Cotton Ease and a Hat

Tomorrow and Sunday, believe it or not, I am not running to OT or other appointments I am actually working a two day craft fair which means I can also take a some what simple knitting project with me. I usually take a wash cloth or a soap bag with me because when I am finished, I can place it on my sale table. However, the Princess is in need of a new hat. Imagine that ;-) She did appropriate my hat but it is not pink so she really would like her own in pink of course.

I showed her a skein of burgundy with no band (not sure what it is), a skein of natural pink from Lion Brand, a bag of various pinks and purples from Sugar N Cream and a skein of Berry Cotton Ease. She chose the Cotton Ease. To be honest, this will be my first time using Cotton Ease. I know some of you rave about it so I can't wait to try it. I have a pattern in mind. Not 100% on the number of stitch to cast on but, I will do some quick math (yuck!) and figure it out before cast on.

Miss Sunshine already dug up her hat from last year and is wearing it proudly. She loves that green and pink thing. Not sure if I ever posted a picture of it.

It is cute.

So tomorrow I hopefully will sell out of goodies AND get some time to knit a hat for the princess. Now that would be an ideal day.

SP 11 Pal Goodies Arrival and I know Who my Angel is!!

I FINALLY know who my SP 11 Pal is and she is an angel!! Julianne really out did herself with the final package!!!


A lovely holiday issue of "Knit Simple", yummy, delicious chocolates that Miss Sunshine and I have already sampled, Princess-y items for Miss Sunshine and The Princess, Simply GORGEOUS hand knit socks done in Maizy which will go into my "special day" rotation (I thank you so much for these!!!) and TWO skeins of these amazingly soft Purple and Orange Elsebeth Lavold Cotton Frappe.

Here is a close up of the Purple and Orange Elsebeth Lavold Cotton Frappe. What a terrific color combination.

Julianne Thank You so VERY much for absolutely EVERYTHING you have sent me from the messages, the posts and the packages over the past few months!! You have truly been a great new friend over my tough times.

Sending you many cyber (((HUGS))) across the Internet!!

Knitted Socks

No, I haven't taken up knitting traditional knitted socks. I have just realized something this morning about knitted socks.

I have two pairs of wonderful knitted socks from two AMAZING friends. One in North Country Cotton from my friend Robin (blog-less) and one pair in Bamboozle from the ever so fabulous Jessi.

Ever time Miss Sunshine has a critical appointment with one of her doctors, ever time she has a crucial test being done, like today, I grab a pair of my knitted socks and put them on. As you can guess, they get washed quite frequently and are lasting very well. I guess I am subconsciously taking all of you with me to my appointments with Miss Sunshine. Of course I am also taking some knitting with me. Wouldn't be an appointment without some knitting in my bag.

So, today and tomorrow, you will all be with us. We have two very important appointments and hopefully get the ball rolling on some services so to speak.

Winter Wonderland Coffee Swap Topic of The Week

The Winter Wonderland Coffee Swap Topic of the week.... you know you were waiting for this, weren't you? (I hope my pal actually reads these with a cup of coffee so I don't bore her to sleep, LOL)

What is the ideal setting for enjoying the perfect cup of coffee? Who would be there - or would you be alone? Inside or out? Morning or night? With food or just the steaming cup of Joe?

My house is always so LOUD. A lot of noise all day long. The kids, the husband, the TV, the music, the video games, the rustling of papers, it is just so LOUD. Even when they sleep, they all sleep so LOUDLY.

I get up before everyone else does and if I remember and if I have enough time, I make myself a nice cup of coffee and sit there in the stillness of the house before everything begins to move and shake and wake up. I sit still and quite, enjoy the peace without a care in the world, clear my head without a thought except the scent of the coffee and the stillness of the house before the day begins.

Then in a few moments it can get LOUD all over again.

Although today, I enjoyed a nice slice of homemade pumpkin pie with my coffee too

Black Friday

Okay, so why is it that they call it Black Friday anyway?

With the not sleeping at the getting up at the crack of dawn repeatedly, this morning actually gave me something to do. I got up, got dressed in the dark before the sun rose, and went people watching at the big stores like Best Buy, Target and Walmart which are all near where I live. It was all rather fascinating. We have already completed all of our shopping so I really don't have anything to buy for the holidays. I had no cart and walked around the stores. People looking at me oddly since I wasn't buying anything.

People had their carts filled with who knows what, lists in hand with items they needed to buy. Some looking frantic because they couldn't find what they needed and some on their cells asking the person on the other end millions of questions. It was all of so surreal. The sales people looked tired and worn out already. One told me he had been there since 3 AM working and customers were so rude and greedy. I truly felt for him. I was always taught you always get more flies with honey ;-)

I am going out again later with my sister. It is a tradition with us. Last near we even went to Toys R Us. I know we are a bit nuts ;-)

Doing a Mitzvah, A Good Deed

My good friend Chan is running a wonderful contest on her blog. I tought I would reiterate my response here as well.

Being that Miss Sunshine was just diagnosed with PDD-NOS, we are selecting a new charity. I am thinking Autism Speaks http://www.autismspeaks.org/ but perhaps more local, Autism Society of American, Philadelphia Chapter http://www.asaphilly.org/

Oh and to answer in your debate Chan, the is a difference in my mind between a charity and a non-profit as well. A youth group, a church, a school could all be non-profits. That doesn't mean they are charities trying to raise money for a cause.

Oh and chan also had this blog thing on her blog as well. Perfect for Thanksgiving :-)

You Are Apple Pie

You're the perfect combo of comforting and traditional. You prefer things the way you've always known them. You'll admit that you're old fashioned, and you don't see anything wrong with that. Your tastes and preferences are classic. And classic never goes out of style. Those who like you crave security. People can rely on you to be true to yourself - and true to them. You're loyal, trustworthy, and comfortable in your own skin. And because of these qualities, you've definitely earned a lot of respect.

What Kind of Pie Are You?

Happy Thanksgiving!!

The Princess and I have already made two non-dairy pumpkin pies - YUM!!!

And the Princess and her Ita (Maternal grandmother) have made a delicious non-dairy apple pie (double yum!!)
(sorry, stock photos)

Still to make the veggies, salad and potatoes....

The girls and I got to see my sister last night. We were SO EXCITED!!!! She just got in from Florida and we hadn't seen her in a while. It is going to be a great holiday weekend.

Teach Your Children Well

It is finally time to teach the Princess to knit. I told her she needed to learn how to tie a knot and a bow, the good 'ole rabbit ears, and by golly she did it. We had our first quick lesson on Sunday night.

She picked a set of pink plastic needles that I had in my collection and some pink yarn, of course. I casted on for her to make it easier for her. She put her hands on mine and off we went. We did two rows this way and then she did a row herself, sort of. She didn't get too frustrated and I was really proud of her. I know it is going to take her a while to get it on her own but she really has the drive to learn and she really wants something that she and I can be passionate about together.

I spend a lot of time with Miss Sunshine either taking her to appointments or doing therapy at home, I want something the Princess and I can have for the two of us that we can do where ever. The Princess decided it should be knitting and I completely agree with her. You should just see the excitement in her face and twinkle in her eyes.

Seminar Knitting

I currently teaching at an accredited after school and even though it is only a few hours a week, it is still accredited and therefore he teachers still need to have so many hours a year of in service. Today was one of those such days.

The seminar was interesting in itself and I won't bore you with the details but the brought in a very dynamic speaker and Author from Boston to speak to a few after school programs. During the morning session, I paid very close attention to him but noticed a few other teachers knitting so of course I took out the knitting too. I spent the rest of the day listening and knitting. Not a bad way to make money ;-)

38 Things - What the Heck

Even though I shouldn't be talking to Jessi, the trader that she is, I figure what the heck, I will answer these stupid questions. I haven't been blogging in a while anyway. I also haven't been sleeping.

38 things about me that you may or may not want to know.

1. Name one person who made you laugh last night? Tim Gunn, I was watching a repeat of Project Runway. I love that show

2. What were you doing at 0800? Watching America's Next Top Model (Okay i like that crap TV, sue me)

3. What were you doing 30 minutes ago? Reading the news on CNN.com

4. What happened to you in 2006? Do I remember 2006? Oh Yeah, Activities for the kids mostly

5. What was the last thing you said out loud? No, You cannot blow bubbles onto your sister's bed

6. How many beverages did you have today? 2 cups of coffee, 8 cups of water, 1 cup of tea

7. What color is your hairbrush? Purple

8. What was the last thing you paid for? OT for my daughter

9. Where were you last night? Home, watching reruns

10. What color is your front door? Brick Red

11. Where do you keep your change? Lots and lots of Piggy Banks

12. What’s the weather like today? It TOO DAMN COLD

13. What’s the best ice-cream flavor? Not a huge ice cream eater right now

14. What excites you? If someone were to tell me Miss Sunshine was going to be just fine

15. Do you want to cut your hair? I need a cut and color

16. Are you over the age of 25? Didn't your Mama teach you never to ask a woman her age?

17. Do you talk a lot? What's a lot?

18. Do you watch the O.C.? Got bored after the first season

19. Do you know anyone named Steven? Yes I do

20. Do you make up your own words? I have two kids. what do you think?

21. Are you a jealous person? On Occasion

22. Name a friend whose name starts with the letter “A”. Aileen

23. Name a friend whose name starts with the letter ‘S’. Sonya

24. Who’s the first person on your received call list? Aileen

25. What does the last text message you received say? "British Actress Emily Blunt has vowed to remain in her native England because she hates Hollywood (WENN)"

26. Do you chew on your straw? No.

27. Do you have curly hair? Well, sort of. It is a wavy curly

28. Where’s the next place you’re going to? Sleep

29. Who’s the rudest person in your life? Difficult to say

30. What was the last thing you ate? PB&J

31. Will you get married in the future? I think this is it

32. What’s the best movie you’ve seen in the past 2 weeks? Have I seen a movie in the past two weeks?

33. Is there anyone you like right now? I am supposed to like people? j/k I have made a lot of new friends through knitting and blogging.

34. When was the last time you did the dishes? You are supposed to do the dishes?

35. Are you currently depressed? Being that my youngest daughter was just diagnosed with something that shocked me, I think I am a little bit

36. Did you cry today? yes

37. Why did you answer and post this? Because my good friend Jessi made me, er I mean asked me to do it.

38. Tag 5 people who would do this survey: Hmm, I think we are all memed out :-) Anyone want to give it a go?

Winter Wonderland Coffee Swap Topic of The Week

The Winter Wonderland Coffee Swap Topic of the week!! Still struggling with blog posts so these are definitely a great idea

The Thursday upcoming is Thanksgiving in the U.S., so let's all - American and not alike! - just share a post with what it is we're thankful for. A wonderful thing to do any time of year, I thought it'd be a nice thing to share for this week with the group!

Miss Sunshine and I have been through the ringer this year. Whether you read my blog or not, we have been going through all kinds of testing to see what is going on with her and finally this past Tuesday her official diagnosis came through.

My Mom and I call it alphabet soup because everything has an acronym with letters. Officially she has PDD-NOS, ADHD and fine motor skill delay. To learn about PDD-NOS, just click on the ribbon on the side bar. I am in a bit of a shock needless to say.

I am very thankful to have such a wonderful Mom to hold my hand and to offer support through this all. I am also very thankfully to have such a wonderful sister who is actually an expert in this field and although she lives in Florida, she is flying home next week to spend some time with me and then flying in again for Miss Sunshine's next critical appointment in December. My sister has already gotten me in touch with some fabulous resources here where I live that I don't think I would have found on my own. I don't know what I would do without the two of them.

I am also thankful for the Princess. She has really been amazing through all of this and she know it is still going to be a struggle. I try to make sure she gets to be 7 but she helps me out so much. I am so thankful to have such an amazing daughter.

I hope everyone has a great Thanksgiving!

Stranded

It seems as if my closest knitting blog buddies (AND YOU KNOW WHO YOU ARE!!!) Have up and left blogger for some other blog type formatting which shall remain nameless. They SEEM to have up and done this during my week of shock, pain and panic (hence the lack of blogging) and never even bothered to tell me they were moving. Some friends they turned out to be ;-)

At the moment too much change is not a very good thing to my system and I was never one who was any good at playing follow the leader or good under peer pressure. Actually if my peers were doing it I usually did the opposite, LOL.

Therefore, even though I feel as though my buds stranded me here on blogger, I am staying put. At least for the time being. Blogger has been good to me and I need all the good I can get.
(see my answer to Winter Wonderland Coffee Swap topic of the week for further details....)

Happy Belated Birthday to My Big Brother!!

My BIG Brother turned the B-I-G F-O-U-R-T-Y this past Saturday the old man and I am so THANKFUL I got to see him make it to his birthday. He has definitely give us a great deal of scares through his life with having both severe asthma and allergies as a child (it was easier to say what he could eat than what he could not) and all his hospital trips to his dare devil phase which I do not blame to his most recent scare, his bout with cancer, twice.

So here is to you big brother, we might not be as close as we used to be but, I sure hope to spend another 40 years with you. Even more....

Look What I Got!!

I ordered the beta t-shirt from Ravelry and it arrived this week!! I am so excited! A lot of people already got theirs because they went to Rhinebeck, which of course, I did not go to. Without firth ado, the shirt and the buttons I ordered.


A close-up of what it says. They also sent to me a Name badge from Rhinebeck. Isn't that sweet?

Here is a better close-up of the buttons. The "daily dose of fiber" has two meanings for me. Not only for the knitting but because of my lovely colon issues I literally have to take a daily does of fiber, LOL. So appropriate.

Winter Wonderland Coffee Swap Topic of The Week

The Winter Wonderland Coffee Swap Topic of the week!! Love these since I currently have a little bit of writers block

As the cold of winter approaches, do you change the projects you work on? Not really. I still have a gazillion babies to knit for, I still don't like long, intricate projects that take a long time to knit and I still can't knit with animal fibers so there isn't much to change ;-). I might make The Princess or Miss Sunshine a new winter hat if we can't find their old ones or they need a new one or if one of their friends request one but that is about it

Do you work on gifts for others or do you continue working on projects for yourself? I RARELY ever knit something for myself. I should do that one day, I really should. So the answer is, I knit 99.9% for others.

KI Jewish Deli

With all the goings on around here, I never posted the picture I took with my camera phone (so excuse the fuzziness) while waiting for a table at one of the better known Jewish Delis around my parts with the Princess

The Princess is holding my knitting. You can end up waiting a while so what better to do than knit? I do get stares of course but, the princess and I give them the mind your own business stares right back.

Actually, the father and grandfather of one of my students from last year own the place but, I actually never have run into her there. I guess she gets sick of the food, LOL

Have no clue what it is going to end up being. I am just playing around with some left over cotton I had in my bag. I didn't feel like pulling out Sigma in a crowded waiting area.

101? 102? 103?

Guess the temperature of my children. Yes that is correct the are running fevers!! Both off and on for the past three days. LUCKY ME!!! However they seem to have no other symptoms so I am guessing it is just one of those passing viruses. Once they take their hourly dose of Tylenol they are just fine and dandy and of course Miss Sunshine is back to running around like a chicken. In fact she has taken to laying down and watching her evening movie with our stuffed animal chicken (how ironic is that?, LOL) I sometimes call her Monkey or chicken and she has one of each and I guess she knows that they are meant as her "nicknames"

The Princess, on the other hand, either lays in bed in a fever induced slumber (she is the one who has spiked to 103) or is plowing through books like no tomorrow. Her father finally handed her the entire collection of Narnia books and said here read this. It is an all in one so it is a tad heavy for her but, I think she was actually thinking about it.

While they lay in bed I am going to try to knit but it can be difficult when all I hear is " Mama, can you get me more milk, pleaseeeeee?" (Miss Sunshine) " Mom, Do I really need to stay in bed?" (The Princess) All Day Long

Too Much Delay of Gratification AKA The Sigma Tank

I am not one for long drawn out projects but, I have been promising my sister a sweater type something or other for quite sometime now (say over a year) so it was about time to buckle down and knit the woman something. I mean she is my daughter's mentor and well, she is my best bud. It is the least I could do for her even though she did up and move to Florida.

As some of you know, I did select something I liked, The Sigma Tank because I can play with it and plug and play numbers of my own and play with the design. I am going to do some "fixing" at the top of it. If I ever get there. Here is where it is so far:

It is being knit in Dark Green Pakucho Organic Cotton using size 8US circular needles. Thankfully my sister is a teeny tiny thang and I am making the extra-small size. Think I can be finished by Thanksgiving? Well perhaps Hanukkah? If not my sister's birthday is in May LOL

An FO, No Really

Take Lion Brand's Nature's Choice Organic Cotton Yarn

And some double pointed needles. A lot of time in waiting rooms, a creative mind, some patience and a knitting friend sitting next to you at a shopping event where you are selling your soaps and you get this:

A very cute, natural, neutral, organic cotton baby hat for a Mom who doesn't know the gender of her baby yet like my cousin who is due in February.

US 9 double pointed needles

Cast on 54 stitches evenly on 3 needles (18 on each needle). Join being careful not to twist.

k3p3 for 1 inch. stockinette till hat is long enough for you (I did 5 inches) Begin decrease.

k4, ssk around. knit 1 round.

k3 ssk around, knit 1 round.

k2 ssk around, knit 1 round

ssk around till you have 3 stitches left.

I-cord till the cord is a length you like. Bind off.

You can increase/decrease cast on as long as you can do a k3p3 rib.

Can you tell I designed this to practice my slip, slip, knits? ;-)

Winter Wonderland Coffee Swap Topic of The Week

The Winter Wonderland Coffee Swap is also going to do a topic of the week (Hmm, wonder where they got that idea from?) and here is is:

When did you first start drinking coffee? What age were you? Was it about the caffeine, or do you love the taste and smell? Tell us how your passion began!

Don't criticize but, I started drinking coffee at a VERY young age. I spend about 3 months of every year from birth in Cali, Colombia South America where it is second to Mother's Milk down there being that coffee is their largest legal crop and major export. I probably started having Cafe con leche (coffee made with milk, not water) at 5 or 6 with my breakfast. The caffeine really does not effect you at all since it is in your blood. Coffee is served with every meal when I am with my Colombian side of my family. From breakfast through late night before bed, a cafe con leche to a drink similar to the Italian expresso called Tinto served in small cups.

I am considered a "cheater" to my Colombian side, though, since I don't drink it black. I need my sweeter whether it be the yellow packets or raw sugar and milk.

I Received my Fall into Autumn Swap Package!!

Okay so I did receive it a few days ago, my Fall into Autumn Swap package by the ever so kind and patient Katie. So now I am going to do my package and the WONDERFUL Katie some Justice and show lots and lots of pictures of my box because she had to wait soooooo long for me to talk about it.


Here is the box when I first opened it. Everything is wrapped in lovely lavender tissue paper and beautiful purple ribbons. The green tags mark things specific for Miss Sunshine and The Princess. Wasn't that nice of Katie to send things for the little ones too?

Here is everything laid out on my foyer floor. Now that is A LOT of goodies!!! I had to sneak off there to ensure I would be able to open everything without any prying or grabbing hands.

Everything unwrapped!! Exactly (I think) in the same space as above. Look at all that wonderful goodness!! That is a sheep tape measure to add to my collection of tape measures of course.

The GORGEOUS washcloth deserves a photo all on its own, of course. In a luscious shade of purple. Is there any other color?


Last, but of course no least, Manos Cotton Stria is an absolutely awesome shade of kettle dyed lavender. These are my first hanks of Manos Cotton Stria believe it or not. I love, love, love it!!!

Katie, you done good and were patient for the posting to boot so I thank you for that too!!

Bit off More than I can Chew

I am usually not one to complain often or vent but, I really did it to myself this time.

Around this time every year, Miss Sunshine's pre-school puts on a wonderful shopper's event that is a terrific fundraiser for her school. She goes to a terrific little school just outside of Philadelphia that does wonders for her, doesn't cost over the top and is non-denominational. Perfect for us.

Last year, the organizer, a Friend of mine, asked since her son was "graduating" if I would take over. I said sure since I was a craft show do-er and nothing was going on in my life really and truly. Why not?

Then the you know what hit the fan with Miss Sunshine this past summer and we have been bounce little a rubber ball from doctor to doctor from appointment to appointment here there and every where but, I made a commitment and I keep those. Plus all my other commitments like my part-time job, my soaps, my knitting, swaps, etc.

Well, folks, this month, I need to apologize to all of you because I finally realized what I did. I finally realized that I have over extended myself this passed October. I have not been ignoring you. I have not been forgetting you. I think of all of you quite often and how you are doing. Unfortunately, I don't own an i-Phone or Blackberry to blog and email in the waiting room or in traffic (I didn't say that) So I just have to think it and hope you can forgive me.

My Shopper's Event is tonight and tomorrow and then I drop my wares at yet another show so I hope things will settle again on Monday. Please wish me lots of sales

Oh and to my Fall into Autumn Pal: I did get my box!!! I haven't even had a moment to open it yet but, I wanted you to know I got it!!! So thank you!!!! It will be modeling on Monday