A day of Scrapbooking

Yesterday was an all day crop at a LSS. I got there about 10:30 am, and left around 9:45 pm. I am proud to say that I finished 20 pages. I had been looking forward to this crop for a while, as I had not been able to go to the last couple of crops. I really missed these friends, some of whom I don't see except for these get-togethers. I love to visit with them, but I also really like to get some serious scrapping done. This time I was able to do a little of both. These pages weren't anything super fancy, but I was glad I was able to get the pictures in the scrapbook. Now to set aside some time for journaling.





The girls went with their dad to Sacramento today. Our oldest has a feis she is competing in. She's been Irish dancing for about 8 years now, and really likes these feises. I couldn't go because of work, so I stayed home with our little guy. Last week he was telling us that he had a three day weekend, and it was because of someone's birthday who lived a really, really, really long time ago. He thinks for a moment, then says "King Arthur, King Arthur's birthday, that's who it was," meaning, of course, Martin Luther King, Jr. At least he got the King right, and it's good to have him tell us what he learned in school.

I am a part of a group of scrapbookers who are trying to get or keep caught up with their albums. Each month there is a sketch as one of the challenges. If you're interested, here's the sketch:

Not much happening in the way of knitting, but I sure am having fun using my Marly bag!

A Finished Bag

I finished the Marly bag! I really like the way the bag turned out. I loved the different colors of this bag and the patterns in it, but it looked a little beyond my knitting capabilities. I went ahead and ordered the pattern, and am so glad I did! My poor husband - every ten rows or so I would be calling him to come look at the progress. Even my kids were rolling their eyes by the time I finished. Now there's another pattern of Sharon's I REALLY want - Toothpick Optional. To see the pattern's, go to Sharon's website: sheknitsforknitters.com

The house is starting to get back to normal. Most of the holiday decorations are down. Yup, still have a few to put away. The kids are back in school, a little more routine in our lives, which is what we need.

The Holiday KAL-CAL is over. I didn't win anything (pout, pout), but it was fun. I'll have to make sure to join next year.

Can you believe I don't have anything on my needles? I did get out my scrapbooking this week. I'm going to an all day crop next Saturday and want to get ready for that. I haven't ordered pictures in months, so now I'm playing catchup in ordering all the months worth of pictures I have to crop.

We got lots of snow this past weekend. Loved it. It was a wet snow, and that made great snowballs and snowmen. The kids played for quite a while out in the snow. Even the dogs liked it.

I allowed myself just a little bit of time to update my blog, and the clock is ticking. I think I am getting addicted to blogs and Ravelry, so I have to set my timer to get other things around the house done!

Busy December

This last Saturday was my good friend's 50th surprise birthday party. After all the months of planning and keeping this a secret, all that hard work paid off. I really thought she was going to find out - how could she not? - but it was a total surprise to her. It was so good to see friends and family come together to celebrate with a special person. What a great feeling.

It's funny, isn't it, how sometimes you seem so busy, but when you look back it doesn't seem like there's much that's worthy of posting on a blog. Some could argue that there really isn't much of anything worthy of posting on a blog. But if it gives a little satisfaction to the writer and possibly the reader, then it's worth it, right? Add pictures into these stories, however mundane, and it spices up the story. I love pictures - most of the time. I love taking pictures, I love downloading my pictures onto my computer, I love ordering and receiving my pictures. I love to scrapbook my pictures and make them my little works of art. I do NOT love having my picture taken. Photoshop has eliminated much of my fear of seeing my own image on a print. I love to use that "Bandaid" button, and the distort button has become a close acquaintance. This is most useful for a body that has seen better days. That is why you will rarely see my picture here, unless it has been taken in the right light, the right angle, and run through Photoshop a few times!

Now on to the fun stuff. In December my husband and I took a trip to Mexico. We went with two other couples, and another friend whose wife had finals and couldn't make the trip. My husband and his brother make this trip yearly with the guys, but wanted to take the wives this year. The place we stayed is mainly a fishing resort, and is beautiful. The guys went fishing three days, I went on one of those days. I am happy to report that I did not get seasick. Alas, I caught absolutely no fish. Apparently it wasn't a good day to fish. That doesn't give much satisfaction against the fact that we prepared almost all year to go down to Mexico and go deep sea fishing, and then I catch nothing. Oh well. I did get lots of knitting done. I knit on the plane - took size 8 circular bamboo needles on the plane with no problem - I knit by the beach, I knit in my room. We went with special friends, and that is what will make the memories.

I was able to get some projects finished for Christmas. I knit the skull scarf for my daughter, and finished the vest for my son. These were fairly easy projects that knit up quickly.

Tonight we are having a little get together for New Year's Eve. A few friends and family are coming over for Bagna Calda. My cousin is in town from California and has never had it before, so we decided to make it this year for her. Tomorrow I plan on just kicking back and relaxing! We plan to go to my mom's house and knit for a while.

Have a Safe and Happy New Year!

LYS's - Naughty or Nice?

Where has the time gone? I can't believe Thanksgiving is over, and we're heading for Christmas at full speed. Two months ago I had envisioned myself at this time completely done with my holiday shopping, nearly done with all my knitting projects, even a few presents wrapped up. What a joke. I can't even seem to update my own blog on a regular basis!~

We did have a very nice Thanksgiving. But I didn't get up early to go shopping. My daughter and I went out shopping in the morning, but there just wasn't a lot on sale that we wanted.

Then it was on to our LYS to indulge ourselves in buying some yarn. Ok, before you get any further, I want to let you know that I am venting a little on this, so proceed with caution! What a surprise to find that all of their yarn was 35% off. Now, we have been going there for almost a year. We aren't there really often, but enough to where I think the owner recognizes me - and my daughter. At least she pretends to. My mom also has been going there for at least six months, even going in to work on her projects about once a week for the last month or so. Not once had we been told about this sale. If I would have known about it, I would have prepared a little better. I would have looked up projects, written down what I needed and made my shopping frenzy at least a little organized. I didn't even see it posted on their windows. One of the reasons my daughter wanted to go there was to drop off some hats she had made for charity. She likes to make them, plus it helps out her community hours she needs for Honor Society. When she gave the owner the piece of paper to sign verifying that she had dropped them off, the owner looked at her like she had never heard about it. We both got the feeling that she didn't want to take the time to sign it. I certainly didn't get the warm fuzzy feeling that I want to get when I leave a store spending money on something I don't REALLY have to have. (naughty!)

Fast forward to the next day, (today). My son had a birthday party to go to at Chuck E. Cheese, so my daughter and I decided to walk over to Jimmy Beans Wool, which was just a few stores down. Imagine our surprise when we were actually greeted with a friendly smile, and not one, but two employees actually asked us how we were doing and if we needed help. Samples galore in this store, and they even had the pattern I wanted. Ok, so I plunked down even more money than I had planned on spending, but I walked out of there with that warm fuzzy feeling I've been looking for. Don't know if this happens every day in there, but I'm willing to go back to test it out. It's quite a bit further than the other store, but way worth it. Just goes to show you how much customer service can take you. (Nice!)

I did add to my yarn stash - bought some Lorna's Lace sock yarn for making baby socks for Christmas presents, more sock yarn, and some Lorna's Lace worsted for a vest for my son. This will be my first time making a vest. I'll post pictures soon on Ravelry (look me up - stitchnscrap), and get pictures of projects on work here shortly.

Thought for now: It pays to pay it forward. If you've never done this, try it!

I really have been knitting! Felted skull scarf for daughter's Christmas gift.

Happy Halloween!

We're home now, after a fun night of trick-or-treating. Took my youngest out with his cousins. My oldest went to a friend's house to watch movies and my middle stayed home to pass out candy. By the time my kids have kids I wonder if anyone will trick-or-treat anymore. It has changed so much from the time I was young. Used to be we were dropped off and a bunch of us went out without any parents. Now I wouldn't dream of letting them go alone at the age I went. I love seeing all the fall/Halloween decorations out, and I especially love the people who answer their door and make a big to-do over the kids' costumes. I will remember that, and I think my son will, too. Tonight he said he got so much candy because of his costume, so I'm sure he was thinking of the people who mentioned who he was dressed up as - Jengo Fett from Star Wars. Tonight I will go to bed thinking of the memories that have been made with each of my children. I always want to be with all of them on holidays, but as they grow up I know I can't. I miss that. Maybe that's why I take so many pictures, to try to capture those memories on film. When all my children have grown and left, I will still have the photos to remember these times by. I can wait for that day.

Life is Good

There's nothing like getting Boo'd to get you into the Halloween spirit. On Monday night we found a bag of goodies left on our doorstep with a note that said "You've been Boo'd." It was so much fun to go through the goodies, and it's so nice to know that someone thought of you to deliver the goodies to. Tonight - hopefully - we are going to drop off two BOO bags to friends and neighbors. My kids have a great time with this - the only time other than Christmas that I give them the go ahead to doorbell ditch.

I have really been in a crafty mood this month! This is a good thing, but also a not so good thing. It's a good thing because I get things done. It's a not so good thing because I usually want to try out NEW crafts to do, which means I spend money at the craft stores. My newest venture is making stitch markers. I'm the kind of person who sees something cute and thinks, I can make this myself. Sure, I can make this myself, but at what price? Let me tell ya, I have certainly spent more money on supplies making these stitch markers than I would have had I just bought some on etsy. But I had fun making them, and I think they turned out ok. The larger markers fit on my size 13 needles for the bags I've been knitting from she-knits. What do you think?

On my needles I have a scarf I am making for E as a Christmas present. It's the skull scarf from knitty.com. It is knit in two parts and is felted. I have one part made, and about halfway through the other part. Yes, another Christmas present almost done!

As the weather turns cooler and the days get longer, one of my favorite things to do is get up early when everyone else is sleeping, fix myself something warm to drink, and browse through my Christmas craft books. I have a collection that I started buying back before I was even married. Some crafts/recipes I have tried, more others I have not. The books are older, but they always bring back memories for me. I am posting a recipe for a spiced tea. You can make it as is, or omit the tea for a hot drink that is still great. You can even grate a little fresh nutmet or sprinkle a little cinnamon on top. Enjoy!

Spiced Tea

2 c. Tang

2 c. sugar

1/2-1 c. instant tea

1 large pkg. powdered lemonade

1 tsp. cinnamon

1 tsp. allspice

Combine all ingredients and store in airtight container. When ready to use, put 2 tsp. or more to 1 c. boiling water.

Today is my wedding anniversary. 20 years! When I was younger I always thought that people who were married 20 years were sooooo old. Now I am one of those "old" people! We celebrated our anniversary last weekend by taking a little out of town trip. We drove to Sacramento for the weekend. We didn't really do much in the way of going places, but it was so nice to relax and spend time just the two of us. I don't think we do that often enough,

I did get to go to a yarn shop. Filati Yarns, in Rocklin. Here locally I've only been to one store that is on the small side, which made the yarn store in Rocklin seem oh so huge to me. I kept my purchases to a minimum, but I want to come back soon, this time with my daughter who also knits. I stayed away from sock yarn because I have enough now to make several pairs of socks. They carry Koigu and Lorna's Laces, both of which I want, want, want! I bought some yarn to make another purse, and a scarf for my daughter.
I finally finished one of the Diamante socks. I had such a hard time with this pattern that I'm afraid my friend will only receive one socks for Christmas. I don't know what it was because the pattern is not that difficult, but I had a heck of a time with it. I was never so glad to finish a sock. I really want to start another sock in another pattern, but I need to force myself to finish the second one. Maybe I'll put both on hold and go on to making my next purse. I love those purses, they knit up in such a short time. Instant gratification, that's what it's all about. She-knits had a good podcast recently. It was about knitting only what you love. I guess I can apply it to my housework, too. Must be why I am on the computer right now instead of working on the ginormous pile of laundry I have. Hey, I'm doing what I enjoy, right?!
Speaking of enjoying, I LOVE Ravelry. If you're on Ravelry, look me up - I'm stitchnscrap. Like I said before, I could easily spend way too much time on the computer.
Until next time . . .knit on!