretched trampoline.
Last night we went to Grandma P's and Pa Al's. I picked 10 quarts of blackberries (thornless) and the girls ran around in the sprinkler like maniacs.

THe little wooden figure behind the girls is known to our family as "The Man". "THe Man" is a wooden cutout that has an attachment to hold a waterhose. The waterhose swings back and forth to water the grass. It is the girls' favorite thing to do when we go to visit!

ON tap for today is mowing, garage sale-ing, freezing blackberries, cleaning, packing B for his fishing trip, and hopefully some knitting. We were so happy that our friends Dick and Judy from Nebraska came to visit us last night (they are in town visiting her family) and we are going out without the girls and going to dinner with them tonight! I know you are probably thinking, "Big Deal", but B and I hardly EVER ( like 2 xs a year) go our without the girls. It's also nice when family members argue about who gets to keep the girls this evening! LOL. BTW, SIL won out this time!

Dishcloth exchange part deux...

If we do this exchange, do we want to send one dishcloth to more than one person or send one person more than one dishcloth?

New KAL....

Thanks to Sharon I have joined another KAL. I've been doing felted purses quite a bit this summer so I thought I'd start another one. This looks a little challenging for me, but fun. It's called the b-4 Bag: Bobbles! Beads! Bumps! Buttons! and it looks fun! Check it out!

Suprise! Here comes Elizabeth....

Elizabeth is Em's new bunny. It was made from a pattern from Felted Knits and done with Cascade 220. It didn't felt like I wanted, so I'm making another one for Nan using Galaway I think.

Dish Cloth Exchange....

Ok, I mentioned it not too long ago. If you are interested I thought maybe we could start sign ups next week with the mail out by September 1st. How many washcloths? 2? 3? What do you think? If you are interested please let me know. Also, advertise on your blog if you want. I'll get a button together and set it all up if people are interested enough.

Damn liability....I mean trampoline...

OK, so the unpacking in the house is complete. The attic is packed. The flower beds are dug. THe yard is mowed (that's a whole other story). And 1/2 of the trampoline is complete. Last year for their birthdays, the ILs got the girls a trampoline and safety net. It was great but it is a b*tch to put together and take down. The girls have been begging for it to be put up, so this morning I got out at 8am and started working on it. After 2 hand injuries I got mad and vowed to at least get the springs and lower part finished. Tomorrow I'll do the safety net. My new rule is all outdoor work must be completed by 10:30am. Today's high will be around 104. It's been over a 100 for the past few days with heat indexes in the 110-115's. Knitting on the suprise object is completed with pictures to follow sometime today or tomorrow.

I found myself thinking about Christmas gifts and how I wanted to get a start on it this year, because I've improved much more than just scarfs and hats like last year. I started a list of people in my life that would appreciate knitted gifts and then I realized.....CRAP! MIL and B's grandmother's birthdays are next week! Oh the horror! These crept up on me. Grandma P's birthday is next Tuesday and MIL's 50th birthday is next Thursday. They need to be something nice as B and every male relative he has are going to Canada to go fishing from the 21st to the 30th. ANy ideas for Grandma P? She doesn't wear socks and is a very very plain Jane in a hot climate. MIL is getting a pair of socks and maybe a few dishcloths because I've already made her two felted purses and a pair of ballet slippers last month. But I do need hints for Grandma P.

Hmmmm.....building a mystery....

Well as Em said, I'm knitting again, and it's a secret. I have only let the girls see the following pieces and they are trying to guess like crazy. What do you think I'm making? Hint: It's going to be felted.

Special Report....

The following entry is written by none other than our resident investigative reported Em (6.75 y/o). We were discussing blogs, and my blog in general and she said she wanted to write on it. So the following is an account of what has been happening in our house recently.


Hi. My name is Em and I will be 7 in October. We just moved into our new house. My favorite color is pink. My sister Nan is 3 and a 1/2 and she is very naughty and likes to break my stuff. Our new house is very cool. It has a big back yard and a fence and a porch and my mom said that when she wished for a big back yard for us that she wished that she had thought to wish for a free riding mower because the back yard is a hill and she doesn't like to mow it. My dad doesn't mow the yard because he is at work and then he is too lazy when he gets home. My mom knits all of the time but she is not knitting much now because she is unpacking our house but she's knitting something now but she won't tell us what it is. Did you know that there is a new rule at our house? My mom and dad told me and my sister that you have to wear a shirt outside in the backyard and my sister just runs naked all of the time anyway. My dog likes our new house but she barks a lot. I am knitting a scarf for my barbies. I like to knit. My mom is taking my sister and me to the craft show in Tulsa today. I bet that we won't stay very long because my sister will get bored and scream. My grandpa and cousins and everyone comes to our new house all of the time. My mom should lock the door and shut the curtains so we can hide. I love Oklahoma.

*Edited for spelling only at the author's request. LOL

We are HOME!

OK, it hasn't rained in weeks here in Oklahoma. Actually, I'm not sure it has rained more than one time since we have been here and none of that has been measureable (Since June 3). The rain gods decided to make it rain Sunday....the day of the move... and yesterday....the day we decided to get DSL (WOO HOO), DISH, and phone. Now that it is all said and done, I'm runnin' on a deadline here. I have made a pact with myself that all of the bedrooms would be situated and so would the formal living area (place where B has client visits) by Tuesday night. I also made this deadline for another reason. I want to knit again. Knitting has been put on hold until we can get everything done moving.

On a related note, we spent our first night at the house last night (girls too) and they slept ALL night in their own rooms in their own beds! YAY!

Let Freedom Ring!!!

It's Independence Day......well tomorrow will be because we are actually MOVING!!! We get to start a little tonight and the full out move tomorrow!! WOO HOO! Also, I'll be getting DSL on Monday. I'll probably be gone for the rest of the week or until I find my way through the boxes to get the computer hooked up!