No new knitting...too busy looking at the flowers...

Everything is finally green and beautiful...it is my favorite time of the year. Everything looks so fresh and promising, before the sweltering heat of NC summer deflates all the tired, thirsty plants...
I think a haiku is in order...

Haughty spring roses
mesmerize passing noses
appetite appeased.

I tend to like things others do not. I live in a neighborhood so I try to plant different things than my neighbors... So I have a carnivorous bog. This is a great site to check out if you are interested in carnivorous plants http://www.californiacarnivores.com/. Most of my pitcher plants have bloomed. They all have such interesting flowers.
Here is the entire bog. It is right outside next to our patio. Besides the pitcher plants I also have a venus flytrap, a cobra plant and a sundew. It has been very fascinating to watch the plants, and kids are always interested in them.
Ok y'all, I am off to get some knitting done...(Emms, if you are reading, I hope you are feeling better...I know it sucks...)

happy birthday to me...

I am celebrating the third anniversary of my 25 birthday! Thanks mom for bringing me into this world and raising me to be the woman I am today! I, for one, think you did a great job!

Love is in the air!

We have a family of skinks living in our green house and back yard... I have seen these two many, many times the past couple of days...I am glad they found eachother!

I spotted them out my kitchen window...kitchen view of the greenhouse

100 things about me

1. I am a down-to-earth, blue jean and t-shirt wearing southern girl.
2. I see no reason to ever be mean to anyone, ever. Karma is a big enough bitch without my help.
3. I try to see the silver lining of the cloud, no matter how dark the cloud.
4. I tell my friends what they need to hear, which is not always what they want to hear.
5. I read my horoscope everyday.
6. I am a taurus.
7. My favorite color is yellow, but I only have 2 yellow pieces of clothing-1 is a dress, the other is a skirt.
8. I like to drink alcoholic beverages, but not girlie drinks.
9. I drink coffee with sugar and cream every morning.
10. I have 13 different types of hot tea in my cabinet.
11. I was the last of my friends to lose my virginity.
12. I was almost 17.
13. I got pregnant 6 months later.
14. I figured out I was pregnant when I fainted at band camp-two weeks before the start of my senior year.
15. Baby's daddy and I got married when I was three months pregnant.
16. I graduated early, but only after my Mom wrote a note to the school board.
17. My Mom had to write me excuse notes when I missed class-even though I was married and did not live with her.
18. I was married to The Girl Wonder's dad for three years.
19. I did things during those three years I will never do again. I hope my family NEVER finds out about some of them. They probably know more than I would like to think.
20. I honestly believe that being married with a child while so young kept me from catching numerous STDs during college.
21. I am kinky.
22. I am bisexual. My parents don't know.
23. The Gaming One was a room mate of mine and hubby #1.
24. We are all great friends now. But it took a few years for us all to get there.
25. I still feel guilty about leaving hubby #1- even though I know in my heart that it was the right decision.
26. The Gaming One and I only got married so I could have great insurance.
27. We wanted a baby.
28. We had both been married before and realized a piece of paper (marriage license) would not keep us together.
29. We were married in September and I was pregnant by October. The Gaming One was very proud of himself.
30. I have homeschooled my kids since day 1.
31. My parents thought my decision to homeschool was a phase/crazy notion, until kids started shooting eachother at school.
32. I think I am a good parent.
33. I am often critical of other parents.
34. I feel like I have two personalities-1)Mama 2)Sexy Wild Woman
35. I keep Sexy Wild Woman away from my children.
36. I try to be a good role model for all kids.
37. In public, I would rather speak to kids than their parents.
38. I am a bit antisocial.
39. I drink too much when I go to bars.
40. I prefer to drink at home.
41. I rarely eat breakfast-although I cook for my kids as soon as they wake up.
42. I do not like chain restaurants.
43. I do not like processed food- but love me some raman noodles!
44. I was a vegetarian for three years.
45. I started eating meat again because my extended family gave me hell about having an eating disorder.
46. They still think I am too skinny.
47. I weigh 20 lbs. less now than when I was in high school.
48. I love rare steaks and sushi.
49. I learned to knit by accident...I bought a purse at a thrift shop and it was full of knitting needles.
50. I had only crocheted before, but never finished anything until after I was a knitter. I made a granny square blanket and gave it to my mom. She cried.
51. I taught myself to knit.
52. My MIL is the only other person I know that knits.
53. I am totally obsessed now-I knit at least 2 hours every day.
54. I prefer to knit at night.
55. I do not have a driver's license. never have.
56. I have only driven about 20 times in my whole life.
57. My parents are divorced.
58. I have 2 stepsisters and a brother.
59. I did not like my stepsisters before my mom married their dad. We are great friends now.
60. My Mom is my favorite person. We are very much alike. I was always her favorite child.
61. I wanted to be a doctor when I was growing up.
62. Now I would rather be an RN or a midwife.
63. I hope someday to go back to college to get a degree.
64. I am in no hurry. I have kids to raise first.
65. I do not want more kids.
66. I have realized I am too selfish to raise another baby. and I value sleep.
67. I tend to be bitchy when I am not well rested.
68. I would rather say nothing than argue.
69. I can go all day without eating.
70. I love reality tv-but only the ones on cable tv. No network reality for me.
71. I love to garden, but hate to water and weed. The Gaming One has threatened me with apartment living if I don't water on a regular basis this summer.
72. I am 5'3.
73. I am attracted to tall men...The Gaming One is 6'6.
74. I prefer to go barefoot.
75. If I go out I wear high heels or chunky heeled shoes- even to Lowe's and Home Depot. The Gaming One gets on me for not wearing sensible shoes.
76. I think my best features are my legs and ass.
77. I secretly want to be a writer so I can work from home.
78. I also wanted to be an earthworm farmer.
79. I do not think I would be good at a normal 9 to 5 job.
80. especially since I often sleep past 9 -if The Boy Wonder permits.
81. I am an overachiever.
82. If I am not good at something when I first try it, I usually will not attempt it again. see #55 for example.
83. I have worn glasses (or contacts) since I was 10 (13 for the contacts). I am practically blind without them.
84. I think there is nothing worse than being a liar.
85. I would rather someone steal from me than lie to me.
86. I was raised Southern Baptist and Catholic (a result of my parents divorce).
87. Now I am not even a Christian. I feel like a hypocrite when I go to church.
88. My parents do not know that either. They keep inviting me to church.
89. I have not been in 5 years.
90. I am very spiritual.
91. I believe that there is good in everyone.
92. I am very empathetic.
93. I will cry if I see a grown man cry-even if I do not know him.
94. I always cry at weddings and funerals. and tv drama if I am on my period.
95. I loved to read as a kid-books were my escape.
96. Since I have started knitting I do not read much at all-unless you count blogs
97. or kid books...I read to my kids everyday.
98. I am surprised that I update my blog-I have never written in any journal more than a couple times, though I like to start them.
99. I am good at math.
100. I am vain, though I wish I were not.

Wow. That was easier than I thought.

Moving right along

Am I halfway yet?? I know quite a few of y'all have made one or two of these, so tell me, am I halfway? I feel like I should be by now. But I really think I will have this finished by Mother's Day since I have three full knitting weeks to complete it. Woo-Hoo!
I finally was able to join to knit in the round yesterday, so I only have about 6 more inches of St st before I can start the ribbing on the bottom. I actually do not have to have this finished until the week after Mother's Day, so I know I will have it done. I have measured this compared to her clothes, so I am 98% sure it will fit.
On the gardening front...The Boy Wonder and I planted a few things in the garden the day before yesterday. Yesterday, he called his Gagee (MIL) and told her all about it.
Him:Gagee, we planted some of our garden yesterday.
...Gagee's answer...
Him:One tomato was called Big Boy, *laughs* another was called Mr. Stripey *laughs again*
(this is very cool to me because I only told him the names of the plants as he was putting them into the ground...and he is 4) I am always amazed that he remembers all he does...what a little sponge...

We also planted some Roma tomatoes and a variety named Sweet 100 (they are little grape sized tomatoes that both the Boy Wonder and the Girl Wonder eat like candy). We also put in two Jalapenos and two bell peppers. Can y'all tell we all really love tomatoes? We are planning to grow everything we need to make salsa. I am so excited!

Seeds to be planted monday...red cored chantenay carrot, tendergreen burpless cucumbers, arugula, jewel mixed nasturtiums, oregano, genovese and sweet basil, dill, brussels sprouts, eight ball hybrid squash, sundance hybrid sweet corn, tendergreen improved bush garden beans, jubilee and triple crown watermelon, and big max pumpkin.

The Girl Wonder is looking forward to flexing her green thumb while attempting to grow a giant prize pumpkin... looks like it is shaping up to be a summer full of fun and learning!

life as a bigamist

a knitting bigamist that is...I have stayed loyal to the Somewhat Cowl and the Clapotis, resisting all urges to cast on another project...After three skeins here is my SC progress... The yarn is much pinker and not so purpley as this picture, I blame crappy lighting...and my camera (can't be my photography skills-noooo). I am about an inch away from joining to knit the bottom in the round. I absolutely love this yarn and knitting with it (Knit Picks shine -cotton/modal). It's smooth buttery goodness makes all the stockinette an actual joy! I keep nuzzling against my knitting...giving it a little love. It's for my Momma so I gotta put some love in the stitches! I keep praying it will fit her as it is a surprise and I just measured some of her clothes to get her size...

As for the Clapotis, I am still in love. The pattern is almost hypnotic. The rows are just short enough that I can knit through a pattern repeat fairly quickly. Since this picture I have completed another row of dropped stitches... Again, the color isn't quite right...scroll down a few posts if ya want the real color. I have finally come to terms with giving this away, I just hope MIL likes it... have you ever gotten this far into a gift and think "hmmm, I have NEVER seen her wear anything remotely close to this"...I did ask her daughter LA if she thought MIL would like it and LA assured me she thought she would so we shall see... as I have said before MIL is a fellow knitter and I am sure she will be impressed, even if it is not her garment of choice...further proof that MIL deserves Clapotis and I will give it to her without secretly wishing I could keep it...besides the wonderful son she raised whom I adore more than anything...

She helped me get my very first garden ready yesterday. We toiled for hours and hours. This lady is in her 60's and she broke up each of the rows with a shovel so I could go back over them with our mini tiller/cultivator. She was great motivation to keep going long after I really wanted to stop. I am sure that I would have only finished about 2 rows if it were not for all her help, advice and company. It was a good thing we finished yesterday because it has been raining all day today.

My grandparents always had a garden growing up and I have such fond memories of playing in the rows, eating green beans and tomatoes still warm from the sun-I want my kids to have these same memories. I am one of those gals who yearn to learn the skills of all the hard-working ladies that came before me. I think that is one reason I love to knit. I feel a connection to all those ladies that HAD to knit to ensure their loved ones stayed warm during the winter. I feel there are so many skills southern women just 2 generations older than me have that will be virtually lost with their passing. Women my age do not take the time to learn the skills of their grandmothers because it is so much easier and cheaper to buy things. How many of you have actually picked fresh produce and canned them at home? I made it a point to learn the art of canning from my grandmother. Sure it is a hot job, but the satisfaction of hearing the tops pop, knowing that food will nourish my family long after summer is over is priceless. Ahh the elation of transforming all those extra cucumbers into pickles. It makes me sad to think of all the little ones that will never experience the joy of picking fresh strawberries, grapes or blackberries to help Mama transform them magically into tasty jams and jelly. Needless to say, I am very excited about my garden. My son has already picked out some seeds that he wants to plant, which will be going into the ground when weather permits. I cannot wait to see the look on my kids faces as the first tender shoots peek out of the freshly tilled soil, the excitement of picking those first ripe veggies! It gives a whole new meaning to eat your veggies...I can tell y'all now, I for one will have no problem convincing my little ones to eat theirs!

I finished my post and remembered I wanted to post some Project Spectrum yellow...I love these bearded irises...my gardening grandparents also had these for as long as I can remember, so I always think of them when I see and iris...have I mentioned yellow is my favorite color?

The Girl Wonder went to Charleston, SC over the Easter weekend with her dad and his family (I have two babies daddies) and brought me back this lovely little skein of handspun, hand dyed wool yarn (she always brings me keepsakes from her trips with her daddy...such a thoughtful girl)...The Girl Wonder told me all about seeing the actual sheep that the yarn came from, how the lady she got it from (Michaela McIntosh) actually spun the wool and dyed it with marigold and dahlias. She had a great time and learned lots about Charleston. She was so excited as she told me the bits of Charleston history and folk stories. It is only about 58 yards medium weight, so it will be a small project maybe a panta or a small summer clutch...anyone have any project ideas or suggestions?

I may be new to all natural fibers...

but someone please tell me this is a joke!? anyone? Possum yarn...the perfect fiber for all your redneck kin! and y'all, being from sunny NC, I have lots of redneck kin to choose from! Thank you Emms for bringing these people to my attention. You better believe someone in my family will have a possum fir knit...who gathers all these possum fibers anyway??

The point I realized there are 5 weeks until Mother's Day...

and I am knitting a Clapotis and The Somewhat Cowl for the Mammas. Both of which I really would like to finish on time. I was so proud of myself yesterday as I realized I was finally finished with the first skein of both projects. I tend to measure project progress by the skein. My fingers move a little faster, my pulse quickens as I watch the last few yards of a skein melt into my project. It is a small victory for those of us afflicted with the KADD... anyway, I woke this morning still elated by the knitting victory yesterday and a full night sleep for once in the past couple of months... and had this little conversation with myself...

sane self: ah, just five weeks till Mother's Day
cocky self: yeah I know! I Finished BOTH of my first skeins yesterday!
sane self: that's greaaat, but how long have you worked on Clapotis? a month? good job. at that rate you should be finished by MIL's birthday. in September.
cocky self:but I have only been working on the other since Saturday...
sane self: and you have what? 11 skeins left...you better hope you don't mess up...you know you just have to knit a little over 3 skeins a week to finish them both.
cocky self: I can do that! I will be a knittin monogamous!
sane self: *sigh* you have two projects, that would be a bigamist...
cocky self: oh yeah, right.

We shall see, my friends how this turns out...will I be able to resist the siren song of this when the addict inside yearns painfully for quick fix. An escape from all the endless stockinette. I know it is pretty, and is actually my favorite knitted fabric-so smooth, so simple-let's face it, though, it can get boring...

I love the raglan shaping, cause I hate seaming things... so very pretty, and I am sure Trucker Mamma will love the way this one feels. I am finding it is much easier to knit something for someone else knowing it is not my size... (the first is much closer to the actual color)


I was lured by the Sexy Knitter's Club to knit the Somewhat Cowl although I knew from first glance it was not really for me. After seeing it time and again, I realized it would be perfect for Trucker Mamma. Knit Picks Shine (cotton/modal) color Orchid (also perfect because The Gaming One grows orchids).

quiz time at auntie amanda's

You Are a Plain Ole Cup of Joe

But don't think plain - instead think, uncomplicated You're a low maintenance kind of girl... who can hang with the guys Down to earth, easy going, and fun! Yup, that's you: the friend everyone invites. And your dependable too. Both for a laugh and a sympathetic ear.

What Kind of Coffee Are You?

You Are Low Maintenance

Otherwise known as "too good to be true" You're one laid back chica - and men love that! Just remember that no good guy likes a dormat. So if you find your self going along to get along... Stop yourself and put up a little bit of a fight.

Are You High Maintenance?

You Are Most Like Samantha!

For you, dating is the ultimate sport You're into guys with power, looks, or a lot of money. You rather have a great two weeks than a great forever. But even you fall victim to love from time to time. :-) Romantic prediction: You'll find love in the next few months... But you'll be the last one to realize it.

Which Sex and the City Vixen Are You?

You Are Bad Girl Sexy

Girl, you are nothing but trouble. And that's hot. You've got the classic bad girl sexiness mojo going on. And your badass attitude makes men fear you - and crave you. Don't give into people who say to tone it down. You're perfect as is.

What Kind of Sexy Are You?

What You Know About Your Guy: Practically Everything

You have gotten to know your man really well From his hopes and dreams to favorite things... You definitely have enough info to figure out if he's *the* guy In fact, you may know him a little better than you know yourself

How Well Do You Know Your Man?

You Belong in London

A little old fashioned, and a little modern. A little traditional, and a little bit punk rock. A unique woman like you needs a city that offers everything. No wonder you and London will get along so well.

What City Do You Belong In?

You Are a Retro Bikini!

You prefer a bikini that's flirty and feminine, not flashy. You look sweet and sexy - a rarity on the beach these days!

What Kind of Bikini Are You?

Your Element is Earth

Your power color: yellow Your energy: balancing Your season: changing of seasons Dedicated and responsible, you are a rock to your friends. You are skilled at working out even the most difficult problems. Low key and calm, you are happiest when you are around loved ones. Ambitious and goal oriented, you have long term plans to be successful.

What Element Are You?

Your Toes Should Be Blue

You're a little out there, but that means you take guys to a place that's out of this world! Your ideal guy: Zany, hilarious, and totally unpredictable. Stay away from: Anyone who has to get up for work in the morning

What Color Should Your Toenails Be?

And no, I do not have anything better to do...and yes, most of them are pretty accurate!

It's just not meant to be...

The Shaped Jacket from Vogue Knitting w. 05-06 that is... When do you decide that a project is just not worth the time, energy and effort you are putting into it? Well, after frogging half of the front, knitting past my original frog point (more than 50 rows of seed stitch) then realizing that somehow I counted incorrectly and fucked up my random stripes so they would not match up, I realized that this shaped jacket in eastery blue and yellow stripes was just not for me and not to be. Granted I have been questioning how much I would wear a pastel blue and yellow striped shaped jacket, but I am a little quirky and I thought I might be able pull it off...if nothing else I would just wear it at home whenever I needed to step out with my smoking friends, since we don't let people smoke in our house. Cosmically someone is looking out for me, I guess..."No Amanda, that striped pastel jacket is a bad idea-even if you never wear it in public." After I realized the stripes did not match up last night, needless to say I was pissed-and I do not mean drunk- I was very angry. See...all was going great until I got to the armhole, again. All I can figure is that I looked at the wrong place in my not-so-trusty row count. Of course, when I realized this The Gaming One so intelligently quipped "it seems it would only take a second to see if your stripes match up each time you change colors." (If smoke could come out of a gals ears mine would have been smoking at this point) I replied, "yes, but I counted the rows to make sure they would match. I made notes and everything." My darling, sweet husband did not make one remark questioning my counting ability, or my ability to decipher my own writing (since obviously I cannot count or read my own directions since I have fucked this up for a second time now). I guess he either has some sense of self-preservation or he wanted some booty-either way he made the right decision. He had two suggestions for me...one was this

Which did help...after which he suggested snuggles and a very stiff vodka tonic...just what mama needed...my anger melted faster than the ice in my drink and I went to sleep a very satisfied girl. So I have decided to abandon the shaped jacket. I really did not want to weave in all those ends anyway, so there! On the bright side, that is one less project I have to complete before I can cast on another project. I just love the first few rows of a new project... So much promise, and not a mistake in sight.

I am dropping stitches like a mo-fo on my, I mean, my MIL's Clapotis. Now that I am on the straight section, it is really knitting up quickly. In the words of Ren and Stimpy "happy happy joy joy!"

And since I am a drinker y'all, I have realized why Janis Joplin liked boozin' with Southern Comfort...a little 100 proof and coke= good stuff!

Thanks for all the comments on the last post! Y'all are makin' me smile. btw, when I leave my purse in the car, it is locked in the trunk...no crack heads gonna steal my stuff unless they have x-ray vision and can pick locks. And if they possess those two skills, well, they can have my purse...it's not like I have a job, I have a sugar daddy, yo!

blog anxiety

Last week The Gaming One called me from work and asked me what my blog address was... my first response was panic, which I thought was quite odd...this is the man I love more than anything, we share everything-our foundation is blatant honesty. But for some reason I hesitated before I gave him the address.
Me: Uh...why do you want my blog address?
Him: I want to show the girls at work your knitting. (this is the moment that I remembered the comment about his mom liking cock)
Me: (inner voice-shit I wonder what he is gonna think) Aww that's sweet! here is is auntieamandaknits....
Him: thanks baby, love ya, see ya when I get home
after I hang up the phone I really sort of freak out - I mean, this is supposed to be my little place to put my musings about knitting, my personal thoughts and frustrations about daily life....this is not for my family to be reading (I have yet to come out to my family about my blogging habit)...oh god what is he going to think of his nickname, he is gonna think I am a moron... damn, not to mention he is going to show this to his co-workers, they are really gonna think I have problems...So strange that I do not mind total strangers peeping into my window, but am freaked about my own husband peeking in. Oh well, nothing cam be done about it now... but y'all know what? He was actually impressed! He said he didn't realize I had a talent for writing, that I was witty and funny! Plus he really got a kick out of his nickname! He thought that was so clever! Ever since he has been asking me if I "blogged about him today" it is so cute! After the fact I realized I had no reason to worry, after all he does love me more than anything and is very non-judgmental. Is it just me afflicted with this blog anxiety? Are there others out there that blog for strangers and not for friends and family? Here I can be myself, take it or leave it, and I really don't want Trucker Mamma reading my posts sprinkled with 'fuck'. When I was a teen at summer camp, I wrote a letter to my sister with quite a few profanities sprinkled here and there. Well, my parents READ THE LETTER! and when I arrived home after being at camp for a month they GROUNDED ME! They told me that if I wrote those words, I was probably saying them all summer and I knew that was not acceptable behavior and I was raised better than that blah, blah, blah. To this day I still will not say fuck in front of either of my parents (or my kids) even though it is my favorite of all the profanities- it is so versatile after all...fuck you, fuck me, fuck off, fuck it, what the fuck, fuckety-fuck-fuck...you get the picture. So if any of my family members find my little blog I am sorry if you are shocked-here I live out loud-no pretending, no watching my p's and q's...I promise I will continue to behave like a proper southern gal in public, but I am making no such promises for my blog.

Since this is a knitting blog would you like some knitting content? Ok, I just dropped the second row of stitches on MIL's clapotis. The knitting is going very quickly, and it is a calming knit and quite satisfying. The more I knit, the more I realize I really like this. It will be very hard for me to give away, and I see myself making one for myself. I have also finished most of the left front of the shaped jacket from Vogue Knitting that I frogged because I cannot follow directions. I am itching to start The Somewhat Cowl for Trucker Mamma, and the Silk Corset Top for myself, but I am really trying to resist the urge until I have at least one FO...I am still afflicted with the knitting ADD but am trying to direct my attention to the Clapotis and the Shaped jacket.

After all the March SEX I promised myself (and my credit card) that I would not buy any more yarn until I finished all the projects I have yarn for. Well, yesterday that temptress of a MIL told me she just heard of a LYS that she would like to go check out and wondered if I would like to go with her? Of course I agreed to go but I think I may just have to leave all the plastic at home-I am weak I tell ya! I know I would not be able to resist, especially if anything is on sale. Or maybe I can just knit around the clock and finish up all my projects...I have until after Easter, since she will be at her beach house until then. Who am I kidding? I will just have to be strong...and leave my purse in the car.

Where to start....

When The Gaming One is home, I appear MIA in internet land...He works so hard and works such long hours that when he is home I try to stay offline so he has time to play with his gaming buddies...Well, he had a three day weekend, so I had very little time to blog or even read blogs, but on the upside I get a lot of knitting done when he is home. I feel very scatterbrained today there seems to be lots I want to post about but cannot collect my thoughts enough to put them in a proper order...
on a knitting note... I have quite a few projects in que... these four yarns represent the four projects I have yet to start...from left to right 1) KnitPicks ShineWorsted color Bachelor Button-Silk Corset Top 2) KnitPicks Shine color Orchid- Somewhat Cowl for Trucker Mamma- hopefully completed by Mother's Day 3) Noro Kureyon color 115- first I wanted this to be felted mary janes, but have since seen the Anthropologie Inspired capelet in Noro by Kitschy-Kitchen...and I must have it! 4) KnitPicks Merino Style color Moss- this will be a cardigan for The Gaming One.

I have been knitting away on my MIL's Mother's Day Clapotis.

You can see the ridges where I started purling the dropped stitches. I tell you what, if I had not started purling instead of using stitch markers I know I would not be this far along! It is an easy knit...I just dropped my first stitches Yeah! but now that I have, I fear I will be very bored with this one....but I know MIL will appreciate it (she's a knitter y'all! actually the ONLY knitter I know!) after all she worked so hard raising that wonderful son of her's the least I can do is show her some love-I was just telling him yesterday I am so happy to be married to him...I just feel nothing can happen that we cannot skate through together! We have not even been married for 6 years and I still light up inside when he comes home from work, still tingle beneath his fingertips....

My Stalker Swap partner received her package, here is what I sent! Scroll down to VW69's post. I am patiently waiting for my package.

The Girl Wonder celebrated her 10th birthday yesterday! Nothing like your kid moving into the double digits to make a gal feel old! We had a great time, We had lunch a her Dad's restaurant Yum Yum! Then did a bit of shopping to find her a birthday outfit. We went into 6 stores before she saw anything she liked. She is big into black, and was really put off by the fact that everything in stores is Eastery and pastel...I think she would rather stay home than have to go out in public wearing pastels...She is like a 20 year old trapped in a 10 year old's body... To celebrate her birthday we went to The Melting Pot (a fondue restaurant) and had a great time...even The Boy Child was well-behaved which is really saying something since our reservation was for 7:30 (his bed time is 8:30) and we were there almost 3 hours! We had a great 4 course meal and spent what we would have on a party with the added bonus of no decorating, no screaming kids hyped up on cake and ice cream, and no clean-up! Fantastic! Happy Birthday Sweetie!

Knot in my noro!!

So I finished 2 washcloths for my neighbor, and decided to pick up the lovely Noro Kureyon I bought on sale at WEBS last week. I have decided my four lovely skeins just have to be felted mary janes. Being the rebel I am, I am not following a pattern and I didn't even test a swatch to see how it felts...We shall see how they turn out. I was planning to match the beginnings of the yarns to make sure the variegation matches up thus having matching mary janes....however, last night I came to a little problem. See it down there? the 5th stitch from the right, that little knot! Do you also notice how the two ends are not even the same color?! Now, I know that this happens, even in nice yarn, but give me a break yarn gods! I know this yarn was an impulse purchase that I really needed like I need another hole in my head, but must I be punished like this? Ahh well, so what to do? I am very open to any suggestion that you ladies in the know have for me. I want the slippers to match...Do I find the similar colors in another skein and graft them like the this one? or Frog and start with a new skein?
You know I so understand now why I have read so many gushing about Noro... I am such a fan already and can think of many things I would like to do with this yarn...the color changes are breathtaking and I feel a haiku coming over me...

Noro Kureyon
a canyon sunset revealed
muted yet vibrant.

later...I have made up my mind to start over and use the above knitted bit as a swatch...felted and everything...

Nonsense

Things from my email...Tell 10 friends!Get a mammogram! The author of the "story of hope" (which is the first thing you see on the site) had the same name I do...I just felt it needed to be recognized
Political Correctness: one for me...two for The Gaming One
She does not get "DRUNK" or "TIPSY" - She gets "CHEMICALLY INCONVENIENCED."
He is not a "CRADLE ROBBER" - He prefers "GENERATIONAL DIFFERENTIAL RELATIONSHIPS." He is not "HORNY" - He is "SEXUALLY FOCUSED." Too. damn. funny.

Just a bit of knitting today... I was inspired by Persnickety Knitter to make some washcloths for a neighbor who was quite neighborly as a little thank you. It turns out those pretty little bags some liquor companies swaddle their lovely brew in (I just realized both companies I know of -Crown Royal and Canadian Club Classic- are Canadian...more things from Canada I like...) make great small project bags.... That is, if ya don't mind the dirty stares from the southern baptist folk. I am not saying anything bad about southern baptist, they just don't condone drinkin' y'all....Speaking of not condoning drinking -tangent- when I was in kindergarten I kept all my crayons in a pretty purple bag with gold writing...I thought that was the prettiest bag I had ever seen. I felt like a princess taking my crayons from such a fancy bag; however, I was forbidden by the parents to take my beautiful bag of crayons to school. I did not realize at the tender age of 5 that the beautiful golden script adorning my princess crayon bag read: Crown Royal. But, my pride got the best of me. I tucked my beautiful bag into my backpack and proudly took it to school to show my classmates. Well, when my teacher saw it she was not too happy. I was sent to the principal's office and my parents were called to school because I had liquor paraphernalia at school....That day, boys and girls, I learned to obey even if I do not understand. A lesson that has served me well.

I am about 10 rows away from the first dropped stitches on MIL Clapotis, so y'all know I am getting excited about that, but I am really putting the finishing touches on my stalker swap package. All sent.

I really hope my person likes their package. I am trying to take pictures of everything before I send and will post when appropriate. I am also joining the Sexy Knitters in knitting the Somewhat cowl for Trucker Mamma for Mother's Day.

I love this and must do it for The Girl Wonder's 10th birthday on the 3rd! Snack Cake Sushi

I am in the Sistah Friends Knitting Ring thanks to Emmie. I am looking forward to getting to know those gals...

Family and stalker goodness...

I figured out my bloggy problems I think... and have had a great week...Trucker Mamma is home and we have spent much time together, my pregnant sister is doing fairly well...I finally met cousin K's baby girl Awww...she was so little and cute it made my ovaries hurt...
I had a bonding experience with the Girl Wonder over paper crafts....
Here are her first efforts...
She has such refined tastes! Her's turned out quite nice, and as soon as she completes this set I will post pics of them. Mine are a secret!

technical difficulty...

sorry about the crazy look of the blog....somehow I managed to completely fuck up my text...anyone who knows how I can fix it would be my new hero! I am going to visit my parents, but will tackle this issue tonight when I get home...and maybe even post some knitting goodness...

WTF!!

I love to read other people's blogs and click on various links on their sidebar...catchy blog titles, odd links, whatever...Well I followed this link and just wondered what the fuck these gals were thinking! I love Japanese food, the culture, cute Japanese women in their beautiful silks, but this was where I had to draw the line...The Gaming One would bust a nut laughing at me if I even thought about pulling off that look!

I have the knitting ADD...

So I have not been blogging much (at all) this week. On the homeschooling front, it is test time and The Girl Wonder has been working on her California Achievement Test. It is so strange, but she really considers it FUN! We are unschoolers, meaning we let the kids learn what they are interested in and learn from the world around them instead of sitting down with textbooks, so, we never test...the kids just do it until they learn it! She sees the test as a fun change of pace. The weather has also been beautiful and I have spent much time outside with the little ones, but my fingers have been busy y'all! I have started lots of projects....first there is the Craftster stalker swap knitting goodness (I ain't telling what it is until it is sent) but here is a teaser pic....

I have also been working on the Shaped Jacket from w05-06 Vogue Knitting. All was well until I realized that I fucked up my side shaping. Of course I did not realize this until I was to the armhole shaping...that ball of yarn is all the rows I frogged. I knit the back and to the armhole in about 5 days, but after noticing the mistake, I was just mad at it so I started something else...

...a Clapotis in alpaca...it is so light and fluffy warm, I am really gonna hate to give this away...And I would like to thank you Emms for the so smart suggestion of purling the stitches that are to be dropped instead of using stitch markers...I was having such a hard time keeping the stitch markers out of the way of the lightweight loveliness that is that alpaca!

I also started an amigurumi monkey for my saturday tea-time friend...

and like I do not have enough to do I decided a bit of SEX may do me right... some cotton Sugar 'n Cream for some dishcloths for my Momma. And some Paton's Classic Wool for a French Market Bag.

Oh, yeah, also waiting for me at the Post Office is yarn for a cardigan for Gaming One and yarn for the Silk Corset Top that I was just sooo sure would be the next KAL for the Sexy Knitters Club. Well, the sexy knitters picked two other tops instead, so I will be knitting Silk Corset all by my lonesome. I was really looking forward to joining the KAL but really do not think I would wear either of the tops that were choosen. Maybe next time...

Project Spectrum: Pink & Red

Since I am not knitting too much with pink and red I thought I would share some of my other favorite thing pink and red in no particular order...The Gaming One also grows orchids in his not-so-spare time. This slipper orchid (I will not bore you with scientific names-to be read as I can not remember it's scientific name!) is blooming now and has been for the past three or four weeks! It will probably keep its flower for another month if we are lucky!
My favorite shade of red just happens to be any 2002 Merlot... This one is named Trinity Oaks, it is not too bad for a cheap wine.
I must admit this poppy is from last year, but I love the complexity of poppies, from the first tender silvery grey leaves to the flower head so heavy, the stem cannot even hold it upright. Days before the papery delicate petals open the bud lifts as if by magic only to last precious few days. The seed pod, much like natures tiny saltshaker, contains hundreds of seeds that, if we are lucky, will start the process all over again. Also contained is the elusive opium, held like a secret just beneath the skin of the seedpod, ripe for the taking of anyone who holds the key to its harvest. Of all the flowers I have, I think this would have to be my favorite, and the one that I am in awe of the most! The lonely pink hyacinth. It is the only one I have because The Gaming One does not like them for some reason. I adore the fragrance and often can be seen prostrate in front of it just to get a nosefull of its heady aroma.
Finally my pink flamingos. They live in my carnivorous plant bog right outside my back door. They were a gift from my husband's cousin's wife. She and I are like two peas in a pod and actually bought a pair for eachother on the same weekend as surprise gifts! It is amazing how great minds think alike! I love these gaudy not-so-little birds, and each time I see them I am reminded of all the great times we have had with the cousins (they are much more like our siblings than cousins and we love them more that you would believe!) They are also the ones that got The Gaming One into the orchid hobby/obsession.
Hope you enjoyed my Project Spectrum (link on the sidebar) contribution...sorry no knitting, but the knitting is for my secret pal!

today I'm rambling...

This yarn totally matches my carpet, yo! Knit Picks Andean Silk Twist color Poppy Field....This is for a little something, something for my secret stalker pal for the Craftster swap I am in...I gotta knit him/her something since it is my special skill. I love this yarn so much, it is so soft and snuggly I just want to nuzzle it all day! I am sure I will be getting more of this, and may just do a little swatch and see how a clapotis would look. I am really just a newbie natural fiber knitter ( I hate handwashing garments with a passion) but the more I use it the more I love it, and I just may be able to get rid of my aversion to handwashing after putting hours into creating a beautiful garment.

I also cast on for the Shaped Jacket in the winter 05/06 issue of Vogue Knitting, but I am using up all that Lion Brand Jiffy I originally bought for the Hoover Blanket. I realize I will probably look like an Easter egg in it, because of the pastel, but I figure I can wear it at home, and if I really like it, I will buy some wool (alas, there will be no 17 balls of cashmere, which the pattern calls for, in my near future) and make it in a more suitable color. Besides, it is almost spring (12 more days Y'all!) and what better time to wear some crazy pastel colors that are usually only seen on small children-I am young at heart after all! It seems to be a quick knit, as I am to the armhole shaping on the back and I have only been knitting on it since Sunday night.

After seeing little monkey, The Girl Wonder has decided she *must* learn to crochet those cute little creatures so she can make them for all her family! -- I just love that child so much, she is the most caring person I think I have ever met. She is so grown up and mature (to only be 9yo) and I think she is the most well behaved child in all the state if not the South! I am not just saying that because she is mine either. How many 9 year olds do you know that would prefer to have sushi than McDonald's? Instead of a birthday party with lots of kids and cake, she wants to go to the Melting Pot (a fondue restaurant) with her closest family members. We did this last year and she said she wants to make it a tradition! We always kid her that her future boyfriend is going to hate us for cultivating a young woman with such expensive tastes! -- anyway, we sat together last night for over 30 minutes after The Boy Child went to bed and I showed her stitch by stitch how to crochet in the round so she could start the body. I treasured every minute, each yo, each single crochet while sitting side by side with her, elbows barely touching, passing on something I know she will remember the rest of her life. I realize we only have a few more short years before the lovely teen years rear their ugly head and she will no longer be my precious little girl, but be on her way to becoming a wonderful young woman. I am apprehensive about how our relationship may change while she is in her teens, but I can only hope that we have cultivated a close enough bond throughout her childhood that we will make it to her twenties and still maintain our close bond.

Cheer up my blog friend....

Since starting this blog and reading so many of yours I feel an online bond with some of you gals. One in particular seems to be on the same wavelength mentally I am, and well, she is going through some personal difficulty of late (you know who you are, so I won't point you out!) Being the sweet mama type that I am I just want to make her feel better. So I crocheted this wee one for her in the hopes that it will brighten her day and remind her that there are nice people out there after all! Tomorrow little monkey will be off to its new home!
and since I love haiku ....

Little brown monkey
cultivating peace and joy
in times of turmoil

I can crochet, too!

I am on a bit of knitting low after the knitting olympics...I have worked a bit on the baby argyle and since I joined Project Spectrum I thought it would be a fantastic pink entry (and with the close of the KO I have realized I really like knitting on a deadline) so I know I will have it finished by the end of the month at least! However, back to my knitting lull if you will... I finished the amigurumi elephant and The Boy Child loved him so much he would not let me even take a picture of him (the elephant is a boy and has been officially named Elephant by The Boy Wonder). Here is a pic of them watching Spongebob...


and one of the three friends (Bronco is the little horse that The Boy Wonder sleeps with and generally takes with him everywhere he goes)
My friend A saw Elephant and put in a request for a monkey so the seaman's scarf (which was promised to friend A ohhhhh, back in December ) was frogged (it is too damn hot for scarves now!) and I started a little monkey for him with the yarn.

just a little of this...

and a little of that going on on the knitting front. I have worked the bottom of my baby argyle and part of one of the sleeves. The argyle is a bit bunched up, but it does add some shape to the cardigan. I have yet to decide if I want to reknit it. What would y'all do if you were me?

I am really happy with the inside as well, everything is so neat and flat. (ok, the photo upload gods are pissed at me so I cannot show you the pretty, flat floats across the inside*sigh*)

I also started a crochet elephant from a pattern found on Roxycraft. I have the body, head and both of the ears finished already, and I think he is going to be so cute! I think I am going to give up on the doublesided baby blanket for now, at least in the yarn I am using. I really like it but I really think it is going to wind up being too thick and hot. I will try again though with a lighter weight yarn, because I am in love with the technique!
On another note, I have a stalker! (I bet you would really like one of those "100 things about me lists" right about now, wouldn't you?!) Oh my! I finally joined a swap on craftster, and I have major craft jitters! I have a great person to stalk and I have lots of ideas! ssshhhhh! I just hope the special someone likes everything I make. So most of my crafty creativity will be directed towards my special craft partner instead of knitting for myself. I will not go into it all now (you never know who is looking) but promise to post pics after my package is sent at the end of the month!
Ok, stalker, since you have been so patient...100 things about me (1-10)
1. I am a down-to-earth, blue jean and t-shirt wearing southern girl.
2. I see no reason to ever be mean to anyone, ever. Karma is a big enough bitch without my help.
3. I try to see the silver lining of the cloud, no matter how dark the cloud.
4. I tell my friends what they need to hear, which is not always what they want to hear.
5. I read my horoscope everyday.
6. I am a taurus.
7. My favorite color is yellow, but I only have 2 yellow pieces of clothing-1 is a dress, the other is a skirt.
8. I like to drink alcoholic beverages, but not girly drinks.
9. I drink coffee with sugar and cream every morning.
10. I have 13 different types of hot tea in my cabinet.