The New Job

So knitting takes another back seat....

I have been working part, part time for an after school program for going on three years now and I get a call from my boss who is also my friend on Tuesday. She sounded kind of upset and asked if I could come in early. I was like uh oh. She said not to worry it wasn't bad for me, it could be a good thing.

Her assistant was leaving and the person they had hired to replace her came in for one day and decided it wasn't for her either. Could I pretty, pretty please fill in?!?!?! She would try to make it as flexible as possible for as possible especially because of the little ones and Miss Sunshine. How could I resist the opportunity?

My Mom and MIL are going help out with child duty and I am shifting some things around. I am going to see how it works out on a temporary basis to see if I like the working on a fuller time basis and how the girls handle it especially Miss Sunshine. Right now the Princess isn't handling too well, actually.

Perhaps the knitting needs to go to work with me....

My Favorite

Did you have any doubt? Blue Sky Alpacas Dyed Cotton is currently my favorite cotton yarn.

It is 100% organically grown. You really have to love that and then it is dyed in over 30 different shades. I love Pickle, Orchid and Thistle (shown here).

Weight: 100 grams

Approx: 150 yds / 137 meters

Needle Size: 7–9 US / 4.5–5.5 mm

Gauge: 4–5 sts per inch

*A suggested gauge only. Works beautifully with large or small needles but i tend to use the larger needles most of the time.

Usually sells for approx. $9.95 per hank

It is suggested to hand wash the yarn but, I have a hand wash cycle on my washing machine which I have used and it comes out very nicely.

The yarn is extremely soft, doesn't split while you knit but it does stretch out. If you are a tight knitter that is a good thing but if you knit loose, keep that in mind.

I have substituted this for worsted weight yarns very well and made hats, sweaters, and layette items with this yarn.

The first frog is easy but if frogging repeatedly be careful.

Highly recommend this as a cotton yarn for anyone ready to stray from Peaches and Creme or Sugar N Cream.

Monday... Monday...

The Princess is on Spring vacation but Miss Sunshine is not until Wednesday. Well, technically Thursday, Wednesday is parent teacher conferences but since I speak to Miss Sunshine's teacher practically every day, I don't really need a conference, now do I?

The Princess and her dad went Snow tubing on Saturday and Miss Sunshine stayed back, which was fine by me. Snow and I do not get along. It was a good thing though because Miss Sunshine had a back-slide and had a "classical Autism" weekend. The Princess had BLAST though which I am so grateful for.

I know that there is a coffee and yarn swap coming up but, believe it or not, I am going to sit that one out. I am probably going to sit a few knitting swaps out. My last great swap pal was Barbara and although she spoiled the girls and me rotten, I haven't even had time to post an elaborate thank you to her. She does know how thankful I am, of course, since I have thanked her often in emails but, I have been oft been broached boorishly that I need to post and so here it is publicly.

One of my closest friend who moved to Texas last year persuaded me to enter a soap swap. I sheepishly did that. The Princess, who is a budding young soap maker, wants to make the entry so she is very excited.

I am planning on taking the Princess to the Philadelphia Art Museum on Wednesday. She has never been and it has been a long time for me. I hope she enjoys it as much as I did the first time I went, roughly the same age she is now.

Knitting? What is that?

Okay, so since I haven't been blogging, I am OBVIOUSLY not getting any knitting done. I have three very lovely little projects sitting in their lovely little bags begging to be picked up but I either don't have the time or the energy or have a sweet little ball of Sunshine jumping on my stomach saying "Mommy no sticks play, read, chase!" till 11 PM at night.

The good news is with all the changes I have been making to Little Miss Sunshine's life she is talking and making herself understood a lot more. The bad news is, she is coming out of her shell and wants to tell me EVERYTHING and be with me from the time she wakes till the time she passes out (11 PM). Don't get me wrong, I don't want things to go back to the way they were, NEVER!, I am finally seeing some progress and of course I want more and more some knitting time would be nice too.

I am going to have to figure out a way to balance all of this which is a struggle right now. I mean, when did I forget swap deadlines or not find the time to blog in a long time? I am going to try to get my frustrations out on Miss Sunshine's Blog so, if you want to know what goes on in that wonderful world, check it out often. It is a wacky world and I wish I could get off the ride.

Until I get back to knitting, I am not sure what to blog about. Any suggestions? I could review some of my yarns ;-)

Long Time....

Life gets in the way of "things" sometimes and such is what goes on here.

We are finally getting some movement in Miss Sunshine's progress and have her IEP written, it is just getting them to provide the services in enough time before she enters kindergarten this fall and we want her in a regular classroom if at all possible (with an aid of course)

I haven't really been doing much knitting and am slow in my swaps (if you can believe that) but I am definitely not going to leave my partners hanging.

I did finish a hat for my Mom to match Miss Sunshine's hat.

It is made with Blue Sky Alpaca Dyed Cotton. Using my favorite yarn always cheers me up!

Thank You Cocoa Pal

Thank you, Ashley for my cocoa swap box. Unfortuntely, my little miss sunshine ran off with most of it including the little Goofy who now resides with the stuffed animal farm. I did snap a picture of the yarn though.


It is 100% Bamboo and a pale pink. Not sure what I will do with it yet.

Walk Now for Autism!

The Princess and I are participating in Walk Now for Autism to help find a cure for autism for all the children effected but especially for our own Little Miss Sunshine (and that is the name of our team too!).

Autism is the second most common developmental disorder in the United States affecting one in every 150 children born today including Miss Sunshine. Despite some promising discoveries, the cause of autism is unknown and a cure does not exist. Research is crucial. Every 20 minutes another child is diagnosed with autism. Not only must we find ways to improve the quality of life for children and adults with autism, but we also must find a cure, and soon. Walk Now for Autism is our chance to make a difference in the fight against autism by raising money for autism research and heightening public awareness.

Please join us in our fight as we raise funds for essential research. The Princess and I will be walking on September 20th and would like you to support those affected by autism. You can donate to Walk Now for Autism or join our team online through our webpage at http://www.walknowforautism.org/. Donations can also be mailed to Autism Speaks using the donation form located on our page. Our team name is Little Miss Sunshine, named for our own Little Miss Sunshine of course.

Please join us in our fight against autism. Thank you for making a difference in the lives of the more than 1 million Americans living with autism today.

Follow this link to visit the team page for Little Miss Sunshine. Follow this link to visit My page.

Thank you for just even looking. Thank you even more for donating!!!

AUTISM SPEAKS!!!

Anyone Have the Stich N Bitch Page A day Calender?

I just found out on Wednesday that the knitting group that i go to is in the Stich N Bitch Page A day Calender! how cool is that?! So if you have it, go to the Month of August and I think we are on the 20th.

Oh and yes, I am in the picture on the left side standing. At the time when the picture was taken, it was before I cut my hair for Locks of Love so my hair is very long. The group is called MontCo. Sit and Knit and the group organizer wrote a very nice group description.

Pretty cool!

"Defeat the Winter Doldrums" Dishcloth Swap Topic of the Week

"Defeat the Winter Doldrums" Dishcloth Swap topic of the week....

Please post a picture of your yarn stash for making dishcloths and the notions you use on them. So, 2 pics 1 of dishcloth yarn stash and 1 of your notions you use for making dishcloths.

Well that is pretty simple....

Here is most of my dishcloth cotton stash. What I could find in one place anyway.


I didn't feel like taking a new picture so some where in there are several pairs of size seven needles and one pair missing because, of course, they are currently making a dishcloth.

Even More Hats!

You would think I would move on to bigger and better things being that I have been knitting for a very long, long time. Nope. I get requests predominately for washcloths, scarves and as the title suggests, hats.

The other day the Princess, Miss Sunshine and I went over to my Mom's house with all three of us sporting hats I had made and my Mom asked where was hers. Um, I had made her a hat two years ago does she need a new one? Of course she does!

So now I am busy making my Mom a hat using my favorite yarn Blue Sky Cotton in the color Thistle. She wants me to make her a hat similar to the one I recently made Miss Sunshine so that is what Mom is getting.

I did twist the stitches so I did have to cast on twice today. How fun is that?!?

I hope I can finish it before my parents return from their trip

TAG you're it!

Ah yes, another tag meme' got to love it... I haven't done one of these in a long time and I will most likely not pass it one since I am late running off to some where or procrastinating calling a therapist so here goes... oh I was tagged by Alaina so please go stop by her blog and leave her tons of comments!

Here is what I have to do....List 7 Random Facts about Me. Da rules say they must be posted to your blog. Link to the person’s blog who tagged you (did that).List seven random and/or weird facts about yourself. Tag seven random people (yea don't think am gonna do that) at the end of your post and include links to their blogs. Let each person know that they have been tagged by posting a comment on their blog and also so they can look at your blog and not tag the same people all over again!

1. My favorite animal is a giraffe. I collect wooden sculptures of them, have gone to the Philly zoo to sketch them and have even done some painting of them. I think Miss Sunshine even likes them since she keeps selecting a stuffed Giraffe at her pre-school

2. I have this penchant for what we around here call "crap" TV especially now that there is a writer's strike. I watch Project Runway and Top Chef, not so crappy but I also watch America's Next Top Model, Make Me a Super Model, Millionaire Matchmaker Rock of Love (ok that one is very rare) ok you get the picture

3. If you have every been in a swap with me, you know all my regular allergies but what you don't know is that I am also allergic to Beer. Yes, go ahead, feel sorry for me

4. When I was younger I wanted to be an eye doctor till I dissected the frog for the first time in 7th grade. ewww

5. Until I had graduated from college I had never visited my state's capital city (Harrisburg)

6. I am the oldest granddaughter on my Mom's side of the family and am named for my maternal great-grandmother and The Princess is the oldest granddaughter on her maternal side and is named for her maternal great-grandmother.

7. I still have a magic 8 ball that my girls now play with

Okay that is all she wrote!!

Rough Day Yesterday

Yesterday was a rough one all around. The Princess had to be picked up from school, strep throat. She at least stayed long enough for the book fair and we bought a few books. Had to go to the doctor and everything. That was fun with the two of them in tow.

Miss Sunshine also had occupational therapy which started off terrible and you can read about that here. Then when she usually is okay with going in herself almost 99.9% of the time, I had to be there the entire time with her. I bet because of what happened in the waiting room. Her therapy session isn't as good when I am in the room with her. At least she got something it.

Then when we got home she was a mess all around as if she never had any therapy, ever. Running around, throwing things, jumping, flapping, mumbling, the works. I felt terrible for her and the princess because the princess was sick. My husband had the audacity of not only asking what was for dinner but wanting since he was leaving for New Orleans he thought we needed some grown up time. Yea right. Grown up time, what is that? The kids were attached to my hip and Miss Sunshine even fell asleep literally on top of me. I barely had time to finish the baby sweater I am making for a friend who I think either delivered today or will tomorrow since will be inducing her.

Happy 43rd Anniversary to My Parents!

Yes, my parents got married one day after my Mom's birthday. I guess my dad didn't want to be able to forget either one. And yes, they got married in January even though my Mom hates the winter and the snow so as my family tradition goes.....

Happy anniversary, happy anniversary, happy anniversary, HAPPY anniversary! Happy, happy, happy , happy happy anniversary. Happy, happy, happy , happy happy anniversary!

Happy anniversary, happy anniversary, happy anniversary, HAPPY anniversary! Happy, happy, happy , happy happy anniversary. Happy, happy, happy , happy happy anniversary!

Many, Many, Many more to come!!!

Hot Cocoa Swap Question Of The Week

For the Hot Cocoa Swap the topic of the week....


What is your most memorable vacation? Where did you go? What made it memorable?

When I was 12, my family went on what I still to this day call a whirlwind vacation. My oldest cousin was getting married in Panama City , Panama during the summer so we started there. We saw the Panama Canal which was incredible, a once in a lifetime experience! From there, we fly this mini 8 seater plane to a small Island off the coast called Contadora. We spent close to two weeks there with some cousins deep sea fishing, sun bathing, snorkeling, you name it. After that we went to my Mom's home Country of Colombia for a while. Two of my other cousins were graduating from high school. We had been to Colombia many times, in fact every summer since birth practically. After some touring and visiting of friends and relatives, we flew back to the states to Miami to visit more friends and relatives and ended the summer with an extended trip to Disney World.

Definitely a vacation to remember!

"Defeat the Winter Doldrums" Dishcloth Swap Topic of the Week

"Defeat the Winter Doldrums" Dishcloth Swap topic of the week....

There are many people who ADORE receiving hand-knit or crochet items; but there are just as many who have no appreciation whatever of how much love, work, and time goes into a hand-made item. Share a story of a hand-made gift you gave to someone and how it worked out - good, bad, or ugly!

Practically ALL of my knit items are gifted away. I rarely ever keep any of them myself except perhaps the rare hat or once in a blue moon the rare scarf and then those get stolen by my daughters in the end anyway. I have even been known to sell a washcloth and soap bag or two with my handmade soaps :-) It pays for the yarn LOL.

I do have one story that isn't really bad, per say, but she never put the sweater on her baby. She thought the sweater was too precious to be worn by her spitting up, throwing up, crying little infant so instead she bought one of those preservation boxes and put it in that with the card I had made and hung it in the babies room as wall decoration instead. I told her it was made to be worn and to be seen and could be washed in the washing machine but, she refused. She insisted it was too gorgeous, the yarn was simply to incredible and must have taken me too long to make to be wasted and she wanted it to be kept and a remembrance. It still hangs in the child's room.

Happy Birthday Mom!!

Happy Birthday to the woman whom I owe everything to including life!! Mom has been a GREAT help to me through everything this past year with my illness and Miss Sunshine so I wish her a very, very happy birthday and many, many more to come. I know how old she turns today but let's just say she is celebrating an anniversary of her 29Th birthday.

Being that this week is restaurant week here is Philadelphia, my dad is planning on taking Mom out every night of the week (especially since their wedding anniversary is tomorrow) so the girls and I celebrated with her on Saturday with a yummy dinner and birthday cake of course.

Fans of Billy Joel

If you are a fan of Billy Joel's, you need to check out this wonderful Presentation. This guy put pictures and words to "We Didn't start the Fire" It is just amazing!

Hot Cocoa Swap Question Of The Week

For the Hot Cocoa Swap the question of the week....

What is the most 'random' memory you have from your childhood? I know it's not knitting content, but I love learning about the little quirks and interesting things about people!

Yes, that is a bit of a quirky question and so open ended. I wasn't even sure where I wanted to go with my answer. I mean there are so many 'random' memories from my childhood.

I remember once going to this children's clothing store with my Mom in the very late 70's and the sales lady kept wanting to show me this bright colorful clothes, corduroy pants, out of control sweaters . All I wanted was black. Mind you I was something like 8 or 9. I wanted black pants, black dresses an black tops. I must have been in a mood or something. My Mom finally relented and got me one of each but, still bought the bright stuff so I'd "fit it".

Of Course a few years later the style was basic black and I told my Mom, I told you do ;-)

"Defeat the Winter Doldrums" Dishcloth Swap Topic of the Week

Another swap, another topic of the week. "Defeat the Winter Doldrums" Dishcloth Swap topic of the week....

Dishrag. Dishcloth. Face cloth. I've seen folks get all fired up in forums when someone refers to their knit or crochet creation as a dishrag, as that's somehow offensive to them! When you're working on yours, what do you call them? Also, is there a difference between a dishrag and a dishcloth? How bout a facecloth? Are they all really the same thing?

It is all one and the same to me. I actually call it a washcloth because I us them with the handmade soaps I make. If you use it for what ever purpose, what difference does it make what you call it? In fact, to be honest, when I first started making them, I made a variety of those fancy patterns and kept them in a container till I had enough squares to make a baby blanket then sewed them all together to make a very adorable baby blanket for a friend. Now I just make "cloths" to give with my soaps.

I'm Back With and FO and a WIP

I had a great weekend with some knitting friends. We chatted, knitted, drank wine, knitted, ate, knitted, slept, knitted... you get the picture.


I finished Miss Sunshine's green hat and she was very happy with it. However, she wouldn't model it so, I got the Princess to do it.



The pattern comes from a book called "101 Designers One-Skein Wonders" The pattern is called Child's Hat with Pom Pom and it is on page 111. I used Lion Brand Nature's Choice Organic Cotton to make the hat because of course I could not use the wool the designer recommended.


I next casted on a cardigan for my good friend's baby who is to be born I think at the end of January beginning of February. The pattern is called Easy Peasy Cardigan by Little Knits which you can download here. I am already on the second side of it and then all I need is to sew up the seams. When I have a picture, I will post it.

The Princess would like to work on her blog, so time to sign off. Have a great Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Do something for your community today!