OK, it's been a REALLY long time since laughed so hard that I cried, but this link did it for me. To get the full experience, read the comments; don't just look at the pictures.
http://swapatorium.blogspot.com/2004/12/ski-masks.html
Help! I got an email this morning that www.joann.com is having a big sale and FREE shipping on orders of $25 or more. Help! They have Fun Fur and Boa yarn (and others) on sale -- perfect scarf supplies. I have this big stash of yarn waiting to be knit up, but I'm SO tempted to stock up. So far, my shopping cart has over $200 of yarn in it! ACK! Stop me before I buy again!
Oh, the shawl. I'm kind of disgusted w/it. I frogged and re-knit it b/c when I came to the end of the yarn, it was too small to be useful for anything. I made it narrower and longer. I still don't like it, but I don't want to frog again; I don't know how the yarn would handle it. Of course, the silly yarn (JoAnn's Confetti) has been discontinued, so I can't get any more. I don't know what to do with this thing. It looks ridiculous on me -- I think I'm just not built for that kind of bulky, fluffy stuff. Maybe I'll give it to my skinny sister.
BIG NEWS: After over a year of going back & forth on it, I HIGHLIGHTED MY HAIR yesterday. Hubby likes it. I could have done a better job, but it's OK. I'll have him take my picture later w/the digicam, and then I'll post it. I keep forgetting that I did it, then being surprised when I look in the mirror. Thing One and Thing Two love it. They wanted me to do their hair, too! It was tempting, but I didn't, and I told them they were too young. That's all they need is damaged hair at 6 and 4 years old....
I have TEN balls of Patons Divine in Denim Storm calling my name. I originally thought I'd make a poncho for myself to wear with jeans, but now I think not. As top-heavy as I am, I think ponchos are just not for me; it would just hang off my chest and make me look even fatter than I currently am. Trying to decide what to do with this stuff. I mean really, how many blue scarves do I need to make? It would like nice done up doubled with a grey or a lighter blue, though. Maybe sis-in-law will get a warm scarf for her bday instead of The Passion. I already bought the DVD, but I can give it to their family as an Easter present or something.
We're getting SO jazzed about the March of Dimes WalkAmerica. I looked at our pages this morning, added everything up, and between money received and money pledged, we're already at a combined total of over $1,400! I'm SO happy! If you want to pledge, go to my page, www.walkamerica.org/ericah64 and go for it. Hubby put his page on his blog, so I thought I should put mine up here. He's got more "deep pocket" contacts than I do, so he's ahead of me in fundraising.
Well, Thing One and Thing Two AND Hubby are all home today, sick. Thing Two has an ear infection, poor kid. She woke up at 1am, 5am, and 6am Sunday in pain and even crying about it. Took her to the doc yesterday instead of going to church. Antibiotics seem to be helping already; even her cough is better. Thing One's nose is so runny her face is red under her nose from wiping, and now she's starting a cough. I let her stay home today, but I made her do math stuff for a while in her room. They're watching a movie right now, but when it's done, I'll make her do flashcards or play LeapPad or something else educational.
Check out hubby's blog: www.andrewh.blog.com. He'd be happy.
Decided on Thursday that I didn't like version #2 of baby blanket #2 for the twins, so spent part of Thursday frogging the thing (and I was 1/3 done!), then starting over. OK, I think what the problem is is that I'm bored with this yarn and this project. I have all this other yarn calling my name, you know? SO, I've promised myself that this is the LAST version of this thing. After all, the baby shower is coming up on the 6th, so I have to finish it. Here's the pattern I've made up for it:
Using two different colors of Red Heart Super Saver (I know, I know, but the yarn I really wanted would have been $70 for the two blankets. This way, they will be totally washable when the babies pee/poop/puke on them, and they'll last a really long time) held together and size 15 circ's:
Cast on 89 stitches.
Row 1: K1, p1 all the way across.
Rows 2 - 8: Repeat row 1 for border.
Row 9: K1, p1 for 8 stitches, then k across up to last 8 stitches. P1, k1 for last 8 stitches.
Row 10: K1, p1 for 9 stitches, then p across up to last 9 stitches. K1, p1 for last 9 stitches.
Row 11: K1, p1 for 8 stitches. K for 35 stitches. P1, k1, p1. K for 35 stitches. P1, k1 for last 8 stitches.
Row 12: K1, p1 for 9 stitches. P across to last 9 stitches. K1, p1 for 9 stitches.
Rows 13 - ?: Repeat rows 11 & 12 until the body of the blanket is done.
Rows ?+1 - ?+8: Repeat rows 1-8 for border. Cast off in pattern.
I was DETERMINED to finish this silly thing this weekend so I could do some other stuff, but something was up w/me yesterday, and I slept from 5:45 pm till this morning (with breaks for dh coming to bed, dd waking up in the wee hours with an ear infection, dd climbing in bed w/us in the not as wee hours, etc.). If all these sick people in my house take naps later, maybe I can get in some good knitting time this afternoon. If not, I'll have to wait till Thing One and Thing Two go to bed at 8:00.
Not enough light today to use digicam to take a picture of the work in progress. Hope to take one tomorrow.
Scattershot post today. Bunch of different things on my mind.
March of Dimes WalkAmerica. Hubby & I (and probably Thing One & Thing Two) will be walking on April 30th. Check out www.walkamerica.org and sponsor someone to walk. The money goes toward research to help prevent prematurity, birth defects, and infant death -- a cause very near & dear to our hearts.
Did two scarves last week for my friend's bday. One turned out too short, but I was exactly on budget and couldn't buy more yarn, so I unraveled it, then re-knit it, but half as wide. I liked it better wider, but oh, well. One was a basic garter stitch with a double strand of black Fun Fur and rainbow Trellis. Very cool and glam-looking. The other was garter stitch double strand of Fun Fur and Boa in white/green/blues. I don't remember the color names, but one was called citrus. The other was the same colors, though it was a different brand. Pictures coming soon....
Attempted to make myself a shawl in Confetti, but six skeins wasn't enough, and the silly yarn has been discontinued. Soooo, another unravel and start over thing. I made it about 2/3 as wide. Almost done, and I'll let you know how it turns out.
Soon as I finish the shawl, I'll go back to the second baby blanket. I got bored and set it aside for a while. I can't afford to set it aside long, though, since the shower is on March 6th.
Thing Two is sick. Bummer is that it means no school for her for a while. Good news is that it's not bronchitis or pneumonia, and she's not wheezing.
Discovered a new "red-light food". (For those who've never done Weight Watchers, a "red-light food" is something you can't afford to keep in your house b/c once you get started eating it, you can't stop.) Sounds silly, but it's Berry Burst Cheerios. I'm a cereal nut, and this one is SO good. I opened box #1 (Triple Berry) Tuesday morning. By this evening, that AND box #2 (Banana/Strawberry) were both gone. I like the Triple Berry better, but the Banana/Strawberry has more fiber, so it's better for you. No exercise today, so I'll have to do penance tomorrow.
We checked out a VERY cool dog on Saturday, a Staffordshire Bull Terrier named Ginger. She's really terrific, but we have to count the cost on whether we're really ready for this. My main concerns are smell and hair.
Gotta go. Posting new pictures in the Finished Products.
Couldn't get out of bed to exercise this morning. Oh, well. I'll do 2 miles later today. Gotta work off that sushi rice and the tempura ice cream.
Posted more knitting pictures. Forgot to get one of Angela wearing her scarf. Oops.
Feeling really grateful today, not just for hubby and Thing One and Thing Two, but in general. Thankful for: salvation, freedom of speech, right to bear arms, great school Thing One attends, my friends, my house, the flowers sprouting in my garden, the fact that I have MORE than enough food to eat, the fact that I didn't break any bones on Super Bowl Sunday this year, and SO much more.
Sites I like: www.anncoulter.org, www.newsmax.com, www.drudgereport.com, www.andrewh.blog.com. Hubby's gotten hooked on a blog called PowerLine (I think) and Michelle Malkin's site. Gotta check those out.
HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY! If you don't have a Valentine sweetie, I hope you still have a great day being good to yourself and showing your friends how much you love them.
Kids were so excited to get their cards, jewelry, and candy this morning. I was surprised to find out that the CZ earrings I got at my friend's jewelry party weren't my present. Thing Two spilled the beans and told me I'm getting a necklace, "but I'm not going to tell you what color it is". ;-> I just hope it fits; I have a rather large neck.
Thing One got a flower from a boy today for Valentine's Day! YIKES! It's not a real rose -- it's made of fabric -- but still. Hubby was less than thrilled. I think it's sweet. Actually, I feel a little guilty b/c this boy also gave her a cute stuffed animal for Christmas, and she didn't get him anything for either occasion. Thing Two came home from class with a bunch of Valentines and goodies. I'm glad she's having fun.
I posted some pics of finished baby/preemie hats. I'll post more tonight or tomorrow, after hubby gets home and can retrieve the pics from his new digital camera for me. I'll also post a
"work in progress" picture of the current baby blanket for the twins. I'm dreaming four or five projects ahead, which is kind of fun.
Feeling like a whale after gaining the last couple of weeks. No dessert for me tonight! Still no idea where we're going; hubby's surprising me, which is VERY difficult to do. Maybe if I'd knit more during the day, I'd eat less, get closer to my goal (at or below wedding weight by 10-year anniversary in November), and get to do more of my projects.
Having a hard time getting back "in the groove" of exercising, but I'm working on it. Walked 1 mile Wednesday, 1 mile Thursday, 2 miles Friday. Worked hard in the yard on Saturday (feeling it today!). Walked 2 miles today. On my way there...
Wishing I'd gotten to the cemetery to put some red flowers at Paul's niche. It's special that he's next to his grandpa, but it's REALLY hard for me that he's 45 minutes away; I can't just run over there whenever I feel like it. Then again, there are times that's probably a good thing. I'm feeling guilty that there's nothing for him today.
So, we have a new week starting tomorrow. I'm glad the old one is gone. I don't know what was up with me, but it was the week of eating, and I paid for it at the scale. Oh, well. Today is another day....
Not much going on around here. Valentine's Day tomorrow. I can't wait to put the kids' cards & little gifts out after they're asleep tonight. Had to order hubby's online at the last minute, so it won't be here in time, but I drew pictures inside his card.
Boring post here, but I had to put something up. Blah, blah, blah, blog!
Soon I'll post pictures of my hat project -- the hats for the local ICN. Enough for tonight. I took a long nap this afternoon, got up two hours ago, and I'm still not totally awake.
Well, everyone ELSE seems to have a blog these days, so why not moi?
Current things going on:
Knitting a pair of baby blankets for my sister-in-law's twin boys, due April 21st -- This is hard b/c I wish I were knitting for MY son, but what does a baby in Heaven need with a blanket, eh?
Getting ready for Valentine's Day -- I have the cards for hubby and kids and the gifts for the kids, but I need to get my hubby some slippers. Having a terrible time finding them. I fear I'm going to have to order them online and give him an IOU. Bummer! For once, I actually have reasonable expectations for Valentine's Day. I'm not expecting much, and I'm going to be OK with just about anywhere we go, etc. I'm having fun planning dinner & dessert for the kids & the babysitter. I made a scarf for the babysitter. I can't wait to give it to her.
Knitting & crocheting baby hats -- These are for the ICN at UCSF. I'm so grateful for the great care they gave us and our son that I wanted to help other families. On our son's last day, we were able to go to the gift shop and buy him a special little cap to wear instead of the generic hospital-issue one. Not everyone has the time or money to do that, and some babies' parents live far away, so they can't be there to snuggle them and do things for them. I thought it would be cool to make some special hats to give the hospital for the babies, especially the dying ones. So far, I have about 40 made -- blue ones, white ones, and variegated ones. I have some pink yarn waiting in the wings.
Upcoming Knitting Projects:
Poncho for my sister for her birthday (shhh!). It will be in Patons Fresco Flamino & Patons Fresco Calypso.
Pink hats for the ICN.
Baby blanket for my friend Janet. Probably a double-strand of pink and a variegated white/pink/blue yarn.
Scarf for my friend Linda's 40th. She wears a lot of black, so I thought I'd make one with black eyelash yarn and a rainbow tape yarn. Short scarf, more like a foulard or cravat -- more decorative than for warmth.
Shawl for me. Actually, this should be at the bottom of the list. Hope I can do it while it's still shawl weather!
Sweaters for the kids. I need to find a pattern like what I have in my head. I'm still too much of a beginner to make up my own for this. If you know of one, please comment and let me know. What I have in mind is a tunic-length, long-sleeved (raglan sleeves), roll-neck, roll-bottom, roll-cuff sweater in stockinette. I'm going to use Caron Simply Soft Brites yarn in Coconut, Limelight, Grape, and Watermelon. They'll be bright and cute.
